ARGENTINA TAKE ON FRANCE in this years World Cup final on Sunday.
The footballing festival has been one to remember and now its reaching its climax this weekend.
A Lionel Messi inspired Argentina are looking to win their first title since 1986 and their third its history, While France and Kylian Mbappe are looking to create history by becoming the first side to retain the trophy in World Cup history. History will be made regardless.
Here's a full preview of the game on Sunday
LIONEL MESSI VS. KYLIAN MBAPPE IN THE WORLD CUP FINAL 👀
Argentina vs. France is going to be fireworks 🍿 pic.twitter.com/n3lfbu1phF— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 14, 2022
When is it on?
Sunday December 18th
What TV station is it on?
The game is live on RTÉ TWO and BBC One.
You can stream it live on RTE player or the BBC Iplayer
What time does it start?
Kick off is at 3.00pm Irish time
What time does coverage start?
RTE's coverage starts from 13:45
The BBC's coverage starts at 13.50.
Where is it on?
Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lusail
Odds for the game
Expected t eams for the game
Argentina predicted XI; Martinez, Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna, De Paul, Paredes, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Messi, Alvarez
France predicted XI: Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Konate, T. Hernandez, Rabiot, Tchouameni; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud
World Cup form last 6 games
France: W,W,L,W,W, W
Argentina: L,W,W,W, W,W
Each country's top scorers
France: Kylian Mbappé 5 goals, Olivier Giroud, 4 goals
Argentina: Lional Messi, 5 goals, Julian Alvarez, 4 goals
MBAPPE IS ONE WIN AWAY FROM WINNING BACK-TO-BACK WORLD CUPS 😱
He's only 23! 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/BQmNf0CkRT— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 14, 2022
How did each team get here ?
Argentina
Argentina lost their opening game to Saudi Arabia in their group, but beat Mexico and Poland to advance to the last 16.
They overcame Australia in that round and knocked out the Netherlands in the quarter-final via penalties.
Argentina dismantled Croatia 3-0 in the semi-final with Messi running the show once more.
France
France sailed through their group beating the likes of Australia, Denmark, before losing to Tunisia in the final game.
Didier Deschamps side dismantled Poland in the last-16 and overcame a very impressive England side in the following round.
France overcame a plucky Morocco side that knocked out Portugal, Spain, and the likes of Belgium along the way.
Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Theo Hernandez were the difference in the other semi-final.
What happened last time the sides met ?
France met Argentina in the last-16 of the 2018 World Cup.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France dumped Lionel Messi and Argentina out of the World Cup with a 4-3 win in an outstanding round-of-16 tie in Kazan.
France scorers that day: Antoine Griezmann (13' PEN), Benjamin Pavard (57'), Kylian Mbappé (64', 68') Argentina scorers that day: Ángel Di María (41'), Gabriel Mercado (48'), Sergio Agüero (90'+3')
I’ll leave you with this wee reminder of when these teams last played each other…
2018 WC 🇫🇷 France 4-3 Argentina 🇦🇷
• Seven goals
• Eight cards
• Game of the tournament
Enjoy and good night 😘 pic.twitter.com/Nc54VJd8k2— Andy’s World Cup Tips (@AndyRobsonTips) December 14, 2022
What have the people said ?
Leo Messi: Whatever happens Messi has claimed that Sunday's game will be his last for his national team.
"I feel very happy to be able to achieve this, to finish my World Cup journey by playing my last game in a final," Messi told Argentine media outlet Diario Deportivo Olé.
"It's many years for the next one and I don't think I'll be able to do it. And to finish like this, it's the best," added the Argentina captain.
Didier Deschamps response to Messi: "We will do everything humanly possible for that not to happen. At the end of the match, someone is getting a 3rd star on their shirt."
