The main event
Lisandro Martínez – Raphaël Varane, Leandro Paredes – Adrien Rabiot, Cristian Romero – Hugo Lloris and Nahuel Molina – Antoine Griezmann. These are the subplots we can expect when Argentina take on France in the final on Sunday. While everyone is thinking about Lionel Messi against Kylian Mbappé, there are many club mates who are preparing to fight for the right to be champions of the planet, of the entire planet.
In theory, Martinez and Varane could link up at centre-back for Manchester United’s Carabao Cup tie against Burnley next Wednesday. You’d imagine the relationship would be somewhat soured by the result in Qatar on Sunday. Admittedly, it is to be expected that Erik ten Hag will give the pair a few days rest rather than immediately returning to the freezing cold of north-west England, to ensure they are fresh and available to play Nottingham Forest on December 27
Whenever these couples are forced to join forces, there can be even more frost than in an English club’s training ground. Sunday’s final will define the careers of many involved, as half will become the few selected to win the World Cup and the others will become footnotes in the Wikipedia pages. Whatever the outcome, the outcome will have a lasting impact on people. Those who return buoyed by victory may not feel the immediate physical and emotional toll that the last month in Qatar has taken on them until much later, while the losers will be left to lament potentially losing their (or in the case of France, another ) possibility of glory.
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The national teams of Argentina and France will want their most starry star men to shine in the final and bring them glory. But those without the number 10 on the back of their shirts will also need to be at their best to win glorious gold. They are a group of world-class players often overlooked in the drama of the Qataris having bankrolled the club moves of Messi and Mbappé, not to mention their incomparable qualities.
Paris Saint-Germain have two players in the final squad, while Atletico Madrid have four and Sevilla, Bayern Munich and Juventus three each. The narrative will be strong for M&M, but Villarreal, Benfica and Marseille also have two people involved. River Plate, Rennes, Aston Villa and West Ham could all welcome players with the brightest of medals. It would be the second time the Hammers have provided a substitute goalkeeper for France in a World Cup triumph. Bernard Lama, the great net-shooter, was Fabian Barthez’s replacement in 1998 and this time Alphonse Areola has spent the entire tournament on the bench. And to think, people are still kicking around 1966 in East London.
Should Argentina win, Real Madrid and Barcelona would be without a reigning world champion, while Sevilla would have a trio of kings, a celebration of their recruitment rather than the bottomless pit they offer PSG. If France comes out on top, I would see Monaco and Marseille with two gold champions each.
Olivier Giroud has gone from loan spells in France’s third tier to the top of the game, and potentially a second World Cup winner’s medal around his neck. Argentina’s Franco Armani moved to Colombia after years in Argentina’s second and third tiers, playing top-flight football after struggling to progress in his homeland. The goalkeeper applied for Colombian citizenship and was on the verge of receiving a call-up, but eventually returned home to leave the 36-year-old 90 minutes away from winning the World Cup. Beyond the headlines, there will be some very funny stories. WU
Talking points
Morocco makes its broadest point. The huge support enjoyed by Morocco (and Tunisia and Saudi Arabia) this past month may not have vindicated the decision to host this World Cup in Qatar – nothing can, given the previous human rights record of Qatar – but has strengthened the case for holding the tournament in that part of the world. Morocco has bid four times, narrowly missing out in 1994, more narrowly in 1998 and 2006, and controversially in 2010 (with some reports claiming it had garnered more votes than South Africa). Of course, the demands and expense of hosting a modern World Cup make it prohibitive for too many nations, but that’s more of an argument for FIFA to lower its requirements. This year’s World Cup has at least shown us that a tournament in the Arab world would not want a proper soccer culture, on and off the pitch. TD
Morocco’s fans brought the noise during their semi-final loss to France. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Third is nowhere for Croatia or Morocco. England fans may remember a meek defeat to Belgium four years ago in the third-place play-off. Brazil launched it, almost eight years ago, against the Netherlands. The game may be curiously uncompetitive, although perhaps this Saturday’s can buck recent trends. Morocco can strengthen their position further, while Croatia were delighted to finish third at France 98 and, after runners-up in 2018, can make it three tournaments out of a possible seven on the podium. Their coach, Zlatko Dalic, has confirmed that the majority of the 2022 squad will not play in the next World Cup. Although 20-year-old Josko Gvardiol will be next, it represents a last-place finish for a thirty-year-old collection that includes Luka Modric. A lot is at stake for both teams, although mental and physical fatigue will play a big part. JB
Croatian midfielder Luka Modric, left, takes part in training this Thursday. Photograph: Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images
More than three dozen Nepali civil society groups have called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to “stop looking the other way” as migrant workers are denied compensation after “suffering abuses in Qatar”. In an open letter to Infantino, the organizations demanded compensation for workers they said had been mistreated and families who have lost loved ones. “Stories of stolen wages and broken dreams are part of our daily lives,” the letter said. “We are all too familiar with the images of coffins arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport. So we ask you, President Infantino, to stop looking the other way while the citizens of our country – and all other nationalities – they are denied their rights.”
Global media surveillance
Le Matin al Marroc was pleased that Antoine Griezmann had noted “the complexity of the game”, and said that the national team “will still be able to end their memorable campaign on a high note on Saturday, during the ‘little final’ against Croatia”. . But the dignitaries played an important role in the coverage of the semi-final. Le Matin also noted that King Abdullah II of Jordan, the Emir of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the US Ambassador to Morocco, Puneet Talwar, had “expressed their pride in the achievement of the Lions of the Atlas” on Twitter.
Hespress reported that King Mohammed VI of Morocco spoke to President Emmanuel Macron after the match to congratulate him on France’s victory. Mehdi Hitane wrote that the team was “heralded as the most inspiring campaign of the 2022 World Cup” and “was met with massive respect and admiration for an inspiring journey”.
Morocco fans react as they watch the match in Casablanca. Photograph: Abdelhak Balhaki/Reuters
Al Bayane wanted to lay the team’s success at the door of the King himself, whom he praised for the creation of the Mohammed VI Football Academy and for “the special and permanent attention [he] it has never ceased to surround the sports sector in general and the practice of football in particular”.
There was still concern for fans who had not been able to make it, with Assabah saying the late cancellation of flights had come “like a bolt of lightning to many who dreamed of attending the semi-final”. His verdict was that the national team came out of the competition with “their heads held high”, and on Thursday lunchtime his website led with the fact that US President Joe Biden, had watched the game alongside Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch. MB
It was a great honor to watch today’s World Cup match alongside Moroccan Prime Minister Akhannouch.
No matter who you side with, it was remarkable to see what this team has been able to accomplish. pic.twitter.com/5kC4zkT1HQ
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 14, 2022
The Internet reacts
Videos of celebrations with teams returning to their hotels have become ubiquitous in Qatar, but there was one good thing to note in France’s last: Adrien Rabiot was ruled out of their semi-final due to illness, but it can be seen appearing at 1m 02s.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press has been in Rosario, the Argentinian city where Lionel Messi grew up, to do a short report with its residents.
In Lionel Messi’s hometown of Rosario, Argentina, residents love him for helping the country win its third World Cup.
The closest Messi came was in 2014, when Argentina lost the final to Germany. pic.twitter.com/RTX6gcxi1s
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 15, 2022
And finally …
Those big-name former players that TV viewers have seen lounging on plush seats at games now have to sing for dinner. Or at least play football. With no more football until Saturday, Fifa’s content delivery machine has destroyed a tournament of stars.
Starting on Thursday and played over two days, the Fifa…