Lionel Messi has a signature move. Moves, more accurately. He has the uncanny ability to bring the ball right to the opponent, inches away from them, and because his feet move so quickly, and because he’s able to predict when a defender will try to win the ball off him, he is able to change direction a millisecond before they can tackle the ball away, then skip past them and either take an open shot or pass to a teammate. This is what he did for Argentina’s third goal against Croatia. Feinting, dribbling, inviting his marker (Gvardiol) to try to get the ball off him, creating just a tiny amount of space, and playing the perfect ball in to Julian Alvarez to score. It was a moment of timeless classic Messi, a player who at 35 has physically lost several steps, but was able to get a step on his marker by using his experience and his preternatural ability to predict where and when a defender is going to try to take the ball off him.
Mbappe also has a signature move. Moves, more accurately. On the one hand he has the burst of speed. Just kick the ball up the pitch and beat everyone for speed. This doesn’t work well when he has to go up against an equally speedy defender – like Kyle Walker who matched Mbappe step for step in all but one play. This is his is more exuberant move, a long stretch of the legs, a burst of speed, and dust behind him like the road runner. But he’s also able to use this same speed in tight spaces. Where Messi wants the defender close to him, Mbappe often changes direction like a barracuda: leaving his defender yards away, standing still, unable to even reach the ball. Here he can also turn provider, with space, he can run, shoot, dance then shoot into a forest of legs to have a shot blocked and then luckily fall to a teammate, or sometimes even pass the ball.
Typical of these situations Sunday’s final is being billed as Messi v. Mbappe and they will dominate the narrative. Even if neither players scores or assists, if their markers swallow them up like Jonah and the whale, if one goes out injured, if one scores and the other doesn’t, when one wins and the other doesn’t: no matter what happens on Sunday the story will be about Messi and Mbappe. It’s as inescapable as diamonds are to the universe*.
But the other players are going to be the ones who win or lose this match. How well they are able to mark these two great players and how well the team is able to play against them is just as important as how many long-legged or short-legged dribbles each player does. And it will probably be an unsung player who will end up the hero or the villain. Giroud and Alvarez, for example, both have 4 goals for their country, just one fewer than the man who overshadows them on their team. We could very easily have a tournament where one or both of them share the Golden Boot, even if most of the narrative is dedicated to Messi and Mbappe.
For me, it will be these players I’m most interested in. Of course I’m not going to turn off when Messi has the ball but I’m more interested in how Theo Hernandez defends him. I want to see how Deschamps deals with Messi and the gravity well he carries with him wherever he goes. And on the other side the same: Mbappe has been shut down for two consecutive matches, how can Scaloni keep that going?
It should be a riveting match.
But while we are here, let’s not sleep on the 3rd place contest on Saturday. Croatia and Morocco will both desperately want to take 3rd. And while some folks in the so-called “big” soccer nations (esp. England, who, despite not winning a WC since 1966, consider themselves a big deal) ridicule the 3rd place game I think every country should take it seriously and show pride when they win it. I keep hearing that these are “small nations so it’s a big deal” but every nation should treat it like a big deal because it is. Spain and England have finished top four two and three times respectively. And the USA, with 330m people, almost 100x the size of Croatia, have only finished top four once. There have only been 8 different countries that have won the World Cup, a further five that have finished 2nd, 7 more who have finished 3rd and 5 more who have finished 4th. That’s a mere 25 nations of the 211 eligible for the World Cup who have finished in the top four. It is an achievement for any nation, even the ones that think they are too good to celebrate it (ahem, England). And it’s going to be a good match because both of these teams know what’s at stake and want to win.
If you have a few moments, I strongly recommend this wonderfully written piece on the complex religious, political, and cultural stew that is Morocco. This tournament means a lot to them.
*Diamonds are quite common. There are probably entire planets of diamonds out there.
Another quality post, Tim. Thanks so much. Especially for the link to the article in the Afircaisacountry website.
I knew something of Berber culture in Morocco/North Africa but this is a portal to a wider world and exploration of history, politics and languages. It’s a fascinating piece that explores Pan-Arabism and “Africanism” in the context of the Morocco team and the World Cup.
I agree that “the other players are going to be the ones who win or lose this match”. Giroud perhaps. Maybe Guendouzi will pop up in a meaningful way. Can’t count out the Arsenal influence, ever!
I have issues with some of Messi’s off-pitch endorsements and commercial deals, but on the pitch, he is by some measure, the greatest footballer of our generation, of our time, and many people, including me, wish for the narrative to be completed by him lifting the greatest trophy of all.
Son-of-1-Nil tells me Antoine Griezmann is The Man, “Griezing” the wheels for France, playing out of position. What’s up with that? Could he be the guy pour Les Bleus?
It’s a good shout there about the Greaseman.
I can’t believe there’s a column in the Guardian with the headline “Argentina should get physical with stylish Antoine Griezmann to shut down France”.
Sounds so terribly familiar it makes me sick.
Son-of knows his stuff. Player of the tournament for me.
Feels to me like it should be a pretty good and competitive match. Neither team seems like to park the bus as a default, and both have defenses that can be gotten at.
If both Rabiot and Upemecano are healthy, I’d definitely favor France. Rabiot hasn’t been quite as important as Griezmann, but he was a big contributor and was missed against Morocco.
Apparently stomach flu hitting France?
No more croissants for breakfast or fois gras on their baguettes.
I’ve read elsewhere that Benzema will be fit for this match, so could make the squad, although I would imagine Olivier would start (the girls would insist on it), and Karim to rotate in later with the distinct possibility of extra time etc.
Close one for me with (hopefully) France winning and no controversial interference from refs or VAR.
I have absolutely no sentiment regarding Messi, he is wealthy beyond imagination, and if he ends the game in tears I will for one be quite content.
I now discover that Benzema was in fact sent home following his thigh injury, but has recovered and played in a Real friendly.
Very hopefull for France that Olivier is not off form (again).
The only way Messi could be made ineffective is if the Deschamps devises a system wherein 2-3 players close in on Messi . Been tried earlier, I forget the match ,and it works.
Messi reading of the game is stereo so somehow one can’t shut him down. He knows where he should move to get the ball
Kante shut him down pretty well in the last WC match between the two. So it is possible for one player to do it, but Kante was perhaps the best CDM in the world at that point. Not sure if France will try it with Tchouameni, who has also been pretty good this tournament.
And best wishes to Viv Miedema who suffered what looked like a bad injury against Lyon yesterday. Sad to see both her and Mead out for a long stretch. Both the mens and womens teams may now be looking for an additional scorer.
The link to the article on Morocco is a gem – thanks Tim!