FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final Preview: One for the Ages
Image Credit: Dorian Hurst
By: Anthony Tazbaz
It has come down to this: two nations fighting for the World Cup in what will undoubtedly be the most viewed sporting event, totalling billions of viewers. Throughout the tournament, over five billion people tuned in to support either their nation, their favourite team, or simply entertain themselves by watching bits and pieces of the beautiful game.
While this will be the first time both nations face each other in a final, they last faced off in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where France advanced following a goal fest of a game, finishing with a 4-3 score line. During that 2018 loss, Messi failed to make an impact and it was up to Ángel Di María to ignite a spark with a world class finish outside of the 18-yard-box, consequently cancelling out Antoine Griezmann’s early penalty kick goal. Although the Argentinians pulled ahead 2-1 early in the second half, right-back Benjamin Pavard scored a world-class goal of his own while Kylian Mbappé staked his claim as a world class player by scoring a brace and virtually putting the game out of reach for Argentina.
Tournament Campaigns
Argentina
Group Stage
Knockout Stage
Round of 16: 2-1 win vs Australia, WATCH
Quarterfinals: 2-2 a.e.t, 4-2 win on penalties vs the Netherlands, WATCH
Semifinals: 3-0 win vs Croatia, WATCH
France
Group Stage
Knockout stage
What a Finals Win and a Championship Means for Each Nation
Argentina
Heading into their sixth World Cup final, La Albiceleste will be poised to avenge their 2014 squad’s 1-0 loss to Germany in the final in Brazil, while also attempting to obtain revenge from their 2018 loss to the French in the Round of 16. By exercising revenge, Argentina can win their third World Cup and their first since 1986. Led by legendary forwards Mario Kempes and Diego Maradona, Argentina made themselves a global powerhouse from their first title in 1978 until their last appearance in a World Cup final during the 20th century in 1990, where they lost 1-0 to West Germany.
In addition, Argentina could become the second nation to win a World Cup after debuting their tournament campaign with a loss (Spain became the first in 2010 following a 1-0 loss to Switzerland). While many understandably felt shocked in the wake of their 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia, many from the football world already started writing them off and labelled the squad as an inevitable flop (as Germany and Belgium later realized). However, La Albiceleste clawed back with back-to-back 2-0 wins and a string of laudable performances in the knockout stages. Every performance included the Argentinians taking a commanding two-goal lead, most of which remained as such or, in Croatia’s case, extended beyond two goals. Despite an Australian comeback just falling short and a blown two-goal lead versus the Netherlands, they nevertheless held their ground and ultimately prevailed amid fierce adversity and , in the Dutch’s case, animosity. During the final, the Argentinians can at least count on the scores of supporters who arrived from Argentina and all over the world to support them for 90+ or 120+ minutes.
France
Defending champions, France will appear in their fourth final in the last seven World Cup editions and in consecutive finals, a first since Brazil appeared in three consecutive finals (1994, 1998 & 2002). Another win would make France only the third nation to win back-to-back World Cups and the first since Brazil accomplished that feat in 1958 and 1962 (Italy first won consecutive World Cups in 1934 and 1938). Winning versus Argentina would also give them an incredible final win percentage of 75% (3 wins, 1 loss), only losing in 2006 versus Italy on penalties. Such a rating would put them at the top with the highest final win percentage amongst nations who appeared in more than two finals—even better than five-time champions Brazil who sit at 71.4% (5 wins, 2 losses). Consequently, Argentina’s final percentage would fall to 33.33%, the worst rating amongst nations who won at least one World Cup final.
A win on Sunday would constitute a second championship for only a handful of players. Those featured in 2018 as well as this year’s edition include forwards Olivier Giroud and Kylian Mbappé, midfielders Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele, defenders Raphael Varane, Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard, and goalkeepers Hugo Lloris and Steve Mandanda. Therefore, it is actually an amazing accomplishment for this French squad—still led by Didier Deschamps—when one realizes that, despite all these changes, France still managed to return to the final. Les Bleus and Didier Deschamps also demonstrated incredible resilience and tactical flexibility following injuries to star players Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Presnel Kimpembe, Christopher Nkunku and Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema. Despite the numerous injuries suffered shortly before kickoff, the French never backed down and can potentially hoist consecutive World Cups for the first time in 60 years.
An Individual’s Quest to Becoming the GOAT
A World Cup win for Argentina would also mean a lot for one player in particular: Lionel Messi, who will be playing his 26th and final World Cup match, surpassing German defender/midfielder Lothar Matthäus and making him the most capped player in World Cup history. While every member of the squad would feel incredibly (and rightfully) proud and accomplished, a win for Messi would undoubtedly cement his position as the Greatest of All-Time (aka the GOAT). Having won countless league titles, domestic cups, and super cups with FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, he also managed to win the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup on four occasions—all with Barcelona—and a Copa América last year with La Albiceleste.
With only a World Cup missing in his trophy cabinet, a win would constitute the final piece to solve the puzzle in becoming the pinnacle of football. Very few players obtained such an achievement while also winning a multitude of individual awards, including the Ballon d’Or. In fact, only Gerd Müller, Franz Beckenbauer, Zinedine Zidane, Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho have won the Champions League, their respective international championship within their confederation (i.e., Euro and Copa América) , the World Cup, and the Ballon d’Or. Messi would thus become the seventh member. However, what distinguishes himself from all of those players are both the number of Champions Leagues and Ballons d’Or awarded to the Argentinan, four and seven, respectively. While each aforementioned player won a maximum of two of one or more of those trophies, Messi’s sizeable number of awards, accolades, and titles ultimately puts him a tier above each player, thereby placing himself at arm’s reach from GOAT status.
Finally, a consecutive World Cup title would accelerate Kylian Mbappé’s race to achieving the elusive yet realizable GOAT status by the time he would call quits on his career. At only 23, Mbappé already collected numerous awards and accolades, including multiple Golden Boots and Ligue 1 Young Player and Player of the Year awards. On a global scale, he won the FIFA World Cup Young Player of the Year award in 2018, as well as the Golden Boy award in 2017, and FIFA FIFPro World XI awards in 2018 and 2019. Winning another World Cup would put him ahead of all-time greats Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zidane, Ronaldinho, and Johan Cruyff, and as many titles as Ronaldo (the Brazilian one).
With the prospect of winning two World Cup titles at 23, Mbappé will have many years to win the annual UEFA Champions League, the UEFA European Championship (every four years), and the annual Ballon d’Or—all of which he is poised and expected to win at some point during his career. A move out of PSG could also allow him to lead other clubs to domestic titles and potentially continental glory. Consequently, such a move could also boost his chances of winning individual awards such as Ballon d’Or. However, with Mbappé’s playing style built on speed and fast dribbling—to a higher degree than Cristiano Ronaldo—he would potentially have to improve many other skills to ultimately become more versatile and have the capacity sustain his elite performances and prolong his extraordinary career.
On a concluding note, both players, along with Olivier Giroud and Argentina’s wonderkid Julián Álvarez all have a shot at winning the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot, with PSG’s Messi and Mbappé constituting the front runners to the 2022 World Cup’s Golden Ball. It remains to be seen who will claim the awards. However, with so much at stake, we can only anticipate that this final will constitute one for the ages and go down in history as an iconic farewell-to-the-World-Cup match for Leo Messi.
