For any football manager, it simply doesn't get bigger than picking a team for a World Cup final.
And that is the task Lionel Scaloni faces after guiding Argentina to the showpiece fixture of Qatar 2022 in impressive fashion over the past four weeks.
La Albiceleste made a terrible start to the tournament in losing to Saudi Arabia but have grown with every passing game to march into the final.
Now, to take the final step and secure their country's third title and a first for national icon Lionel Messi, they must defeat reigning champions France.
Here's how Scaloni's men line up for that challenge.
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𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐨: 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐥
— Sporting News Football Club (@sn_footballclub) November 20, 2022
🇦🇷 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏𝟐: 𝐀𝐭 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭
🏆 In our series finale, captain Lionel Messi ends Argentina's trophy drought with Copa America glory 👉 https://t.co/axW70AurB5 pic.twitter.com/VWmt7RO6wg
Argentina confirmed lineup vs France
(4-3-3, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 26. Molina, 13. Romero, 19. Otamendi, 3. Tagliafico — 7. De Paul, 24. E. Fernandez, 20. Mac Allister — 11. Di Maria, 10. Messi, 9. Alvarez
- Injured: None
- Suspended: None
Head coach Lionel Scaloni's biggest call centered on whether to bring Angel Di Maria back in for Leandro Paredes in the 4-4-2 formation that beat Croatia.
And he has elected to go with the former Real Madrid and PSG man, although a 4-3-3 is expected to be used today, who was an unused sub for the 2014 final defeat to Germany due to fitness concerns.
Argentina's only injury doubt was Papu Gomez but he is available and on the bench, while fullbacks Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna come back into the squad after suspension.
However, the latter has dropped out of the starting XI despite having initially been named in it, with Nicolas Tagliafico his replacement at left-back.
MORE: World Cup 2022 top goal scorer: Updated rankings in the Golden Boot race
Argentina World Cup squad
Here are the 26 names on Argentina's current World Cup squad in Qatar (Caps correct as of start of Qatar 2022):
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | 1 | Franco Armani | River Plate (ARG) | 36 | 18 |
| GK | 23 | Emiliano Martinez | Aston Villa (ENG) | 30 | 19 |
| GK | 12 | Geronimo Rulli | Villarreal (SPA) | 30 | 4 |
| DEF | 8 | Marcos Acuna | Sevilla (SPA) | 30 | 43 |
| DEF | 2 | Juan Foyth | Villarreal (SPA) | 24 | 16 |
| DEF | 25 | Lisandro Martinez | Man United (ENG) | 24 | 10 |
| DEF | 26 | Nahuel Molina | Atletico Madrid (SPA) | 24 | 19 |
| DEF | 4 | Gonzalo Montiel | Sevilla (SPA) | 25 | 19 |
| DEF | 19 | Nicolas Otamendi | Benfica (POR) | 34 | 93 |
| DEF | 6 | German Pezzella | Real Betis (SPA) | 31 | 32 |
| DEF | 13 | Cristian Romero | Tottenham (ENG) | 24 | 12 |
| DEF | 3 | Nicolas Tagliafico | Lyon (FRA) | 30 | 42 |
| MID | 7 | Rodrigo De Paul | Atletico Madrid (SPA) | 28 | 44 |
| MID | 24 | Enzo Fernandez | Benfica (POR) | 21 | 3 |
| MID | 17 | Alejandro 'Papu' Gomez | Sevilla (SPA) | 34 | 15 |
| MID | 20 | Alexis Mac Allister | Brighton (ENG) | 23 | 8 |
| MID | 14 | Exequiel Palacios | Bayer Leverkusen (GER) | 24 | 20 |
| MID | 5 | Leandro Paredes | Juventus (ITA) | 28 | 46 |
| MID | 18 | Guido Rodriguez | Real Betis (SPA) | 28 | 26 |
| FWD | 9 | Julian Alvarez | Man City (ENG) | 22 | 12 |
| FWD | 16 | Thiago Almada | Atlanta United (USA) | 21 | 1 |
| FWD | 11 | Angel Di Maria | Juventus (ITA) | 34 | 124 |
| FWD | 21 | Paulo Dybala | AS Roma (ITA) | 28 | 34 |
| FWD | 15 | Angel Correa | Atletico Madrid | 25 | 22 |
| FWD | 22 | Lautaro Martinez | Inter Milan (ITA) | 25 | 40 |
| FWD | 10 | Lionel Messi | PSG (FRA) | 35 | 165 |
READ: MESSI & RONALDO: DESTINATION MUNDIAL | THE FULL SERIES
