Well yes. It is the worst possible rival in a final. Maybe France has better individuality (except Messi) and Spain has better pure play, but there is no team in the world more winning (four titles) and more competitive (they have come back, from defeat or draw, the four games from 1/16 to the semis) than Argentina. And, on top of all that, it has great players and the best of all time: Leo Messi.
It is a selection that He has been playing with the same structure for five years and with the experience of having won all the titles since July 2021. An eleven that is known almost by heart with top centre-backs (Lisando-‘Cuti’); three fixed world champion midfielders (De Paul-Mac Allister-Enzo) and top stars (Messi-Julián-Lautaro).
It is a fearsome Argentina for its results, in addition to the game. Since their defeat in the 2019 Copa América semifinals against Brazil, this team has won 15 decisive knockout matches for seven years in a row consecutively. Since 2019 he has won them all. Namely: Copa América 2021 (Ecuador, in the quarterfinals; Colombia, in the semis; and Brazil in the final); Finalissima 2022 (Italy); 2022 World Cup (Australia, Netherlands, Croatia and France); Copa América 2024 (Ecuador, Canada and Colombia); and now (Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland and England).
Since that defeat against Brazil, everything has changed: ‘Argen’ has played 92 games, with 75 wins, 12 draws and five losses. A great CV from Lionel Scaloni. Result: four titles: World Cup 2022, Finalíssima 2022 and two Copa Américas (2021 and 2024).
Argentina’s 19 goals before reaching the final
This Argentina is just one step away from achieving an unprecedented feat in modern football, such as winning two consecutive World Cups (22 and 26), something that Yes, he did Italy from 1934-1938 and Brazil from 1958-1962. A modern two-time championship on the horizon.
And then there is the ‘Messi effect’, who at 39 years old is, until today at least, the most decisive player in the tournamentwith his eight goals and two assists (Egypt and England), although he also gave the decisive passes in a Cape Verde corner for ‘Cuti’ and in the 1-1 play against England. FIFA does not count them.
In the end, a tough opponent for a tough final. Nothing less was expected. It’s a World Cup final, gentlemen!
