Argentina boss Lionel Sacolini was forced to change his starting lineup for the World Cup final at the eleventh hour.
The South American champions took on France at the Lusail Stadium looking to win international football’s biggest prize for the third time. The showpiece final in Qatar also marked the final chance for Lionel Messi to lift the famous trophy.
Both sides came into the final off the back of routine victories in the semi-finals, with France beating Morocco by two goals to nil and Argentina thumping Croatia 3-0. However, the two managers have both made changes to their respective XIs.
As for France, they welcomed back Dayot Upamecano and Adrien Rabiot, both of whom missed the win over Morocco with illness. Olivier Giroud had been a fitness doubt for the final, but Les Bleus’ record scorer took his place leading the line.
Meanwhile, Scaloni brought Angel Di Maria back into his side, having been absent against Croatia with a niggling injury. There had been speculation La Albiceleste would change their formation to combat the French, but instead went with a 4-4-2.
However, following the release of teams, Argentina were forced into a late change with Marcos Acuna coming out of the XI and Nicolas Tagliafico coming in. TyC Sports report that Acuna has a fitness issue, meaning the Lyon full-back was given the nod from the start.
The final in Qatar marked the latest high-profile test for Scaloni in the Argentine dugout, once an underwhelming appointment, the 44-year-old is on the verge of his second major trophy in four years in charge.
Speaking to BBC before the match got underway, ex-Argentina international Pablo Zabaleta said: "Lots of credit to Lionel Scaloni. He's been doing an incredible job for Argentina.
"Sometimes all of the experience that he had as a football player is huge and he has been surrounded by a group of ex football players like Pablo Aimar, Walter Samuel and Roberto Ayala and all of them have been absolutely brilliant.
"All of them can really inspire the Argentina players and sometimes a lack of experience at the top level but at the end of the day when you are coaching the national team, it is about picking the right players, making them feel happy playing for their country and that is what we have seen in the last three years.
"Well done, so pleased and so happy for him, he won Copa America in 2021 and this could be a huge day as well for all of them."
Argentina starting XI: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Di Maria, De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez.
France starting XI: Lloris; Kounde, Varane, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe; Giroud.
