World Cup: France and Argentina dreaming of glory in Qatar final
France and Argentina are heading into Sunday's FIFA World Cup Final both dreaming of glory, and winning a third trophy.
The game kicks off at Qatar's Lusail Stadium at 16:00 CET, with the top teams in Europe and South America looking for victory in the last game of the month-long tournament.
France are the reigning champions and will be supported in the final by thousands of fans, and super fan President Emmanuel Macron who already flew once to Qatar to watch Les Bleus win their semi-final against Morocco.
“I’m backing the France team and I think that the French are too,” Macron said this week.
Paris and some other French big cities have decided not to broadcast World Cup matches on giant screens in public fan zones amid concerns about Qatar’s human rights record, but Macron is meeting with Qatari officials during his visit.
On the pitch, France coach Didier Deschamps knows most neutral fans want Argentina to win the World Cup final to give Lionel Messi the perfect send-off from soccer's biggest tournament.
In fact, Deschamps even believes some people in France hope that happens, too.
“I’m fine being alone in the world -- that doesn't bother me,” he said with a smile.
It feels like Deschamps and his France team have been up against it throughout the tournament.
The World Cup started for France with a deluge of injuries, with Karim Benzema, Christopher Nkunku and Presnel Kimpembe getting ruled out to join Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante on the sidelines.
It is finishing with France's squad being further weakened by a virus that led to defender Dayot Upamecano and midfielder Adrien Rabiot missing the win over Morocco in the semifinals.
Three more players -- center backs Raphael Varane and Ibrahima Konaté and winger Kingsley Coman --
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