So here we are, game 64 of the 2022 World Cup. Despite what seemed like a boatload of shocks along the way, we have two of the favourites in the final. World football doesn’t get any bigger than this!
🇦🇷 Argentina 🇦🇷
Tipped in our team by team preview piece, their campaign got off to the worst possible start. A half time lead against Saudi Arabia in their opening group game was turned around into a 2-1 loss. They have grown since then, with three clean sheets in their next five fixtures. A penalty shoot out was required to see off Netherlands but their 3-0 win over Croatia in the semi-final was a commanding performance.
That opening fixture is the only game in which they have failed to score at least two goals so it would be a surprise if they were kept off the scoresheet here. Defensively just eight shots on target against in six games has been excellent, though they have conceded four goals from those eight shots.
🇫🇷 France 🇫🇷
The defending champions have made it back to the final. After a dismal Euro 2020 campaign, it’s been all systems go from a team who have looked in impeccable form going forward. Apart from a meaningless 1-0 defeat to Tunisia in a dead rubber, they too have scored at least twice in every other fixture.
At the start of the tournament beating Morocco might not have seemed all that impressive. Given the way the North Africans defended to knock out Spain and Portugal, however, it was notable that the semi-final always looked in French control. Argentina should give their defence more to think about.
Conclusion
These two teams met in the Last 16 at Russia ’18, France coming out on top 4-3 in a thriller. On paper there looks to be little between the pair and the hope is that both sides will play natural, attacking football and treat the world to another showstopper of a match.
It would be no shock to see this match go beyond the 90 minutes. Argentina are 5-1 in shootouts at the World Cup, including earlier on in this competition against Netherlands. They have lost their last three in finals, however. France are 2-2 and have lost three of their last four at major finals so both will be hoping to get the job done earlier.
Tips
BTTS @ 1/1
Correct Score 2-2 @ 16/1