The Super Bowl may regard itself as the biggest televised sports event in the world, but in actual fact the FIFA World Cup Final is regularly the largest sporting event in the world in terms of viewership.
While 140m worldwide tuned in to Super Bowl LV in 2021, over 1 billion viewers worldwide watched at least part of the 2018 World Cup Final between France and Croatia and there are good odds that this year’s final will surpass even those huge numbers.
After what has been an intriguing World Cup tournament, where we have had shock results galore, our first African semi-finalist and on which stage a couple of superstars have shone brightly, we are now left with just two teams that can lift the coveted World Cup trophy.
They are Argentina and France and if the game between the two in the 2018 World Cup Finals is anything to go by, we should be in for an absolute cracker of a game.
In this article, we are going to give you a complete preview of the game, plus we will of course give you our tips for the best bets to back in Sunday’s concluding game of the tournament.
Then tune in tomorrow, when we will give you a complete review of the tournament, including picking our best World Cup 2022 XI from every player at the tournament, and lots more besides.
Remember, you can enjoy a bet on the World Cup Final at bet365 Sport which will have a massive choice of markets available to bet on both pre-game and also In Play.
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Let’s now preview Sunday’s huge contest with a closer look at both the teams competing.
FIFA World Cup Final 2022
Argentina v France
- Venue – Lusail Stadium
- Kick Off – 3pm UK Time
- Head To Head – Argentina Wins – 6, France Wins – 3, Draws – 3
- Last Match – Argentina 3-4 France (World Cup 2018 Round of 16)
World Cup 2022 Performances
Argentina
Group Stage
- V Saudi Arabia – L 1-2 – Messi 10(p)
- V Mexico – W 2-0 – Messi 64, Fernandez.E 87
- V Poland – W 2-0 – Mac Allister 46, Alvarez 67
Round of 16
- V Australia – W 2-1 – Messi 35, Alvarez 57
Quarter Final
- V Netherlands – D 2-2 (W 4-3 on pens) – Molina 35, Messi 73(p)
Semi Final
- V Croatia – W 3-0 – Messi 34(p), Alvarez 39,69
Argentina Squad
Manager – Leonel Scaloni
- Franco Armani (River Plate – GK)
- Juan Foyth (Villarreal – DR)
- Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon – DL)
- Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla – DLC)
- Leandro Paredes (Juventus – MC)
- German Pezzela (Real Betis – DC)
- Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid – MRC)
- Marcos Acuna (Sevilla – DMRC)
- Julian Alvarez (Manchester City – AC)
- Lionel Messi (Paris St Germain – AMC)
- Angel Di Maria (Juventus – AMLC)
- Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal – GK)
- Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur – DC)
- Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen – MC)
- Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid – AC)
- Thiago Almada (Atlanta United – MLC)
- Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla – MRC)
- Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis – MC)
- Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica – DC)
- Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton – AMC)
- Paulo Dybala (AS Roma – AC)
- Lautaro Martinez (Inter – AC)
- Emi Martinez (Aston Villa – GK)
- Enzo Fernandez (Benfica – DMC)
- Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United – DC)
- Nahiel Molina (Atletico Madrid – DR)
Argentina Predicted Team – (4-4-2) – Emi Martinez (GK), Gonzalo Montiel (DR), Marcos Acuna (DL), Cristian Romero (DC), Nicolas Otamendi (DC), Enzo Fernandez (DMC), Leandro Paredes (MC), Rodrigo De Paul (MR), Alexis Mac Allister (ML), Julian Alvarez (AC), Lionel Messi (AC)
Key Player – Lionel Messi(Paris St Germain) 171 caps, 96 goals
There’s no doubt that Lionel Messi has been one of the stars of the tournament, if not THE star of the tournament for many fans. Given great support by travelling fans and the locals, Messi has shone at this tournament, inspiring his team to victory with some memorable performances, as well as five goals so far too (joint-leading goalscorer). A World Cup trophy is the one thing the genius Argentinean lacks from his outstanding career so far and it would be a fitting finale to his last World Cup.
France
Group Stage
- V Australia – W 4-1 – Rabiot 27, Giroud 32,71, Mbappe 68
- V Denmark – W 2-1 – Mbappe 61.86
- V Tunisia – L 0-1
Round of 16
- V Poland – W 3-1 – Giroud 44, Mbappe 74,90+1
Quarter Final
- V England – W 2-1 – Tchouameni 17, Giroud 78
Semi Final
- V Morocco – W 2-0 – Hernandez.T 5, Muani 79
France Squad
Manager – Didier Deschamps
- Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur – GK)
- Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich – DRC)
- Axel Disasi (Monaco – DL)
- Raphael Varane (Manchester United – DC)
- Jules Kounde (Barcelona – DRC)
- Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille – MC)
- Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid – AMC)
- Aurielen Tchouameni (Real Madrid – MC)
- Olivier Giroud (AC Milan – AC)
- Kylian Mbappe (Paris St Germain – AMLC)
- Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona – AMR)
- Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt – AC)
- Youssouf Fofana (AS Monaco – MC)
- Adrien Rabiot (Juventus – MC)
- Jordan Veretout (Marseille – MRC)
- Steve Mandanda (Rennes – GK)
- William Saliba (Arsenal – DC)
- Dayot Upemecano (Bayern Munich – DC)
- Karim Benzema (Real Madrid – AC)
- Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich – AMR)
- Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich – DL)
- Theo Hernandez (AC Milan – DL)
- Alphonse Areola (West Ham United – GK)
- Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool – DC)
- Eduoardo Camavinga (Real Madrid – DMC)
- Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladback – AC)
France Predicted Team – (4-3-3) – Hugo Lloris (GK), Jules Kounde (DR), Theo Hernandez (DL), Raphael Varane (DC), Ibrahima Konate (DC Aurielen Tchouameni (MC), Youssouf Fofana (MC), Antoine Griezmann (AMC) Ousmane Dembele (AMR), Kylian Mbappe (AML), Oliver Giroud (AC)
Key Player – Kylian Mbappe(Paris St Germain) – 64 caps, 34 goals
It seems strange that two players from the same club team will likely define who wins this World Cup Final, but that is very much the case given that Kylian Mbappe has once again lit up the World Cup for France with some great displays. The Frenchman also has five goals, tied with teammate Messi, and nine in the World Cup in total. Like Messi, one moment of inspiration from him could turn the game in France’s favour as it did when he scored twice when the teams met in France’s 4-3 win in 2018.
2022 World Cup Final Tips
So looking at these two teams, who are most likely to win the World Cup?
In terms of balance, France have the edge in my view. Their squad has immense depth to it especially when you consider the likes of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante were injured and not available for selection and Benzema was injured on the eve of the tournament and unable to play any part in it.
They also have their own prodigious talent in Kylian Mbappe and he will be licking his lips at the prospect of taking on Argentina’s defence that does lack pace.
However, Argentina do have their own trump card in Lionel Messi and his sensational form has been the catalyst for their success and that big win over Croatia in the semifinals will likely have them believing they can win this game too.
They will also enjoy fervent support, making this more like a home game for Argentina and that I think could well be crucial.
France are 7/4 favourites to win the game with bet365, but I would back Argentina to land the win at 9/5.
I am also hoping for an exciting game, so I am backing a 3-2 win for Argentina which comes in at 40/1.
