World Cup Final Preview: Heavyweights go to battle as Messi aims for crowning glory

Thirty-two teams have been whittled down to just two, and we are now extremely close to finding out which international side will be crowned World Cup 2022 champions. 

Argentina and France both know what it takes to go all the way - this France side achieved the feat just four years ago - and the two heavyweights lock horns in Qatar knowing that history is very much on the line.

A win for either would move them into the top three most successful nations in World Cup history outright with three victories, leaving only Italy, Germany (both four) and Brazil (five) with more titles. 

Didier Deschamps’ side could become the first to defend the title since the great Pele’s Selecao in 1958 and 1962, while Lionel Scaloni is out to bring home a trophy that La Albiceleste have been missing since 1986.

A win for Deschamps would make him part of a very small two-man club to have won it twice as a manager – and an even more exclusive club of people to win it twice as manager and once as a player. To say that there are narratives at play would be an understatement.

Ticket to the big guns show 

As much as it’s France against Argentina, two absolute footballing heavyweights, there is no doubt that millions of eyes will be on two players in particular - and rightly so.

Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest footballer of all-time, is looking to wrap up his legacy by securing pretty much the only piece of silverware that still evades him, while Kylian Mbappé – a player with all the potential in the world – greedily looks to win it for the second time despite being only 23-years-old. 

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It’s a battle of the old guard and the new school, between club teammates, and two players who clearly have a wealth of respect for one another. It’s also the last chance for La Pulga Atomica to do what Diego Maradona did for his nation and bring home the greatest prize available.

It’s no surprise, then, to see those two at the top of the anytime goalscorer market, with Messi at 2.98 and Mbappé at 3.4 - the former’s shorter odds probably come down to him being their penalty-taker, too.

The fact that they’re both up for the Golden Boot and Golden Ball on top of the main prize just makes it an even tastier clash.

They’ve got history

This will be the 13th meeting between the two nations since they stepped into the international space, and it’s the French who have the upper hand historically. Importantly, though, nine of those encounters have come in friendly - in competitive fixtures, the Argentines interestingly lead the way.

It’s a fixture that’s usually littered with goals (there have only been three 0-0s ever in the head-to-head record), and the last match between the two in the 2018 World Cup resulted in a 4-3 thriller, in which Mbappé proved to be the game-winner once again.

Their history, similar depth in quality, and ability to call on an otherworldly player is reflected in the tight odds for a match winner (Argentina at 2.92, France at 2.94) - and the fact that a draw in 90 minutes isn’t much bigger (3.1). 

We didn’t expect many goals as Scaroni’s side went up against the stubborn Croatians, but then they stuck three past them - two of them bucked the regular trend of a goalless first half in Doha.

All about fine margins

Other than France’s 2018 win, recent World Cup finals have tended to be relatively low-scoring (the four prior to 2018 were all under 2.5 goals, and three went beyond 90 minutes) - and it does feel like this could be another tense affair. 

There’s a lot on the line. Neither side will be looking to open up too soon, and you can get a half time draw at 1.99 if you want to go down that route. You can also back extra time at 2.84.

Argentina have won a lot of penalties at this tournament and, with the trickery that they’ve got up top, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them earn another, which is why the 2.98 odds for Messi anytime look quite tempting. 

This World Cup final between France and Argentina could go either way, but it might also be one of the greatest matches in history.

World Cup 2022 Final Tips

Lionel Messi anytime goalscorer @ 2.98
Will there be extra time? Yes @ 2.84