La Albiceleste will play the final of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in a bid to win the title for the third time in history- their first since Diego Maradona lifted it in 1986. They will face France, World Cup winners from 2018, in what will be one of the most heated battles of the tournament in Qatar.
All eyes will be on Argentina’s skipper and seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, who has announced that the final on Sunday will be his last FIFA World Cup match.
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With the two teams set for the Sunday face-off, here’s a look at La Albiceleste’s SWOT analysis.
Strengths:
Argentina are riding high on their first taste of international success after 1993, having won the 2021 Copa America with a 1-0 victory over arch-rivals and fellow South American football giants Brazil. They will pin hopes on Lionel Messi who scored in the warm-up match against the UAE and has been in good touch. They will also rely on much-needed contributions from consistent forward Angel Di Maria and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who played a vital role in the team’s Copa America success.
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Weaknesses:
Argentina will badly miss the services of Sergio Agüero, an excellent striker who was forced to retire from football due to a heart issue in 2021. In his absence, they will need veterans Messi and Di Maria at their best while they will also need young guns like Lautaro Martinez and Nicolas Gonzalez to fire. Defence is an area of concern and Argentina would have to urgently work on tightening the gaps.
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Opportunities:
Argentina will be looking forward to emulating the historic feat achieved by Brazil when they won the FIFA World Cup (2002) and Copa America (2004) back-back. A World Cup triumph is also the only feather missing from Lionel Messi’s impressive cap and he would like to end his international career as a World Cup winner, just like other all-time greats Pele, Diego Maradona, and Ronaldinho.
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Threats:
Argentina, like several times in the past will need to grow out of their over-reliance on their top players (Messi in specific) which has plagued them in several high-voltage clashes in the past such as the 2014 final loss to Germany (0-1) and the quarter-final drubbing by the same team in 2010 (0-4). With the seniors nearing their professional dusk, it may be time for the next gen such as Joaquin Correa, Julian Alvarez to prove their mettle.