By Joe Apu
The icing on the cake of World Cup 2022 holds today at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, as Argentina and reigning champions France battle for international supremacy in the World Cup final.
Defending champions France that booked their ticket for today’s final courtesy of a 2-0 win over African trailblazers Morocco in the semi-finals will be banking on Kylian Mbappe to stop his PSG teammate Lionel Messi.
Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is desirous of picking the World Cup to crown his football career and complete his footballing checklist.
As eloquent as the Paris Saint-Germain attacker has been during the Qatar tournament, one man alone cannot steer his nation to the biggest sporting event on the globe. Nicolas Otamendi has rolled back the years in defence, Enzo Fernandez could become the next nine-figure footballer, and Julian Alvarez has clearly taken a few leaves out of his strike partner’s book.
Nearly everything that could go wrong for France did go wrong for France before they boarded their flight to the Middle East. A myriad of injuries to key players, perpetual controversy off the field and an almost unthinkable relegation from the Nations League, which they just about managed to stave off.
Very few had France down as one of the contenders to go all the way in Qatar, but those who received Les Bleus in the sweepstakes may be feeling a little more smug right about now, as the defending champions prove exactly why the trophy continues to glisten in their cabinet.
No Paul Pogba? No N’Golo Kante? No Karim Benzema, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner? No problem for Didier Deschamps. The World Cup-winning player and manager – one of only three men with such a title on their CV – was even asked about the prospect of bringing Benzema back for the final following his recovery from a thigh injury, but his exhausted sigh and refusal to answer the question was that of a man who only has eyes for his present protagonists.