Argentina and France will battle for the 2022 FIFA World Cup trophy when both sides meet at the Lusail Iconic Stadium this Sunday.
Venue: Lusail Iconic Stadium (Lusail)
Key Statistics
Argentina have lost just one of their last 42 games (W31, D10).
They have scored 2+ goals in each of their last five games.
In their three knockout games, La Albiceleste opened the scoring in either the 34th or 35th minute.
France have kept just one clean sheet in the World Cup this year.
So far, they have scored 2+ goals in all but one of their World Cup games.
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé (five goals) are leading the charge for the Golden Boot, with Argentina’s Julián Álvarez and France’s Olivier Giroud one goal behind them.
World Cup trivia: Brazil are the only team to reach three consecutive World Cup finals – France could match this in 2026.
Head to head
Argentina lead the overall H2H record (W6, D3, L3) and won the two World Cup games before their 2018 meeting in 1978 and 1930, so history leans on Lionel Messi’s side.
Latest performances in all competitions
Argentina: W-W-W-W-W
France: W-W-W-L-W
Argentina
Lionel Messi will look to win his first World Cup this Sunday when he faces France at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
The mercurial Paris Saint-Germain player and Argentina captain has been in an immense form in Qatar and looks set to inspire his side to their first World title since 1986.
Argentina booked their place in this round of the tournament courtesy of a brilliant 3-0 win over Croatia. A brace from Manchester City striker Julián Álvarez and a Messi penalty goal gave La Albiceleste the win.
Back in the final eight years after losing 1-0 to Germany in extra-time in 2014, Messi has said this will be his World Cup swansong, so he’ll hope for no repeat of their 4-3 defeat against France in the last edition.
Having scored 2+ goals in each of their last five games while keeping three clean sheets, they will fancy their chances against a France side that have kept just one clean sheet in the World Cup.
Possible Argentina starting line-up
Emiliano Martinez, Nahuel Molina Lucero, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Acuña, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez.
Injured: None
Doubtful: Dario Gomez
Suspended: None
France
France booked their place in this round of the tournament by beating surprise package Morocco last time out.
Goals from Theo Hernandez and Kolo Muani gave the World Cup holders another lucky win after they escaped with a 2-1 win over England in the quarter-finals.
They will hope for another ‘lucky’ outing on Sunday when they take on Argentina. The 1998 and 2018 winners are looking to become just the third nation in World Cup history to win the trophy consecutively.
To do that, they will largely rely on the form of Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud, who have nine goals between them. But the illness that has hit their squad will be a big worry for Deschamps ahead of this tie.
The Les Bleus squad has been hit by illness, with Adrien Rabiot, Dayot Upamecano and Kingsley Coman unwell in the lead-up to the semi-final. And so, Didier Deschamps may have to field some of his other squad players for the final as he bids to become the first manager since Vittorio Pozzo in 1938 to win consecutive World Cups.
Possible France starting line-up
Hugo Lloris, Jules Kounde, Raphael Varane, Dayot Upamecano, Theo Hernandez, Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembele, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud.
Injured: Lucas Hernandez
Doubtful: Adrien Rabiot
Suspended: None
Odds
Odds-Argentina | Odds-France | % Argentina | % France | |
To lift World Cup | 1.900 | 1.900 | 50.00 | 50.00 |
In 90 mins | 2.800 | 2.800 | 32.37 | 32.37 |
In Extra-time | 12.000 | 12.000 | 7.55 | 7.55 |
In Penalty | 9.000 | 9.000 | 10.07 | 10.07 |
Prediction
Argentina 1-1 France (90 minutes)
Live Stream
For details, FIFA Qatar World Cup 2022 – TV Broadcast / Live Stream