90min

Argentina predicted lineup vs France - World Cup final

By Grey Whitebloom

Lionel Scaloni has led Argentina to two finals in as many years
Lionel Scaloni has led Argentina to two finals in as many years / Jean Catuffe/GettyImages
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Argentina face reigning champions France in the nation's sixth World Cup final on Sunday afternoon.

92 years ago, Argentina contested the first-ever World Cup final against Uruguay. Support for the Albiceleste has been famously fervent in Qatar but was just as passionate in 1930. Ten packet boats chartered to ferry fans from Buenos Aires to Montevideo weren't enough as thousands of supporters demanded more ships from the capital.

After Argentina fell to a 4-2 defeat in the showpiece, the Uruguayan Consulate in Buenos Aires was stoned by a crowd that had to be dispersed by gunfire.

Here's the XI Lionel Scaloni may be mulling over while security is bolstered around the French embassy back in Argentina.

Argentina predicted lineup vs France (4-3-3)

Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi has scored more World Cup goals than any other Argentinian ever (11) / James Williamson - AMA/GettyImages

GK: Emiliano Martinez - Ten years and three days after getting his first senior international call-up, Martinez made his debut for the Albiceleste in 2021. He has scarcely been left out since.

RB: Nahuel Molina - The quarter-final goalscorer is no stranger to finding the back of the net after rattling in an impressive seven goals (no penalties) in Serie A for Udinese last season.

CB: Cristian Romero - The centre-back could become the first outfield Tottenham player to feature in a men's World Cup final since Germany's Christian Ziege came off the bench in the 2002 showpiece.

CB: Nicolas Otamendi - A keen boxer in the off-season, Otamendi's combative approach has spilt onto the pitch this tournament - no Argentinian player has committed more fouls than Otamendi at this World Cup (11).

LB: Marcos Acuna - Fortunately for Acuna, his suspension didn't deter Argentina in the semi-final. Unfortunately, Nicolas Tagliafico played so well that he is facing a fight for a starting berth.

CM: Rodrigo De Paul - Describes himself as the team's "spare tyre". "Often important players rest on me,” De Paul justifiably claims.

CM: Enzo Fernandez - In 2016, Fernandez labelled himself and the rest of Argentina as "a bunch of nobodies" compared to Messi after his future teammate announced his first international retirement. "Do what you want," Fernandez wrote on Facebook, "but think about staying and enjoying it.”

CM: Alexis Mac Allister - Football is deeply ingrained in the Mac Allister brood. Alexis' two brothers, dad, cousin and uncle have all played professionally.

RW: Angel Di Maria - Eight years ago, Real Madrid sent Di Maria a letter requesting that he didn't play in the World Cup final to avoid scuppering his impending sale. Di Maria tore up the request but wasn't fit enough to feature anyway. Injury has hampered his involvement in Qatar as well but the Juventus forward has a chance of recovering by Sunday.

ST: Lionel Messi - Unless the unthinkable happens and Messi fails to feature on Sunday, he will become the outright leading appearance maker in the history of the men's World Cup, with 26 outings.

LW: Julian Alvarez - As an 11-year-old, Alvarez posed for a picture with Messi, who also populated his bedroom wall. A decade on, the pair combined for one of the goals of the tournament in the World Cup semi-final.

Harry Symeou hosts Andy Headspeath, Quentin Gesp and Jack Gallagher to look back on the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia - join us!

If you can’t see the podcast embed, click here to download or listen to the episode in full!

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