Argentina prepares for final showdown
Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team are set to face Spain in the World Cup final this Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Messi expressed the team’s commitment, stating, “We will give it our all.” This highly anticipated match concludes a tournament that has featured over 100 games and spanned more than a month.
The final will take place at MetLife Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. Argentina, the defending champions, enter the final as the No. 1-ranked team globally, according to FIFA‘s pre-tournament rankings. Spain holds the No. 2 spot. Both teams remain undefeated heading into the championship match.
Argentina’s journey to the final included several challenging encounters. They had to overcome a 1-0 deficit in the second half against England in the semifinals and a 2-0 deficit against Egypt in the Round of 16. The team also went into extra time against Cape Verde in the round of 32 and Switzerland in the quarterfinals. Messi emphasized the team’s resilience, saying, “We never stop fighting.”
Spain’s path also had its moments, including a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in their opening match. However, since that draw, Spain has scored 13 goals while conceding only once. They secured a 2-0 victory over France in the semifinals, effectively neutralizing the French offense.
Star-studded pre-final event
Ahead of the final, Messi made a public appearance at Fanatics Fest in New York, an event that brought together numerous sports figures. This gathering served as the backdrop for the preview news conferences for the World Cup final. Among the notable attendees were Tom Brady, Novak Djokovic, and Kevin Durant, all of whom took a selfie with Messi.
The event featured an unconventional Q&A format where sports stars posed questions to the players and coaches. Brady inquired about a viral photo of Messi with Spain star Lamine Yamal as a baby, while Djokovic asked Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and Messi about handling pressure. Djokovic concluded his interaction with Messi by saying, “Gracias, Leo.”
Spain captain Rodri praised Messi, calling him “the greatest of all times.” Scaloni noted that the team views the upcoming match as “one more game,” despite its significance as a World Cup final. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez expressed the team’s determination to win the trophy for their country, stating, “We’re going to give absolutely our best, with Leo, with the team that we have, to bring the World Cup back to my country and celebrate with our people.”
The event concluded with a group selfie involving the players, coaches, and various celebrities, including Kevin Hart, Travis Scott, and Rio Ferdinand. Scaloni predicted that “Sunday is going to be a great show.”
Key players and tournament details
Messi, at 39, has been a pivotal player for Argentina throughout the tournament, scoring eight goals and providing four assists in seven games. He aims to secure his second consecutive World Cup trophy, which would make Argentina only the third nation to achieve back-to-back tournament wins. Other key players for Argentina include Lautaro Martínez, who scored crucial goals against England and Switzerland, and Enzo Fernández.
For Spain, Mikel Oyarzabal has been a standout performer, with five goals and one assist in the World Cup. He has accumulated 11 goals and four assists across 13 games, including World Cup qualifiers. Winger Lamine Yamal, though having a quiet tournament, was a key player in Spain‘s UEFA European Championship win in 2024.
Messi currently leads the race for the Golden Boot award, given to the tournament’s top goal scorer, with eight goals and four assists. Other contenders include France‘s Kylian Mbappé (eight goals, three assists) and England‘s Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham (six goals, one assist each). The World Cup final will feature a halftime show curated by Coldplay‘s Chris Martin, headlined by artists such as Madonna, Shakira, Burna Boy, BTS, and Justin Bieber. The closing ceremony, featuring Post Malone, will begin an hour and a half before kickoff at 1:30 p.m. ET.
The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with special centenary games in Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay.
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Source: tsn.ca
Ethan Brule is a Senior Hockey Writer at CasinoNews. He covered the NHL for a national Canadian outlet. He focuses on the NHL, the Maple Leafs and Team Canada and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Media from Toronto Metropolitan University. Now based in Toronto, he plays beer-league hockey and follows the junior ranks. “Hockey in Canada is never only about the score.”
