Argentina and France have announced their starting XIs for today’s 2022 FIFA World Cup final.
All eyes will be glued on tvs across the world, as 1978 and 1986 winners Argentina take on 1998 and 2018 champions France.
The defending champions could only become the third nation to defend their title following Italy (1934 & 1938) and Brazil (1958 & 1962) – an achievement no team has matched in 60 years.
Meanwhile, Argentina will aim to end their 36-year World Cup wait after losing the 1990 and 2014 finals.
All eyes will be on the battle between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, who have both scored five goals in this tournament so far – with Messi leading the Golden Boot ranking based on his three assists to Mbappe’s two.
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The two nations have met each other 12 times, with Argentina having won six of those clashes, while three ended in a draw and France won three.
At World Cup level, they have met each other thrive, with the Albiceleste winning two and France one – that win was the last clash between the two football powers, when Les Bleus beat Argentina 4-3 in the round of 16 enroute to their title in 2018.
While Didier Deschamps was able to recall Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot, Luis Scaloni opted to go with Angel Di Maria over Leandro Paredes.
Here is how they line up:
Argentina XI: Martínez – Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuña – Di María, De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Mac Allister – Messi, Julián Álvarez.
France XI: Lloris – Koundé, Varane, Upamecano, T.Hernandez – Griezmann, Tchouaméni, Rabiot – O.Dembélé, Mbappé, Giroud.
