FIFA World Cup final in Qatar: Stage set for clash of titans as Argentina take on France

After 63 matches, the World Cup in Qatar comes to a close on Sunday when reigning champions France take on Argentina in a showpiece final at Lusail Stadium with both teams looking to add a third star to their crest.

Croatia edged Morocco 2-1 in Saturday's third-place playoff, an entertaining affair that served as a curtain-raiser to the main event where France stand in the way of Lionel Messi and his last chance of glory.

In the France dugout, coach Didier Deschamps has already taken his place among the sport's greats - as a player and a coach - but can go one step further by becoming the first coach to win back-to-back titles in the post-World War II era.

The last time these two teams met was at the 2018 World Cup where France beat Argentina 4-3 in the last 16, an encounter that was arguably the most entertaining match of the tournament in Russia.

The final will also see a clash of generational stars when 35-year-old Messi, playing in his final World Cup match, faces his 23-year-old Paris St Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe.

Both players have scored five goals at the World Cup and could potentially leave Qatar with three trophies as they also vie for the Golden Boot for the top scorer as well as the Golden Ball for the tournament's best player.

Argentina, France seek third World Cup trophy

Lionel Messi is hoping to crown his stellar career by leading Argentina to World Cup glory but Kylian Mbappe's history-chasing France are standing in his way.

France may need every hour available as kick-off looms after their camp was struck by illness, forcing a number of players to sit out training and giving coach Didier Deschamps an unwanted headache.

Argentina and France are both aiming to win the trophy for the third time, with Les Bleus returning to the final four years after their triumph in Moscow.

Back-to-back titles would be a monumental achievement for the side coached by Deschamps – the only teams to have done it previously are Italy in the 1930s and Pelé's Brazil in 1958 and 1962.

Yet that potential achievement is trumped by Messi's quest to win the ultimate prize in the game in what is almost certainly his final World Cup match.

The former Barcelona star has won everything going at club level, also claiming the Ballon d’Or seven times, and last year led Argentina to victory in the Copa América.

Messi has been brilliant in his fifth World Cup as the team bounced back from a shock opening loss to Saudi Arabia, while his new sidekick, Julián Álvarez, has scored four times.

"It is exciting to be in the final, but there is still one step to go," said coach Lionel Scaloni.

Chase for third title

Aged 35 and driven by his desire to make up for defeat by Germany in the 2014 final, Messi has scored five goals and produced some sublime assists.

Sunday's match is likely to be his last chance to match the achievement of Diego Maradona, who inspired Argentina to victory in Mexico in 1986.

"I am really enjoying myself. I have felt happy throughout this World Cup," Messi said after Argentina's 3-0 semi-final win against Croatia.

But will this World Cup be remembered as Messi's tournament, or will France be top dogs once again?

Les Bleus have returned to the final without ever really hitting top form and they now have to contend with illness in their camp.

Central defenders Raphaël Varane and Ibrahima Konaté, as well as Kingsley Coman, sat out training on Friday with cold-like symptoms.

I am really enjoying myself. I have felt happy throughout this World Cup

- Lionel Messi

Konaté replaced Dayot Upamecano in defence for the semi-final against Morocco after he was ruled out by illness, while Adrien Rabiot was also unwell for that game.

The one player they cannot afford to lose is Mbappé, who scored five goals in the team's first four games but was largely kept quiet in the wins against England and Morocco.

Four years ago the PSG star became the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pele when, aged 19, he helped France beat Croatia 4-2.

Yet the iconic image of that tournament was Mbappé consoling Messi after starring as France beat Argentina in the last 16.

These days they are club colleagues, jostling for the limelight at Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain and now jousting with each other on the greatest stage of all.

France are wary of reducing the match at the 89,000-capacity Lusail Stadium to just a showdown with Messi.

"Yes they have Leo Messi but there will also be 10 other players next to him who have lots of quality," said midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni. "So we will need to be ready, aware of the opportunity we have to make history."

Deschamps, who can become the first coach in the post-war era to win two World Cups, said: "We will try to limit his influence as much as possible, just as the Argentines will try to limit the influence of some of my players."

Antoine Griezmann has been outstanding for France in a new midfield role and might well pip Messi to the Golden Ball if his side emerge victorious.

Argentina welcome back defensive pair Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuña after bans, and forward Ángel Di María is expected to be fit.

Argentina and France: Routes to the world cup final

Argentina

Group stage

Argentina 1 (Messi 10-pen) Saudi Arabia 2 (Saleh Al-Shehri 48, Salem Al-Dawsari 53)

Argentina 2 (Messi 64, Fernandez 87) Mexico 0

Poland 0 Argentina 2 (Mac Allister 46, Alvarez 67)

Last 16

Argentina 2 (Messi 35, Alvarez 57) Australia 1 (Fernandez 77-og)

Quarter-final

Netherlands 2 (Weghorst 83, 90+11) Argentina 2 (Molina 35, Messi 73-pen) after extra time

Argentina win 4-3 on penalties

Semi-final

Argentina 3 (Messi 34-pen, Alvarez 39, 69) Croatia 0

Argentina squad

Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate/ARG), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa/ENG), Geronimo Rulli (Villarreal/ESP)

Defenders: Marcos Acuna (Sevilla/ESP), Juan Foyth (Villarreal/ESP), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United/ENG), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla/ESP), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica/POR), German Pezzella (Real Betis/ESP), Cristian Romero (Tottenham/ENG), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon/FRA)

Midfielders: Thiago Almada (Atlanta/USA), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Enzo Fernandez (Benfica/POR), Alejandro Gomez (Sevilla/ESP), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton/ENG), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Leandro Paredes (Juventus/ITA), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis/ESP)

Forwards: Julian Alvarez (Manchester City/ENG), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid/ESP) Angel Di Maria (Juventus/ITA), Paulo Dybala (Roma/ITA), Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan/ITA)

World Cup history

Winners: 2 (1978 and 1986)

Losing finalists: 3 (1930, 1990, 2014)

Leading World Cup goalcorer: Lionel Messi (11)

Leading scorer at Qatar World Cup: Lionel Messi (5)

France

Group stage

France 4 (Rabiot 27, Giroud 32, 71, Mbappé 68) Australia 1 (Goodwin 9)

France 2 (Mbappé 61, 86) Denmark 1 (Christensen 68)

Tunisia 1 (Khazri 58) France 0

Last 16

France 3 (Giroud 44, Mbappé 74, 90+1) Poland 1 (Lewandowski 90+9-pen)

Quarter-final

England 1 (Kane 54-pen) France 2 (Tchouameni 17, Giroud 78)

Semi-final

France 2 (Hernandez 5, Kolo Muani 79) Morocco 0

France squad

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham/ENG), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham/ENG), Steve Mandanda (Rennes/FRA)

Defenders: Axel Disasi (Monaco/FRA), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/ITA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Jules Kounde (Barcelona/ESP), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich/GER), William Saliba (Arsenal/ENG), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich/GER), Raphael Varane (Manchester United/ENG)

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid/ESP), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco/FRA), Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille/FRA), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus/ITA), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid/ESP), Jordan Veretout (Marseille/FRA)

Forwards: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich/GER), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona/ESP), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan/ITA), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Marcus Thuram (Borussia Moenchengladbach/GER)

World Cup history

Winners: 2 (1998, 2018)

Losing finalists: 1 (2006)

Leading World Cup goalscorer: Just Fontaine (13)

Leading scorer at Qatar World Cup: Kylian Mbappé (5)

With inputs from Reuters, AFP and AP