FIFA World Cup Final 2022

Lusail Stadium, December 18


HEAD-TO-HEAD

Argentina 6
France 3
Draws 3

Recent meetings
2018 France 4-3 Argentina
2009 France 0-2 Argentina

Fourth World Cup meeting – Argentina winning in 1930 and 1978, before Les Bleus secured 4-3 victory in pulsating Last 16 clash in 2018


GLORY DAYS
Argentina have lost just one of last 42 matches – won Copa America title in 2021


ROAD TO FINAL 
L S. Arabia	1-2 Match 1 	W Australia	4-1
W Mexico 	2-0 Match 2	W Denmark	2-1
W Poland 	2-0 Match 3	L Tunisia	0-1
W Australia 	2-1 Last 16 	W Poland	3-1
D Netherlands 	*2-2 QF 	W England	2-1
W Croatia 	3-0  SF 	W Morocco	2-0


Kylian  Mbappé 
Surpassed Pele (7) for most FIFA World Cup strikes before 24th birthday (9 goals)


HISTORIC FEAT
France aiming to become first nation to retain World Cup since Brazil in 1962


SHOOTING BOOTS: Goals 
Messi 	5
Mbappé 	5 
Alvarez 4 
Giroud 	4


EYE FOR GOAL: Shots 
Mbappé Total: 25
Messi 	23 
Giroud 	16 
Alvarez 10


PLAYMAKERS: Passes 
Otamendi 	464
De Paul 	410 
Tchouaméni 	371 
Fernández 	335


TEAM STATISTICS (6 matches)
12 	Goals scored 		13
5 	Goals against 		5
3297 	Passes completed 	2773
26 	Crosses completed 	46
33 	Corners 		33
58%  	Average possession 	54%
 
Shots breakdown
On target	Wide	Blocked

Total shots 83
11 33 39

Total shots 91
22 39 30


PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Martinez
Molina 
Romero
Otamendi
Tagliafico
De Paul
Paredes
Fernández
Mac Allister
Messi
Alvarez

Lloris
Kounde
Varane
Konate 
Hernandez
Griezmann
Tchouaméni
Fofana
Dembele
Giroud
Mbappé


Argentina

Coach
Lionel Scaloni

Captain: Lionel Messi

WORLD CUP RECORD
W47 D16 L24

Appearances: 18
Best finish: Winner (1978, 1986) 
2018 performance: Last 16 
2022: Topped Group C, recovering from shock opening defeat to Saudi Arabia. Edged Netherlands in fiesty encounter before easing into final with victory over Croatia

Lionel Messi 
Vowed final will be last World Cup game of career


France

Coach
Didier Deschamps 
Captain: Hugo Lloris

WORLD CUP RECORD
W39 D13 L20

Appearances: 16 
Best finish: Winner (1998, 2018) 
2018 performance: Winner 
2022: Topped Group D with assured displays against Australia and Denmark. Dispatched strong England team before ending Morocco’s fairytale to reach fourth final in last seven tournaments


ROLL CALL OF CHAMPIONS
Eight separate nations have lifted World Cup since 1930, all from football powerhouses of Europe and South America

1930 Uruguay		Host: Uruguay
1934 Italy		Italy
1938 Italy		France
1950 Uruguay 		Brazil
1954 West Germany	Switzerland 
1958 Brazil		Sweden
1962 Brazil		Chile
1966 England 		England 
1970 Brazil 		Mexico 
1974 West Germany 	W. Germany 
1978 Argentina		Argentina
1982 Italy		Spain
1986 Argentina 		Mexico
1990 West Germany	Italy
1994 Brazil 		United States   
1998 France 		France
2002 Brazil 		S. Korea/Japan
2006 Italy 		Germany
2010 Spain 		South Africa
2014 Germany 		Brazil
2018 France		Russia
 
*Penalties 4-3


Lusail Stadium: Centrepiece of Lusail City metropolis – design emulates decorative motifs on bowls found in Middle East


Source: FIFA
Pictures: Getty Images
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