France and Argentina both have two stars on their world cup. Argentina got theirs in 1978 and 1986, while France did in 1998 and 2018. Deschamps coached and captained his team to a WC victory.
Argentina have had a brighter start of the two teams, as Alexis MacAllister had a good strike on goal which was easy for Lloris to save. From a tatctial perspective, France build up with a back three, with Kounde, Varane and Upamecano, with Hernandez wide on the left while Ousmane Dembele was wide on the right. Di Maria was on the left hand side, while Messi was right of centre.
The game was set. France will try to press the Argentinians, while the South Americans will try to play through the press. Argentina build with a back four, with the two full backs seeking to bomb up and down the pitch. Not much inversion as we tend to see in club football which ave become a trademark in coaches like Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp. Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez and Ale MacAllister are in the midfield as the ’86 WC Champions are in a 4-3-3, which sometimes morphs into a 4-4-2 at times, depending on the rotations of the players. Their aim is to bring players out and play into the space behind them. Also, the Argentines feed Angel Di Maria who can take players one-on-one which led to a penalty after Dembele’s rash challenge.
PENALTY! Symon Marciniak points to the spot.
Messi scores!!! 1-0 Argentina!
A goal which may live long in the memory of those in Buenos Aires. His 97th goal for Argentina may be his most important one.
France now has to commit men forward to get an equalizing goal. It’s been mainly Argentina and France have barely got out of first gear. After thirty-five minutes, France haven’t had a shot in anger, talk less of on target. A counter by Argentina which was begun by Messi and MacAllister ends at Angel Di Maria who scored the second goal for Argentina in the thirty-sixth minute.
France were so flavourless that the former Monaco manager Deschamps prepared a double substitution with Giroud and Dembele coming off for Thuram and Randal Kolo Muani. This means that Mbappe is played through the middle which would mean the centre backs need to be wary of the ball in behind.
France, after the substitutions, in added time of the first half started to grow into the game. If they wanted to win the game, they should increase the tempo and get the ball quickly to Mbappe. In addition to that, the front three of Mbappe, Kolo Muani and Thuram should be closer together and rotate positions as they have been quiet and have caused the South Americans no problems in the first half.
Kounde has had a torrid time defending Di Maria as the Argentine creator has been instrumental in both goals, winning the penalty for the first and scoring the second.
France are a little better than they were in the first half. Better tempo, and better intensity to try to cut their two goal deficit. Instead of building with a back three, Kounde, the right back is seen to be bombing up and down the right wing, at times, which increases the number of French players attacking as they seek the elusive first goal. In the sixtieth minute, there was little to nothing of note for Emi Martinez to do.
Scaloni, who has been tactically sound in this final, decided to bring Di Maria off and bring a defender on in Acuna. France have been better since the hour mark, as they have had more possession of the ball, albeit with little to no attacking chances.
Ore M. 
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