It all comes down to this. One game to decide the world champion, for the next four years! France and Argentina square off in the final of the World Cup. Two nations that have left a huge imprint on this game with two titles under their belts, respectively.
France has a chance to defend their title from 2018, a feat that has only been accomplished twice – Italy (1934/1938) and Brazil (1958/1962). This is no easy task, but they are capable of making it happen. France is a squad with great players and with enough experience to take on any side in the world. Mbappe is arguably the best player in the world. Giroud and Griezmann are top notch players that can instill fear in any goalie. Speaking of goalies, Lloris is undoubtedly one of the best goalies in the world. Basically, they have everything a squad should have to be the champion.
Argentina has also won two titles, as the host nation in 1978 and in 1986 (Mexico). A nation that lives soccer (football). A nation that has given birth to the best two players that have ever played this beautiful game! A nation that breathes this game. Argentine soccer fans are some of the most fanatical fans in the world. The atmosphere they make at the stadiums is second to none. Their melodic and emotional chanting is something that comes directly from the soul.
Maradona is a synonym for Argentine soccer and Argentina in general. He is Le Mano de Dios (The Hand of God), which is a reference to the goal he scored against England in the 1986 quarter finals. Maradona later said he considered the goal to be "symbolic revenge" for the United Kingdom's victory over Argentina in the Falklands War four years earlier. This sentiment goes way back. Centuries of British colonialization, where people lost land, suffered discrimination, prejudice and genocide. Countries were exploited for raw materials and people were enslaved so that the privileged could profit. Maradona’s Le Mano de Dios provided some justice for the enslaved, the oppressed, the majority that was subjugated by a minority. It was poetic justice for all the injustice! Maradona is poetry!
This is Messi’s last crack at lifting the Trofeo de la Copa Mundial de Fútbol (The World Cup trophy). To go down as the GOAT is pretty much impossible without having this trophy under his belt. Messi’s statistics are jaw-dropping. He played his 1,000th professional game at this World Cup, during which time he has scored almost 800 goals. He has won it all, except the Holy Grail of soccer, the most sought-after treasure in all of sport, the FIFA World Cup trophy!
Two teammates, arguably the two best players in the world, one already a legend and the other a future legend, face each other for all the marbles. It’s Messi vs Mbappe with Maradona watching from above! It doesn’t get better than this. I hope Argentina can go all the way. I have a soft spot for Maradona, but also Messi. Two players that have cemented my love for the game: the former in my childhood and the latter in my adulthood.
Vamos, vamos Argentina!
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Sinisa Mihajlovic was a Serbian professional soccer player and coach. He won the European Cup with Red Star Belgrade in 1991 and then played in the Italian Serie A for many seasons, where he left a great legacy as the greatest free kick taker in the world. He holds the all-time record in Serie A for most goals from free-kicks with 28 goals.
Rest in peace, Miha.
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Keywords/Keyphrases
-to square off: to oppose someone in a competition or prepare to fight someone.
-to have something under your belt: you have already achieved it or done it.
-top notch: of the highest quality; excellent.
-second to none: something is the best in its class.
-exploit: to use someone or something unfairly for your own advantage.
-subjugate: to bring under complete control or subjection; conquer; master.
-GOAT: Greatest Of All Time
-Holy Grail: something that you want very much but that is very hard to get or achieve.
-for all the marbles: for complete victory or to earn or win all the prizes.
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