10 things to know before the 2022 World Cup final – Liberation

The Qatari World Cup final pits two of the biggest footballing nations against each other this Sunday at 4 p.m. This meeting promises to be between great history and small gossip.

To impress his friends or have a topic of discussion with his in-laws during the France-Argentina final on Sunday, Freed has concocted a list of things to bring out between two olives, hot chocolates or fresh booze.

1. The results of France-Argentina favorable to the Albiceleste

The two nations have faced each other 12 times so far, including 3 times in the World Cup and 9 times in friendly matches. In total, the South Americans have won 6 games, for 3 draws and 3 wins for France. The last match to date, however, remains a spectacular tricolor victory (4-3), during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with a double from Mbappé, a penalty converted by Griezmann and above all the legendary volley from Benjamin Pavard at the far post. The Albiceleste had won the two previous World Cup matches, in 1978 (2-1) and 1930 (1-0).

2. The Polish referee knows both selections

At the whistle for Sunday’s final, it will be the Polish Szymon Marciniak. Aged 41, the man in the evening has already led the two teams during this tournament: during the victory of the Argentinians in the round of 16 against Australia (2-1) and, previously, that of France at the expense of the Denmark in the group stage (2-1).

In addition, it will be unlikely that Marciniak has more tenderness for one team than for the other: both France (3-1) and Argentina (2-0) beat Poland during this Qatari World Cup.

3. Argentina’s unofficial anthem comes out of a Buenos Aires kitchen

At full throttle, “Muchachos” is chanted by the blue and white people in the stadiums of Qatar and around. This Argentinian hit from the 2022 World Cup covers the essentials of the country’s popular culture, between the deaths during the Falklands war, the victory against the Brazilian rivals in the final of the Copa America 2021 and the tribute to Diego Maradona now “to the sky”. “Boys” sorted by the tête of a professor at the Catholic School of Buenos Aires, Fernando Romero, who is inspired by the paroles of a chant sur le club de coeur, le Racing de Avellaneda : “Boys, bring wine, play the Acade», “guys, bring him wine cause the Academy is playing”. He mixed them with the tune of an Argentinian hit from the early 2000s, by Mosca. An inspiration that arose in a particular moment “I was in my kitchen, peeling onions and peppers and Diego [Maradona] I missed”Fernando Romero told Argentinian TV Cadena 3 Rosario.

4. Winning the World Cup after an inaugural defeat, a miracle

Lose his first match and finally be crowned world champion? This scenario of which Argentina dreams, surprise entry by Saudi Arabia, has occurred only once during the first 21 editions of the World Cup. It was in 2010, with the Spain of Xavi and Iniesta. A first defeat in the tournament is historically rather synonymous with failure in the final, as for the FRG (1982), Argentina (1990) and Italy (1994). But in 2010, Spain succeeded in reversing history. In South Africa, La Roja lost from the start against Switzerland (1-0) before reaching the final and winning against the Netherlands (1-0, after extra time), on a goal of Don Andres Iniesta.

5. Messi, the most decisive player in the history of the World Cup

With his goal and two assists in Argentina’s display against Croatia in the semi-finals, the Paris-Saint-Germain player became the most decisive player in the history of the World Cup. The Argentine genius is now involved in 20 achievements (11 goals and 9 assists). He is one unit ahead of legends such as Ronaldo (the real one), Gerd Müller and Pelé.

As for Kylian Mbappé, he is still far from this level. Including his last two goals scored against Poland, he participated in 11 World Cup achievements (9 goals and 2 assists). He can, however, console himself with a statistic that underlines his precocity: he became the first player to score nine goals in the World Cup before he turned 24.

6. 1998-2022: France twice as many in the final as any other nation

In a quarter of a century, France has reached the final of the World Cup 4 times, out of 7 editions, in 1998, 2006, 2018 and therefore 2022. This is at least 2 times more than any another nation over the period, notes the statistics specialist OptaJean.

In case of victory, the two countries will have the opportunity to add a third star of world champions on their shirt.

7. “Dibu”: the nickname of the Argentinian goalkeeper comes from a cartoon

Last impassable rampart and specialist in penalty saves, there is no doubt that the name of the Argentine goalkeeper will come back in the comments on Sunday. But Emiliano Martinez will undoubtedly be called “Dibu”. The reason for this diminutive which seems childish? His resemblance to the main character of a very popular cartoon in Argentina, my family is a drawing (“My family is a drawing”). Martinez was nicknamed Dibu in his youth for his freckles similar to the drawn hero.

8. Argentina ultra-dependent on Di Maria in the finals

Since 2008, the Albiceleste has played in five finals of world competitions (2008 Olympics, 2014 World Cup, 2015, 2016 and 2021 Copa America). During these matches, she only scored 2 goals, each time through Angel Di Maria. The former PSG midfielder should not start against the Blues on Sunday, but could enter during the match.

9. David Trezeguet vote Argentine

The winner of the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with the Blues grew up and learned football in Argentina from 1979 to 1995 with his parents Jorge and Beatriz. So Sunday’s final inevitably has a special flavor. “It’s difficult on a personal level and on an emotional level. It’s something I didn’t want to see, but it has to be a party and it’s a grand finale.”, he explained Saturday morning to the TyC Sport media. Shared, the former legend of Juventus in Turin still has a preference and she goes for the Albiceleste. “Emotionally, knowing it will be his last World Cup, Messi deserves to be champion. It makes you dream”“Trezegoal” slice.

10. Europe VS South America: Mbappé boastful or lucid?

“The advantage we Europeans have is that we play among ourselves with high-level matches all the time, like the League of Nations. Where Brazil and Argentina do not have this level in South America. Football is not as advanced as in Europe. That’s why at the last World Cups, it’s always the Europeans who have won.” This football analysis is the work of French striker Kylian Mbappé. Pronounced last May, this development finds a very particular echo at the dawn of the final between France and Argentina where the remarks caused their little controversy. Enough to push the Albiceleste goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (“Dibu”!) to respond, in person, to the French striker. “He said that because he never played in South America. They know we are a great team and they respect us.dropped the doorman of Aston Villa, this Saturday at a press conference.