- **Goalkeeper:** Emiliano Martínez, the irreverent goalkeeping pioneer, set the tone early with commanding presences and shot-stopping reflexes, neutralizing France’s early pressure. - **Defenders:** A dynamic backline featured Marcos Álvarez at left-back—flawless in passing and aggressive when attacking—and Juan Correa anchoring the center. Paolo Di Canio, returning from injury, brought aerial strength and commanding aerials as a sweeper.

A diligent backline combining São Paulo’s de relaxed defender Leandro Paredes and the disciplined battle of Alejandro Gómez ensured continuity. - **Midfield: Duality of Control** Argentina’s midfield was a strategic masterstroke: an attacking quartet anchored by Messi, with agonizing depth in Domingo Expuente and Nicolás Otamendi. This balance allowed rapid transitions and sustained control.

Expuente’s technical flair flashed in key moments, while Otamendi’s physicality and defensive awareness stifled French incursions. - **Attackers: Messi’s Dominance and Mbappé’s Speed** Messi was named captain and focal point, delivering two goals and leading with vision. His partnership with Ángel Di María—creative, unpredictable, and capable of breaking lines—complemented Olivier Giroud’s intelligent movement and aerial presence.

Mbappé, though not in the starting 11, emerged as the role model of fiery intensity, peeling defenders with explosive cuts and historic late substitutions. France’s lineup, shaped by Deschamps’ legacy as a winner, embraced tactical modernity fused with traditional discipline. - **Goalkeeper:** Hugo Lloris, experienced and commanding, provided stability, often stepping up to clear threats and organize the defense, especially against late-model attack probabilities.

- **Defenders: Positional Precision** Three center-backs—Marquinhos, Raphaël Varane, and Aymeric Laporte—formed a fortress with near-flawless communication. Varane’s commanding headers and Laporte’s intelligent off-the-ball runs brushed away French momentum. Fluent in attacking on the break were Pascal judges—Di Maria and form repeat稳健的后卫组合确保了系统性。 - **Midfield: Course and Control** France’s midfield fused artistry and efficiency: players like N’Golo Kanté provided tireless pressing and defensive reversals, while хотя退役的BrJesus，拉玛斯的创造力主导节奏。中场三中，Kylian Mbappé was kept flexibly behind the striker to exploit spaces, embodying the team’s blend of creativity and pragmatism.

- **Attackers: Mbappé’s Refining Force** At the front, Kylian Mbappé was the catalyst, rewarded with automatic forward status. His bravado, pace, and clinical finishing—especially in the final—cemented his role as France’s creative engine. Olivier Giroud anchored the line with veteran efficiency, delivering leadership and aerial dominance, while the rotation ensured fresh legs and tactical variety.

The tactical chessboard was a study in contrasts: Argentina’s fluid, counter-pressing style against France’s compact, possession-based structure with rapid transitions. Scaloni pushed for aggressive lateral movement and fluid role-switching, empowering Messi and Enzo Fernández to drift across positions and disrupt France’s defensive shape. > “We knew France’s speed, so we neutralized with tight marking and quick interplay,” remarked Argentina’s assistant coach Jorge Container.

“But your central defenders—Varane and Laporte—were relentless in one-on-ones, shutting down our early chances.” France, under Deschamps, deployed a 4-3-3 with compact midfield compactness, focusing on controlling central zones and exploiting margins. Kanté and Tanguy N’dombele enforced high pressing, forcing errors in numerically superior Argentina phases. Mbappé’s rotations and intelligent pressing created overloads without sacrificing defensive structure—a hallmark of French efficiency.

Parisian style emphasized possession through rapid central passing, but Argentina countered with direct runs from fullbacks and late runs from wide players, often catching French lines off-guard. Match data showed Argentina executed 62% of interceptions in transition effectively, compared to France’s 54%, underscoring their edge in turning play.

Certain individual performances and pivotal moments crystallized the match’s narrative.

Messi’s leadership defied criticism—his performance transcended doubt, embodying Argentina’s spirit. His key assist to Di María and a daring own goal contribution (indirect but meaningful) underpinned progress. Equally iconic was Mbappé’s performance despite injury—his indomitable second-half return, scoring twice and converting the decisive penalty, etched his name in World Cup legend.

Critical junctures included: - Argentina’s defensive resilience in the first half, including a crucial clearance by Martínez halting a Kamerano advance. - France’s third-attack surge—Mbappé’s lateral run and goal—changed momentum, proving their lethal counterattacking threat. - The penalty shootout, where Lloris’ nerve preserved Argentina’s lead, sealed the historic victory.

+The interplay of star player fatigue—Mbappé’s injury near the break—added a dramatic layer rarely captured in such detail, reminding fans of football’s unpredictable toll.

Comparing Argentina’s 2022 setup with past legends reveals a rare convergence of history and innovation. Where Maradona’s 1986 magician-like dribbles inspired Messi’s flair, this generation combined individual brilliance with structured realism.

Scaloni’s tactical acumen echoed Deschamps’ 2018 mastery—both prioritizing defensive stability without sacrificing attacking threat. The 2022 clash set a new benchmark: a 4-3-3 system executed with precision, youth integration, and emotional intensity—elements making it not just a final, but a masterclass. Argentina’s triumph, built on a lineup brimming with heart, vision, and calculated risk, now stands alongside football’s greatest stories.

France, though defeated, delivered a collection of world-class performances—proof that elite squads can elevate peak form on football’s grandest stage. In tactical nuance, emotional resonance, and collective courage, this epic remains a defining artifact of modern football. + The Argentina vs France 2022 World Cup final lineups were more than selections—they were a living testament to football’s enduring drama, where every role, substitution, and moment carries legacy.