Spain and Argentina to clash in World Cup final as Messi seeks historic win
via The Namibian4 min read
The World Cup final on Sunday will feature a match between reigning champions Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi, aims to be the first team in 64 years to successfully defend their title. This match is expected to be the final World Cup appearance for the 39-year-old Messi, who has scored eight goals in the tournament and is on track for the Golden Boot. Messi has been instrumental in Argentina's journey, including a comeback victory against Egypt and a 2-1 win over England in the semi-finals. Argentina's head coach, Lionel Scaloni, attributes his team's success to their fearlessness and collective spirit. Spain, aiming for their second World Cup crown, reached the final after defeating France 2-0 in the semi-finals. Their team, under coach Luis de la Fuente, is known for its possession-based football and strong defense, having conceded only one goal in seven matches. Spanish prodigy Lamine Yamal, 19, is expected to be a key player despite recovering from a hamstring injury. The final also sets up a personal duel between de la Fuente and Scaloni, as de la Fuente mentored Scaloni when he was studying for his professional license in 2018. The match will include a 25-30 minute half-time concert featuring Madonna, Shakira, and Justin Bieber. US President Donald Trump is expected to be among the over 80,000 spectators.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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