{"id":160743,"date":"2022-12-17T20:26:08","date_gmt":"2022-12-17T20:26:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/frances-survivors-daring-for-greatest-heist-yet-against-messi-and-argentina-world-cup-2022\/"},"modified":"2022-12-17T20:26:08","modified_gmt":"2022-12-17T20:26:08","slug":"frances-survivors-daring-for-greatest-heist-yet-against-messi-and-argentina-world-cup-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/frances-survivors-daring-for-greatest-heist-yet-against-messi-and-argentina-world-cup-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"France’s survivors daring for greatest heist yet against Messi and Argentina | World Cup 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I<\/span><\/span>f France are the new West Germany \u2013 unflinching under pressure, unconcerned with claiming neutral hearts \u2013 then perhaps time has spun back to 1986. If so then it is good news for Argentina. It has been 36 years since the South Americans edged past the West Germans in a thrilling final and, by the time this most unsettling of World Cups comes to an end at the Lusail Stadium, most football romantics will hope that Lionel Messi has finally claimed his place alongside Diego Maradona in Argentinian folklore.<\/span><\/p>\n

Destiny awaits. Messi in 2022 has been the equivalent of Maradona at Mexico 86, making an ordinary team believe they are capable of winning the greatest prize of all. This is surely his time. Unless, of course, France overcome the virus sweeping through their camp and pull off their latest heist. \u201cI know that Argentinian people, many people around the world, maybe even some French people hope Messi will win the World Cup,\u201d Didier Deschamps acknowledged. \u201cBut we will do everything to achieve our objective.\u201d<\/p>\n

The message from Deschamps was that France are as ready as any flu-ridden team can be. \u201cWe know what Lionel Messi means in the history of football,\u201d France’s captain, Hugo Lloris, added. \u201cBut we will try to find the key to success.\u201d<\/p>\n

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As Lloris pointed out this is a clash between two big nations. In the brief moments when the focus drifts from Messi and Kylian Mbapp\u00e9, France’s bullet train of a forward, the attention falls on two sides whose realism has given both hope of adding a third star to their badge.<\/p>\n

Both show how pragmatism has become the dominant force in international football. Four years ago Deschamps, whose restrained approach has attracted criticism, led France to glory with counterpunching football. Right now he is winning the argument. Even defeat at the final hurdle would be a victory of sorts given that Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, has hardly sent his team out to play fantasy football. \u201cA very well organized side,\u201d was Lloris’s verdict on Argentina. \u201cThey are strong defensively and have a very aggressive press on whoever has the ball. They are very good on the break.\u201d<\/p>\n

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On that note it was interesting to hear Ars\u00e8ne Wenger and J\u00fcrgen Klinsmann deliver their findings from the tournament at a Fifa technical briefing. Compactness in the central areas has been \u201cthe dominant way to play and defend\u201d. It has forced teams into the wide areas, which has led to 45 goals from crosses (up from 24 in 2018) and underlined the renewed importance of the traditional No 9. Think Antoine Griezmann’s whipped delivery for Olivier Giroud to head home the winner during France’s quarter-final win over England. Think Messi wriggling down the outside against Croatia, beating Josko Gvardiol and pulling the ball back for Juli\u00e1n \u00c1lvarez to score.<\/p>\n

That was an example of the beauty of having forwards who can dribble past defenders. \u201cYou had a lot of teams with a lot of possession but no result,\u201d Wenger said, no doubt thinking of Spain. It was also pointed out that, with defensive lines pushing slightly higher, there have been a lot of balls over the top. France, with the pace of Mbapp\u00e9 and Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 on the wings, threaten in that way.<\/p>\n

But France do not set the pulse racing. They had 43% possession against England and 37% during their semi-final against Morocco. \u201cIn the second half we dropped back too much but that was also due to a good performance by the Moroccans,\u201d Lloris said. Good, but not enough. France are survivors. They ration their periods of dominance and maintain their shape when in front. Sometimes, though, it resembles a high-wire act. Morocco hit the post after going behind. England were a Harry Kane penalty away from making it 2-2.<\/p>\n

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<\/svg><\/span>Hugo Lloris says France’s final against Argentina will be a tremendous occasion.<\/span> Photograph: Franck Fife\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But it works for the world champions. Away from Mbapp\u00e9, Giroud has performed selflessly in the absence of the injured Karim Benzema. Griezmann, excelling in his new role as an elusive No 10, a worthy contender for player of the tournament. Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 has been disciplined on the right. In midfield Aur\u00e9lien Tchouam\u00e9ni and Adrien Rabiot could have important jobs shutting down Messi’s space. Rapha\u00ebl Varane, accompanied by either Ibrahima Konat\u00e9 or Dayot Upamecano, exudes calm in central defense.<\/p>\n

This is a gnarly side, summed up by the possibility of Lloris becoming the first captain to win two World Cups. Only France could survive losing Benzema, Lucas Hernandez, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kant\u00e9, Presnel Kimpembe and Christopher Nkunku to injury and still make it this far. Even now, with illness disrupting their preparations, they will back themselves to beat Argentina.<\/p>\n

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