FIFA World Cup final 2022 Argentina v France what time in Australia, date
FIFA has again been pulled into the world of geopolitics and has given an emphatic answer to Ukranian president Volodmyr Zelensky’s appeal request.
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FIFA have blocked Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky from giving a World Cup Final message - as Gianni Infantino said the pitch must never be a place for protests.
Zelensky wanted to “share a message of world peace” via video link to the fans inside the Lusail Stadium.
But the approach was rebuffed with a source in the Ukrainian government complaining: “We thought Fifa wanted to use its platform for the greater good.”
The decision came soon after Infantino publicly revealed his stance on the One Love armband row with England, Wales and six other European teams for the first time.
Skippers including Harry Kane and Gareth Bale were wanted they would be booked if they defied Fifa to wear the rainbow-style anti-discrimination armbands.
Infantino claimed: “I honestly believe we ARE defending values, human rights and the rights of everybody.
“When it comes to regulations, it’s not about prohibiting anything but about playing football on the field of play.
“Everybody is free to express their views, opinions and beliefs but on the pitch, the field of play, we need to respect football and those regulations protect 211 football teams and their fans.
“The fans who come to the stadium and the billions watching the World Cup on television, each of them has their own problems.
“They just want to spend 90, 100, 105, maybe 120 minutes plus penalties without having to think about anything else, to enjoy a little moment of pleasure and emotion.
“We just need to give these people a moment of time in their life where they can forget their own problems and enjoy football.
“Outside the match, everyone can express their point of view but let’s give that moment of joy to those who want to enjoy it.”
AUSSIE PUNTER SMACKS $1M ON FRANCE
NSW TAB has taken one of its biggest ever bets with one punter investing more than $1 million on France to win the Football World Cup in Qatar on Monday.
The punter has had two bets on France to beat Argentina and stands to win upwards of $2.5 million.
The fearless cashed-up football fan has placed two wagers on defending champions France. The details are:
#$500,000 at $1.90 on France to win the World Cup. The collect would be $950,000.
#$550,000 at $2.70 on France in win the World Cup in normal time. The collect would be $1,485,000
If France win the World Cup without having to go to extra time, the punter would collect a total of $2,435,000.
“I can’t recall too many bigger bets TAB has taken in its history,’’ TAB spokesman Andrew Georgiou said.
“This includes all sports or racing, even during the period when we had some serious punters putting big bets on Black Caviar and Winx when they were winning.’’
Despite the massive plunge, the latest TAB betting on the World Cup has France and Argentina as equal favourites at $1.90.
“Argentina has been popular with punters from the start of the World Cup — there’s no doubt it’s the (Lionel) Messi factor,’’ Georgiou said.
“But the holds on the World Cup have been fantastic all tournament.’’
Messi, the Argentinian superstar some regard as the greatest footballer of all time, and France’s freakish Kylian Mbappe are both at $5 to score the first goal in Monday’s final.
IS MESSI INJURED? FEARS AHEAD OF FINAL
Lionel Messi and the rest of Argentina’s starting line-up were absent from training on Thursday amid concerns over their talisman’s fitness.
The 35-year-old was seen clutching his hamstring several times during the 3-0 win over Croatia on Tuesday.
It has led Argentina fans to become increasingly concerned about Messi’s condition ahead of their World Cup final against France on Sunday.
But Messi’s non-appearance at training should not raise alarm bells as manager Lionel Scaloni gave all the starting XI from the semi-final the day off.
Foot Mercato are reporting that Messi is experiencing discomfort in his hamstring, although he is widely considered to be fit.
Squad players Angel Di Maria and Paulo Dybala - both of whom came on as second half substitutes against Croatia - were present at training.
Papu Gomez is nursing a sprained ankle and remains a doubt for the final, while Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel will return from suspension.
But it is Messi that every Argentine is hanging their hopes on heading into the France game.
The Barcelona legend has been in scintillating form for his country, contributing five goals and three assists in their six World Cup games.
But more than his goal contributions, he has been talismanic in everything Argentina have done at the tournament as he bids to win the trophy on his fifth and final attempt.
He previously came closest eight years ago when Germany beat the South Americans in the 2014 final.
Speaking after the win over Croatia, he said: “I feel really good, I feel strong and ready to play each game.
“It’s not easy as we arrived tired but the group gained strength again and we played a strong game.
“I am enjoying this a lot. I feel very happy in this World Cup and I am able to help the squad.”
Keeper Emi Martinez also dismissed talk of Messi carrying an injury.
He said: “No, no [he’s not injured]. We played 120 minutes against Holland, it was a hard game for him but you can see he wants to finish every game.
“Physically he’s really good and he’s man of the match every game.”
Argentina have not won the World Cup since Diego Maradona inspired them to glory in Mexico in 1986.
HOW DID THEY GET TO THE FINAL?
France ended Morocco’s World Cup dream as goals from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani gave the holders a 2-0 win in their semi-final clash and set up a showdown with Lionel Messi’s Argentina.
It looked like France might make short work of their opponents when Hernandez scored inside five minutes at Al Bayt Stadium, despite having a hostile crowd against them.
But Morocco, the first African and Arab team ever to reach the last four at a World Cup, fought on despite losing key players to injury only to see substitute Kolo Muani seal victory for Les Bleus with a late second.
It will be France’s fourth World Cup final in seven editions and they are hoping to become the first team since Brazil 60 years ago to retain the trophy when they take on Argentina at Lusail Stadium on Sunday.
That will be billed as a showdown between Messi and his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe, but this match was not about the latter’s individual brilliance.
Instead France’s victory was down to a team effort against a Moroccan side who will now face Croatia in Saturday’s third-place play-off.
THE 2022 WORLD CUP FINAL IS AT 2AM MONDAY DECEMBER 19 (AEDT)
Morocco had reached the semi-finals after beating Belgium in the group stage and then knocking out Spain and Portugal.
But whether they could repeat the feat against the holders was another matter, and coach Walid Regragui’s plans were left in turmoil by a slew of injuries.
Having missed the quarter-final, centre-back Nayef Aguerd was recalled only to withdraw at the last minute, with Achraf Dari stepping in.
Then fellow defender and captain Romain Saiss had to abandon his teammates after just 21 minutes, and by then Morocco were behind.
France were met by deafening whistles when in possession from the huge Moroccan support but they silenced the crowd with the early opener, Hernandez netting with an acrobatic volley at the back post after Mbappe’s shot was deflected.
Remarkably it was also just the second goal conceded by Morocco at this World Cup and the first scored by an opposition player.
- INJURIES PILE UP -
If the excellent Azzedine Ounahi forced a fine save from Hugo Lloris soon after, there was the feeling that the evening could quickly turn into a rude reality check for them.
When Saiss let a simple forward ball bounce over his head, Olivier Giroud broke away but his shot hit the post.
Then when Saiss came off Regragui abandoned his back three and matched France’s 4-3-3.
Morocco finished the half strongly and nearly drew level when, following a corner, defender Jawad El Yamiq saw his overhead kick tipped onto the post by Lloris.
The Atlas Lions then also lost Bayern Munich left-back Noussair Mazraoui at half-time, but France had not been saved from fitness worries themselves.
Two of their starters in the quarter-final win over England, Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano, were missing due to illness.
Les Bleus have been used to playing semi-finals on a knife-edge and their previous three wins at this stage -- in 1998, 2006 and 2018 -- had all come by a single goal.
Coach Didier Deschamps took off Giroud and replaced him with Marcus Thuram -- son of Lilian -- as Mbappe moved inside.
Kolo Muani then came on for Ousmane Dembele, and with 11 minutes remaining he scored from his first touch, tapping in after another Mbappe shot had been deflected.
The Moroccan players knew then it was game over, and so did French President Emmanuel Macron, standing to applaud in the crowd.
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Originally published as FIFA World Cup final 2022 Argentina v France what time in Australia, date
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