dpa
Doha
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has stressed thatSunday’s World Cup final against champions France is much more than the duel between top stars Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.
“Tomorrow it’s Argentina against France, not Lionel Messi against Kylian Mbappe,” Scaloni told reporters on Saturday. “Every player will have a chance to leave a mark.” He added that the game would be “a collective effort, not individual” and believes Argentina is well prepared for Sunday’s game.
“We have our game plan, which is very important for us. We know how we have to attack, we know their strengths. We will try to avoid the shoot-out but if it come to this, we will try to choose the best penalty takers,” he said.
About Messi, who will probably play his final World Cup game, Scaloni said: “We hope that he can lift the trophy in his last match.”
Messi, 35, is to set an tournament appearance record on Sunday as the final will be his 26th World Cup game, one more than German Lothar Matthäus. Like France, Argentina will be bidding for a third title.
Scaloni, who has already led the Albiceleste team to victory in the Copa America (2021) and the intercontinental final (2022), revealed that he was “enthusiastic” about the final, believing that they have been moments to enjoy.
“The important thing is the path we’ve taken, the pleasure we’ve had with these players, with our family. I’m
convinced that when we do things with pleasure, the taste and the way we live them is different. game, but until the final whistle we have to savor these moments, which will remain in history and in our minds”, he added.
