Will today be a crowning day for arguably the greatest player of all time? Or will we see a new addition to a club that has had no new members in six decades? We’ll find out find today as Lionel Messi and Argentina face France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final.
The match, which will be played at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, will kick off at 10:00 am ET, and viewers in the United States can catch every second of the action on FOX.
Both teams are vying for a third World Cup title, which would put the winner with Brazil (five titles), Germany (four titles), and Italy (four titles) as the only countries with three or more World Cup titles.
For Argentina, it is a first World Cup title since 1986 and filling in the one remaining blank space on Messi’s magnificent resume.
For France, it is back-to-back World Cup titles, which would make them just the third side to achieve that feat. Italy did it in 1934 and 1938, and Brazil did it in 1958 and 1962. Since Brazil went back-to-back, only two teams–Argentina in 1990 and Brazil in 1998–have even had a crack at joining the club.
This World Cup has been full of surprises, including the likes of Belgium and Germany being eliminated in the group stage and Morocco becoming the first African side to make a World Cup semifinal. But in the end, two of the pre-tournament favorites are facing off in the final.
Which one will lift the trophy and become a part of sporting immortality? Read on for our Argentina vs France prediction, as well as our 2022 World Cup Final betting picks and analysis.
Argentina vs France Odds
Odds are via Bovada Sportsbook as of Sunday, December 18, 2022, at 7:30 am ET. This article may also include odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.
To Lift the Trophy
- Argentina -120
- France -105
Moneyline (Within 90 Minutes)
- Argentina to win +160
- Draw +210
- France +180
Total Goals Over/Under (Within 90 Minutes)
- Over 2.5 (+122)
- Under 2.5 (-155)
Both Teams to Score (Within 90 Minutes)
- Yes -105
- No -125
Match Result and Both Teams to Score (Within 90 Minutes)
- BTTS & Argentina win +480
- BTTS & a draw +320
- BTTS & France win +550
2022 World Cup Results for Argentina and France
Argentina
- lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia (Group C)
- defeated Mexico 2-0 (Group C)
- defeated Poland 2-0 (Group C)
- Round of 16: defeated Australia 2-1
- QF: defeated Netherlands 3-2 (4-3 on penalties)
- SF: defeated Croatia 3-0
France
- defeated Australia 4-1 (Group D)
- defeated Denmark 2-1 (Group D)
- lost 2-1 to Tunisia (Group D)
- Round of 16: defeated Poland 3-1
- QF: defeated England 2-1
- SF: defeated Morocco 2-0
Will we see a reversion to recent World Cup Final trends?
In 2018, France defeated Croatia 4-2 in the final in Moscow. It tied the 1930 final (Uruguay 4-2 Argentina) and 1938 final (Italy 4-2 Hungary) for the second-most goals scored in regulation in a World Cup final, behind the seven that were scored in Brazil’s 5-2 win over Sweden in 1958.
Will we see another goal fest to close out the tournament in Qatar? For entertainment value, it would certainly be great. But it’s also unlikely, based on recent trends.
Out of the last eight World Cup finals, the under 2.5 has hit on six occasions:
- 1990: West Germany 1-0 Argentina
- 1994: Brazil 0-0 Italy (Brazil won on penalties)
- 2002: Brazil 2-0 Germany
- 2006: Italy 1-1 France (Italy won on penalties)
- 2010: Spain 0-0 Netherlands (Spain won 1-0 in extra time)
- 2014: Germany 0-0 Argentina (Germany won 1-0 in extra time)
However, it has to be noted that the two finals that did go over 2.5 both featured and were won by France.
There was their win in the 2018 final, and in 1998, Les Bleus defeated Brazil 3-0 to win the title on home soil.
Argentina vs France Prediction and Picks
Argentina vs France Prediction: France to win
Argentina vs France Picks: Argentina/France BTTS, France ML, and Argentina/France over 2.5 goals
At all of our top recommended sportsbooks, France ML comes in at the same odds (+180), while the best number for the over 2.5 can be found at BetOnline, where it is +126.
Even in the final that they were in that they lost, the BTTS (both teams to score) hit, even if the over 2.5 didn’t. So, if you’re hesitant about backing the over 2.5, the BTTS is a solid value option wherever you look.
