Argentina - France and milestones before the 2022 World Cup final
* Argentina - France: 10pm Sunday, December 18, on MetaSports.
Compared to the World Cup, Argentina's record in the Copa America finals is more even, with 15 wins and 14 losses.
In 2018, France was crowned again after an overwhelming victory, when they crushed Croatia 4-2 in Russia. Coach Didier Deschamps' army was then "given" to open the scoring from Mario Mandzukic's own goal. Their remaining three goals were scored by Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe.
If they continue to reach the finals in the US - Mexico - Canada in 2026, France will become the third team to reach the final three times in a row, after Germany (1982-1986-1990) and Brazil (1994-1998-2002). Four years later, stars like Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Christopher Nkunku or Theo Hernandez are still at the peak of their careers.
But in the immediate future, they will aim to become the third team to successfully defend the World Cup championship, after Italy (1934-1938) and Brazil (1958-1962). If this is done, coach Deschamps will re-establish the record of being crowned twice in a row by the late coach Vittorio Pozzo - who led Italy to two world championships in 1934 and 1938.
Deschamps is currently one of only three people to have won the World Cup as both a player and a coach, alongside Mario Zagallo (Brazil) and Franz Beckenbauer (Germany). Before leading the national team to victory at the 2018 World Cup, he was the captain of the France team that won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, when he was a professional player.
To the 1/8 round of the 2018 World Cup, France took revenge in an emotional 4-3 victory. After Antoine Griezmann kicked 11m to open the scoring, Angel Di Maria and Gabriel Mercado helped Argentina lead back. But Benjamin Pavard's masterpiece and Mbappe's double at the beginning of the second half helped France engulf Argentina. The South American representative only removed one more goal thanks to Sergio Aguero in the third minute of compensation.
Four years after that suffocating chase, France still has a pillar frame including goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, central defender Raphael Varane, strikers Griezmann, Mbappe, Olivier Giroud. In contrast, except for captain Messi, Argentina changed almost the entire squad when only keeping Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico and Di Maria. But Tagliafico and Di Maria did not have a starting position from the beginning of the tournament.
In total, the two teams have met 12 times, of which Argentina won six, drew three and lost three. But this head-to-head record is only for reference before the final match at Lusail Stadium on December 18, when Argentina led by Messi met France with Mbappe as the leader. Both have the same ambition to win the third star on the chest of the team.
