To most managers, having richly gifted attackers of the calibre of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi each obtainable to you’ll all the time stay only a dream (until you get the Paris Saint-Germain job).
However think about having not solely these two at your disposal, however all the squads of the reigning world title holders and the defending champions of South America.
With France and Argentina set to face off within the Qatar World Cup closing on Sunday and the prospect to jot down themselves into the historical past books, Les Bleus supervisor Didier Deschamps and Argentina supervisor Lionel Scaloni have a number of powerful selections when it comes to choosing their beginning XIs.
And under, Sportsmail‘s Max Mathews lays out his joint France-Argentina staff forward of this weekend’s match showpiece.
Kylian Mbappe’s France and Lionel Messi’s Argentina contest the World Cup closing on Sunday
The PSG team-mates will go head-to-head, however what if you happen to may choose each in the identical staff?
Under, Sportsmail’s Max Mathews lays out his joint France-Argentina XI forward of the ultimate
THE LINE-UP (4-3-1-2)
Goalkeeper – Hugo Lloris
The goalkeeping place is a detailed name.
Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez has come a good distance since his one-game emergency mortgage at League Two Oxford United 11 years in the past and is a penalty-saving specialist who leads from the again when it comes to the Albiceleste’s combative, fearless model.
However Lloris is supremely skilled on the best stage, captained his aspect to World Cup victory in 2018 and – some are forgetting – pressured England’s Harry Kane into lacking the second penalty within the quarter-final win by going the suitable method.
Proper again – Nahuel Molina
Amid all of the (rightful) brouhaha over the perfect help of the World Cup, Lionel Messi’s beautiful slide-rule reverse go within the build-up to the opener within the barnstorming four-goal quarter-final in opposition to Holland, it is simple to overlook the goalscorer.
However Nahuel Molina has been quietly efficient for Scaloni, switching between a again 4 and a again 5, neutralising opposition threats – like Ivan Perisic within the semi-final – and even getting on the top of that beautiful Messi go to complete calmly.
He is additionally a extra pure proper again than France’s man filling in there – one of many centre backs to be named on this staff, additional under.
Versatile, combative defender Nahuel Molina (proper) is called at right-back in our author’s staff
Centre again – Cristian Romero
It is all the time entertaining watching Romero. Not all the time a superb factor, for a centre again, continually offering followers with a rollercoaster of emotion. However the 24-year-old has loved a revival after the nation’s vastly disappointing opening recreation.
Beginning very quickly after recovering from harm, his aspect had been surprised in a 2-1 reverse in opposition to Saudi Arabia – the shock of all the competitors – and the Spurs star was arguably at fault for each targets.
He was changed earlier than the hour by Lisandro Martinez and lots of felt that was his match executed. Not so. How efficiently he shackles Mbappe and striker Olivier Giroud on Sunday may resolve the ultimate.
Centre again – Jules Kounde
A shock inclusion over Bayern Munich’s Benjamin Pavard at proper again thus far at this World Cup, and maybe a shock inclusion at centre again on this staff too.
However Nicolas Otamendi, 34, is susceptible to rash challenges, and a trio of France defenders in Raphael Varane, Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano are all struck down by sickness.
Footage present all three – and, in reality, the entire gamers who’ve been scuffling with a virus, returned to coaching on the eve of the ultimate, that means they’re in rivalry to play on Sunday.
Nevertheless it’s not assured, and Deschamps could resolve to shift a totally match Jules Kounde throughout to centre again to plug a spot in his defence. With that in thoughts, the versatile Barcelona defender will get the nod subsequent to Romero.
Amid doubts over the health of three France defenders, Jules Kounde is called at centre half
Left again – Theo Hernandez
France’s squad depth is bordering on ludicrous. Didier Deschamps may conceivably assemble a aggressive World Cup squad comprised of the gamers he not noted of the 26-man group, and that depth was confirmed of their opening recreation.
A perfectly gifted left again referred to as Hernandez will get dominated out of the match with a nasty knee harm 13 minutes into their match opener? No downside, the boss can name upon… one other beautifully gifted left again referred to as Hernandez.
Theo has stepped in for brother Lucas seamlessly, scoring a high quality improvised acrobatic effort to open the scoring within the semi-final win in opposition to Morocco, and has linked up actually properly with Mbappe.
Defensive midfield – Aurelien Tchouameni
It took so much to outshine England’s Declan Rice within the quarter-final, however Actual Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni managed it.
It is telling how little France have missed injured world-class operators like N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, the engine-room pair that spearheaded their World Cup-winning aspect in 2018, and plenty of that’s all the way down to the defensive midfielder.
Whoever performs subsequent to him in midfield, maybe Youssouf Fofana, maybe Adrien Rabiot, they know they will have Tchouameni’s safety beside and behind them. The way forward for the Los Blancos midfield, together with whizkid Eduardo Camavinga.
Centre midfield – Rodrigo De Paul
To name Rodrigo De Paul ‘Lionel Messi’s protector’ does him an awesome disservice. Certain, he appears out for the little magician, and he will battle you (with out getting despatched off) if you happen to foul his team-mate.
However he’s a splendidly gifted playmaker who can do either side of the sport – the silk and the metal – with comparable ease and has the tactical understanding and consciousness to fill completely different roles throughout the midfield.
For instance, if this aspect wished to maneuver to a 4-4-2, De Paul may simply transfer to the nominal proper hand aspect of midfield, with Griezmann left. You need to be within the footballing trenches with a participant like De Paul.
Centre midfield – Enzo Fernandez
In fact, there are loads extra gifted choices to play in midfield for our aspect. Camavinga, Rabiot, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister. However are any of them as enjoyable as Enzo Fernandez?
Focused by Premier League aspect Liverpool and probably the subsequent star to go away Benfica in a multi-million deal, the 21-year-old has solely received 9 caps and performed simply 13 league video games in Europe.
His namesake is Enzo Francescoli (one in every of Zinedine Zidane’s idols as a child, together with Michel Platini) and if he can emulate a 3rd of a kind of participant’s careers, he’ll be some participant. Regulate this child.
Argentine duo Enzo Fernandez (left) and Rodrigo De Paul are chosen as central midfielders
Attacking midfield – Antoine Griezmann
Griezmann is commonly underestimated on the very prime stage. He is by no means received a LaLiga title, they are saying. He did not actually do it at Barcelona. Managers do not know what his finest place is. He does not know what his finest place is, they add. Ignore them.
Griezmann is somewhat paying homage to Kai Havertz, one other lithe left-footed attacking midfielder who drifts about, seemingly aimlessly, throughout the pitch earlier than out of nowhere conjuring a panoramic piece of talent to vary a recreation.
Exhibit A: the cross to Giroud in opposition to England. Exhibit B: the cross to Mbappe in opposition to Denmark. There are many different examples. You do not play 73 consecutive video games for the world champions until you’ve gotten one thing about you.
Ahead – Lionel Messi
Probably the 2 least controversial selections in the entire staff, the strikers. Certain, I may take out a midfielder and have Olivier Giroud as a central figurehead as an alternative, with Messi proper and Mbappe left, slicing onto their stronger sides.
However Messi can play as a striker in a two, like he has been with Manchester Metropolis’s Julian Alvarez. He can do something, anyplace. Put aside all his profession achievements earlier than this World Cup and you continue to have a great deal of moments of magic.
Messi (left) and Mbappe (proper) make up an all-star attacking pairing in Sportsmail’s staff
A objective in opposition to Saudi Arabia, a objective in opposition to Mexico, a superb efficiency in opposition to Poland (albeit he missed a penalty), a objective in opposition to Australia, a objective and help in opposition to Holland, a objective and two assists in opposition to Croatia. At 35 years outdated. Absurd.
Ahead – Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe and Messi, PSG team-mates, the perfect of the present era (do not come for me, Cristiano Ronaldo followers) and the perfect of the subsequent, the 2 present prime scorers on the World Cup and the entrance two in my staff.
I should not actually need to justify it – he is simply very, excellent at soccer. Even in a ‘quieter’ recreation in opposition to England within the quarter-final, England’s (largely profitable) plan to cease him opened up time and area for others.
The 23-year-old has already executed what Ronaldo, and probably Messi, could by no means obtain of their profession – carry a World Cup. Can he carry one other on Sunday? Do not put it previous him.
Sportsmail’s closing definitive mixed France-Argentina XI, lining up in a 4-3-1-2 formation
