Football

World Cup 2022: Defiant Argentina unfazed against favourites France in final showdown

La Albiceleste have a tough task on their hands as they take on the challenge of defending champions France in the final. Lionel Scaloni will be unperturbed by their much-fancied rivals with Lionel Messi in their ranks. 

Messi, Alvarez

Prior to the final, La Pulga has already announced that this will be his last World Cup. He will enter the meeting with much to prove and as an underdog, an unfamiliar territory at the club level.

It is not a new feeling for Argentina fans. And Messi has been at this stage before. In 2014, a Mario Gotze-inspired Germany triumphed over them. Alexis Sanchez and Chile would deny them Copa America glory later. 

Under Lionel Scaloni, La Albiceleste has turned over a page. In enemy territory, they were underdogs in the 2021 Copa America final against Brazil. It is a similar case and Argentina has no qualms about being the underdogs. 

Alongside Messi, Emiliano Martinez has been key on their road to the final. It was the Aston Villa goalkeeper who denied the Dutch in the penalty shootout and kept his wits about him in the 3-0 win over Croatia. 

Favourites tag doesn’t matter

Argentina Copa America

The former Arsenal goalkeeper is not affected by the bookmakers’ slates, sharing that odds being against them helps their cause. With Messi on their side, the feeling of being inferior does not enter their mind.

“People can say France are favourites, but we have the greatest player of all time. We always like to hear our opponents are favourite because we don’t feel superior or inferior to anyone,” the Argentina goalkeeper remarked ahead of the World Cup final.

“Obviously when we won in Brazil the favourite was considered to be Brazil and it happens the same right now,” Martinez said. “People can say that the favourites are France, but we have the great advantage to have the greatest player of all time.

“We always like to hear that the opponent is the favourite because we don’t feel either superior or inferior to anyone. But, as I always say, we have the greatest player of all time. And with a good defence, we have many chances to reach our goal.”

Fifth time is the charm for record-breaking Messi

Argentina Copa America

Messi has been a mainstay with Argentina since his debut in 2006. When he takes the pitch against France, he will add his name to the history books with his 26th World Cup appearance. 

With five goals and three assists, he is leading the Golden Boot race, adding another feather to his chequered cap. He earned the Golden Ball in the 2014 edition in brazil and was also the leading goalscorer in Argentina’s Copa America triumph in the same host country.  

He has the chance of finishing on a high and Martinez suggests he is in better spirits than their Copa America win. A win in his fifth World Cup will solidify his ranking alongside Maradona and Pele.

“I see him very happy,” Martinez said of the Argentina skipper. “He feels very well on the pitch. I saw a great Messi in Copa America. He was an exceptional player, one of the best undoubtedly in Copa America – and in this World Cup, he took a step forward compared to Copa America.

“He’s playing very well, and this gives so much energy to the whole squad because we have the greatest player. He’s excited, he is full of joy and this helps us very much.”


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