Central & South America

World Cup final starting XIs: Ángel Di María makes surprise start for Argentina

LUSAIL, Qatar - Ángel Di María is starting for Argentina in their World Cup final clash against France as coach Lionel Scaloni opted for a 4-3-3 formation on Sunday.

Di María, who has not started since the group phase and played only eight minutes in the quarterfinal victory against the Netherlands, is on the right flank of attack, with Lionel Messi set to become the player with most appearances at the World Cup finals (26).

Argentina or France? The18's 2022 World Cup final predictions

We are at the end of the road. Yeah! It's hard to believe it. After a month and 63 games filled with drama, joy and other emotions, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is almost finished. The only thing left to know is who will be the grand champion.

Argentina and France are the finalists, and both are chasing to lift the tournament's trophy for the third time in their history. But that's not all. Their best players, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, are also locking horns, seeking individual glories: the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball. 

Dato del árbitro que pitará la final del Mundial ilusiona a los aficionados argentinos

La FIFA designó este jueves al árbitro que impartirá la ley en la final del Mundial entre Argentina y Francia. Se trata de Szymon Marciniak, silbante que ya le pitó a ambas selecciones durante el torneo y que se convertirá en el primer polaco en dirigir esta instancia.

Por si alguien busca tendencias, coincidencias y la quinta pata a los gatos, Marciniak ya dirigió a ambas selecciones durante el torneo, con victorias tanto para Argentina como para Francia. Sin embargo, hay un dato de su biografía que ilusiona más a los aficionados de La Albiceleste. 

Fan footage shows superb Messi assist vs. Croatia in a whole new dimension

If you're still rewinding and replaying Lionel Messi's magnificent assist vs. Croatia, this fan footage of it will knock your socks off. 

The magic behind the clip is that it shows the play from its genesis and allows you to see how Messi masterminded the sequence with some small talk with Julián Álvarez near the midfield line. 

Real Madrid signs Brazil's most celebrated 16-year-old prodigy for $75 million

MADRID - Real Madrid have reached an agreement to sign Brazilian teenager Endrick from Palmeiras, the teams announced on Thursday, beating a host of leading European clubs linked to the prodigy.

The 16-year-old striker will join the European and LaLiga champions in July 2024, due to world soccer governing body FIFA's rules prohibiting underage players from playing abroad.

Argentina vs. France: Who will win the World Cup final?

The stage is set. The 2022 FIFA World Cup Final will be a clash of titans — Lionel Messi and Argentina battling Kylian Mbappé and France with both nations going for a third title. Only Brazil (five), Germany and Italy (both four) have won it more.

France, the defending world champions, have a lethal mixture of know-how and individual brilliance, but Argentina, South American champs, have Messi and a supporting cast ready to run through walls for their beloved captain.

Argentina battles against recent history after reaching 6th World Cup final

With a Lionel Messi penalty, an improbable Julián Álvarez goal off a dribble that started inside his own half and an outrageous Messi assist, Argentina clinched a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final by beating Croatia 3-0 and improved its semifinal record in the competition to a perfect five-for-five.

Ronaldinho se rinde ante la exhibición de Messi y Argentina rumbo a la final del Mundial

Argentina se convirtió en el primer finalista del Mundial de Catar 2022.

La Albiceleste venció a Croacia por 3-0, gracias a una clase magistral de Lionel Messi. El 10 anotó un gol y dio una de las mejores asistencias del torneo para guiar a sus compañeros en una victoria que tuvo el reconocimiento de Ronaldinho en las tribunas del Estadio Lusail.

Reacción de Ronaldinho al triunfo de Argentina vs Croacia

Messi comenzó la fiesta anotando desde los doce pasos, tras un claro penal cometido sobre Julián Álvarez

Messi se convirtió en el máximo goleador de Argentina en mundiales

En su misión de llevar a Argentina a la final de la Copa del Mundo, Lionel Messi rompió otro récord en su condecorada carrera.

Luego de convertir el primero de los tres goles con que la Albiceleste venció a Croacia, el "10" se convirtió en el máximo goleador de su país en la historia del torneo.

Máximo goleador de Argentina en Mundiales

La marca de Messi se concretó en el minuto 34, luego de patear el penal que el portero Dominik Livaković le había cometido a Julián Álvarez.

El tiro de Messi fue arriba, cruzado e inatajable.

A striker finally comes through for Lionel Messi and Argentina when needed most

Lionel Messi's recent World Cup past has been synonymous with infamous performances from Argentina's strikers. 

In the 2014 final, Gonzalo Higuaín was Argentina's worst player, slicing a glorious opportunity wide and failing to check his run on an offside goal. In 2018, Sergio Agüero fought with manager Jorge Sampaoli and got dropped. 

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