IT WILL be a Fifa World Cup Finals for the ages. France is back to defend its title and become the first team to win back-to-back World Cup titles since Brazil in 2002. On the other hand, football superstar Lionel Messi is out to prove that he’s the greatest footballer of all time by winning his first World Cup trophy and leading Argentina to its third World Cup title.
The World Cup fever has been infectious and a lot of Filipino fans have been staying up until dawn to watch their favorite teams compete for the most prestigious title in football.
Now down to just two teams, Argentina and France, here are what some football personalities think of what will happen in the finals.
Central Visayas Football Association (CVFA) president Rodney Orale is a huge Argentina fan and believes that his team will come out on top in a very competitive match against the defending champions.
“I’m biased for Argentina. That’s my team. Both teams a really very good. They both have good attacking and defending players. But again, the match will be won on the team’s system and the coaching,” said Orale.
“France has the youth. It’s hard to predict who will win because both teams are hungry. But I’m for Argentina. But it’ll be a very close match.”
Cebu FC striker Kintaro Miyagi also believes that Argentina will win but it won’t be easy.
“The finals will be a good match between Argentina and France. Argentina had a slow start but eventually they bounced back. Argentina will be hungry. Watching them play, the hunger and dedication is there. While France had a good run from the start to semis. They just lost one game in the elimination, but their loss was a non-bearing game for them so it was okay. They rested their starters and made some changes,” said Miyagi.
“For me Argentina will win. But it will be a hard game because France will be eyeing for a back-to-back win.”
A huge Messi fan, former pro player and now Cebu FC goalkeeping coach Ref Cuaresma feels that Argentina is hungrier and that will be enough to win them the World Cup.
“I have always been a Messi fan ever since his journey. Obviously, I want Messi to lift that trophy. Argentina has only been a favorite because of Messi compared to a star-studded French team. Messi single-handedly carried this team after losing to Saudi Arabia. He played all the games, assisted and scored every game until he brought this team to the finals and tried once again after losing to Germany in 2014. The ‘football gods’ will favor the team who wants it more, not the one who deserves it. Because we all know all the teams that qualified deserve it. But as the saying goes ‘the ball is round,’ it can go either way. It really depends on which team wants it more,” said Cuaresma.
“It’s going to be an epic and exciting match. Hoping Messi will win this, for this is the only trophy he hasn’t raised. To end his legacy, as well, and to seal the deal as the greatest of all time.”
CVFA referee instructor/assessor and CVFA board member Archie Reyes wants Argentina to win so that Messi will finally earn his first World Cup and finally cement his place as the “Greatest of All Time.”
“I’ll go for Argentina. I want Messi to go full circle. That’s the only thing (World Cup trophy) that he’s missing. He’ll have the same inspiration in their win in Copa Americas. N’golo Kante is also missing in France’s defensive midfield, who did well in stopping Messi in 2018,” said Reyes.
Philippine Football Federation tutor Jinggoy Roa, on the other hand, believes that France will become champions because of teamwork and how well its system is run.
“France is more balanced and younger. I believe a team can beat one man but one man can’t beat a whole team. But there is always that magic that Messi brings to the game. He is the GOAT for a reason,” said Roa. “I am for France not because of (Kylian) Mbappe but because of how they play the game.”
“It’s not gonna be a walk in a park for Argentina because France are probably the favorites because of the squad depth they have.
Personally, I will be rooting for Messi in the finals because he deserves to win it but looking at the team of France it’ll be really hard. I hope luck will be with Argentina during the finals,” said Cebu Football Club forward Jeremiah “JB” Borlongan.
Regardless of which side comes out on top, football fever is very much alive here in this part of the world.