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Argentina national football team
World Cup | Final
Dec 18, 2022 at 3pm UK
Lusail Iconic Stadium
France national football team

Argentina
3 - 3
France

Messi (23' pen., 108'), di Maria (36')
Fernandez (45+7'), Acuna (90+8'), Paredes (114'), Montiel (116'), Martinez (126')
FT
(aet)
Mbappe (80' pen., 81', 118' pen.)
Rabiot (55'), Thuram (87'), Giroud (90+5')
Argentina win 4-2 on penalties

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni: 'The group is at its best for World Cup final'

Scaloni: 'The group is at its best for World Cup final'
© Reuters
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni believes that his team "is at its best" ahead of Sunday's 2022 World Cup final against France at the Lusail Stadium.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni believes that his team "is at its best" ahead of Sunday's World Cup 2022 final against France at the Lusail Stadium.

Since suffering a shock 2-1 defeat against Saudi Arabia in their opening group-stage match, La Albiceleste have won five successive matches in Qatar to reach their sixth World Cup final and their first since 2014.

Argentina followed up their penalty-shootout triumph over the Netherlands in the quarter-finals with a comfortable 3-0 victory against Croatia in the semi-finals on Tuesday, and they are now just one win away from lifting their first World Cup since 1986.

Jubilant scenes were sparked in the stands, on the pitch and back home in South America as soon as the full-time whistle blew against Croatia, and Scaloni is hopeful that his side can provide Argentina supporters with more "joy" by winning the biggest prize in football.

"I am proud and enthusiastic about the moment we are living. We are at the door of a final but the important thing is the road," the 44-year-old said at a press conference on Saturday.

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal with Julian Alvarez and teammates on December 13, 2022© Reuters

"When you enjoy it, things taste different. I hope that all the people can join us and we give them joy. I think we have the best fans in the world. They needed joy and I think we're giving it to them.

"Football is more than a sport. People were happy during this World Cup and for us that's wonderful. I saw many images of people celebrating or watching the game. We are not exempt from that, we are very excited.

"Hopefully we can win the cup, it would be great. We know how to attack [France], we have a clear game plan."

Scaloni has talked up France star Kylian Mbappe ahead of Sunday's showpiece event, with the Paris Saint-Germain attacker battling with club teammate Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot award.

However, the Pujato-born boss has insisted that the 2022 final is not just about Mbappe and Messi, adding: "Tomorrow's game is Argentina against France, beyond Messi and Mbappe.

Argentina's Lionel Messi and head coach Lionel Scaloni celebrate qualifying for the semi-finals on December 9, 2022© Reuters

"France has a team that supplies Mbappe and makes him an even better player. He is one of the great players, he is young and will continue to improve, [but] we know where we can hurt the opponent."

Scaloni feels that his side are peaking at the right time heading into the final and has revealed that he has already decided on his team selection to face the current holders.

"The group is at its best," Scaloni added. "Our greatest triumph is that everyone feels part of it. That is essential.

"I already have decided how we are going to form. We have to enjoy these moments until the game starts. All of this will go down in history."

Argentina have won six of their previous 12 meetings against France, but their last encounter ended in defeat as Les Bleus secured a thrilling 4-3 win in the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup before going all the way to lift the trophy.

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Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their first goal with Julian Alvarez and teammates on December 13, 2022
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


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