Didier Deschamps needs a counter-plan to check Lionel Messi if he wants to win a third World Cup
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Lionel Messi and Didier Deschamps
France is one game away from creating history and potentially becoming one of the greatest national sides in the modern version of the beautiful game. The French side will face a high-flying Argentina led by their talisman Lionel Messi. He is chasing the ultimate glory one last time. Messi is re-defining his legacy in Qatar at 35. The World Cup glory might earn him the GOAT status. Regardless of who will come out as the winner when the final whistle is blown, the Lusail Stadium will witness World Cup history.
France’s head coach Didier Deschamps is one of the many chasing history and a place in record books in the Middle East. He is chasing a third World Cup to add to his cabinet. Deschamps won his first as a player in 1998, the first-ever World Cup France won. The French headcoach won his second title 20 years later in Russia as the head coach of Les Blues. In 2022, he can kiss the Trophy with the French again. It’s not just Deschamps; ten players in the squad are also chasing a second World Cup. A win that will elevate them to an elite bracket few could dream of.
To achieve this glory, France needs to silence Messi. The seven times Ballon d’Or winner was able to level up his game on French soil with PSG. Now has the chance to redeem himself for the 2014 World Cup final loss to Germany. He has been the most productive player in the 2022 edition of the tournament, with five goals and three assists. His partnership upfront with young Manchester City Striker Julian Alvarez is poetry in motion.
“Stop Messi”, a task managers have failed to do in the last 18 years, now rests on the shoulders of Deschamps. He needs to develop a plan that ensures moments of unstoppable brilliance from the Argentina captain won’t occur in the final. With the ball at his feet, he is still as decisive as he has been throughout his career. He has evolved into a deep-laying playmaker for the White and Blues who could produce killer passes to the wingers or striker Alverez who only has the job of guiding it to goalposts.
Antone Hriezmann, the Former Barcelona teammate of Messi, might have to do some dirty work for France. Young Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni should be on his heels the whole night. Heneeds to stop Messi’s run toward the goal from the center circle. The flu spreading within the French squad is a matter of concern for Deschamps. He might not have some first 11 players fully fit for the final match.
Kylian Mbappe can be the difference-maker against Lionel Messi’s Argentina just like four years ago
Lionel Messi’s young PSG teammate and one of the future superstars, Kylian Mbappe, might be the difference-maker for France in the final. Mabbape and Messi are the front runner for the Golden boot and potentially the Golden ball in the tournament. Mbappe has scored five times In Qatar and assisted for two goals. He made the difference the last time they met in the world cup.
Mbappe scored the last two goals for France in the 4-3 win over Argentina in the Quarterfinals of the 2018 Russia World Cup. His runs in the wings can tear the heart of Argentina’s defense. If he can pick up Olivier Giroud in the box with his superior passing quality, Otamendi and Romero are in for a nightmare on Sunday. The overlapping runs from Theo Fernadez will also trouble the Argentine wing-backs.
With the ball at his feet, Mbappe is as Dangerous as Messi. in a one vs. One situation, the defenders have less chance of taking the ball of his feat. Argentina can’t play a high defensive line. None of their players has the pace to match up with either Mbappe or Dembele. Decision-making in crucial moments and near-perfect execution is the way to win the game for both sides.
Also read: Who is the most successful team in the World Cup Argentina or France?
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Justin P Joy
(4895 Articles Published)