Once upon a time France did have a plan for Lionel Messi. The problem ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final with Messi’s Argentina is that the plan is no longer available.
It was in 2018 at the last World Cup in Russia that France coach Didier Deschamps detailed N’Golo Kante to man mark Messi when the teams met in the last sixteen. The Chelsea midfielder did a job so comprehensive in a 4-3 win that his French team-mates still sing a song about it.
But with Kante absent with injury this time, what are France to do about a 35-year-old seemingly driven by a sense of entitlement and destiny to lift the World Cup at the fifth time of asking?
N’Golo Kante (right) proved instrumental in quietening Lionel Messi (left) at 2018 World Cup
But with the French midfielder (right) now injured that responsibility will fall to someone else
France will take on Messi’s (pictured) Argentina at the 2022 World Cup final on Sunday
‘I don’t know,’ said Olivier Giroud when asked if there was to be a special plan for Messi at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday.
‘I remember back in the days of 2018. N’Golo was all the game on his back, behind him. Maybe it worked.
‘But this time I don’t know what will be the plan. We will see with the manager.’
France are the defending champions but not the favourites for Sunday’s game.. Deschamps team has problems, too.
During the tournament they have missed key players Kante (right) and Paul Pogba (left)
Les Bleus have also been without striker Karim Benzema (pictured) who may return on Sunday
A virus that deprived Deschamps of three players for their semi-final win over Morocco on Wednesday at Al Bayt is threatening to take down more of Les Bleus squad. In France there has even been talk of a return for Ballon D’Or winner Karim Benzema.
The Real Madrid forward tore a thigh muscle ahead of this tournament but has recovered enough to have played part of a Real Madrid practice game yesterday. He was never officially withdrawn from the France squad.
A recall for the 34-year-old would seem like a last resort. The forward has not only clashed with Deschamps in the past but also with Giroud. To bring him back in to the fold now would appear a risk that is not worth taking, whatever the depleted numbers.
France boss Didier Deschamps (pictured) has also had to contend with a virus in his camp
While Lucas Hernandez (pictured) was injured in their opening 4-1 victory against Australia
In fact making up for those absent has been a theme of this World Cup for this French squad already. Deprived by injury pre-tournament of Kante, Paul Pogba and Benzema, Deschamps also lost his full-back Lucas Hernandez early in the opening 4-1 victory over Australia.
Such a burden would have been too great for many teams to have carried here in Qatar. How, for example, would England have coped without Declan Rice, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham?
France have found a way, though, and in part that has been due to the performances of players such as Real Madrid’s midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni. The 22-year-old was courted by Liverpool before moving to Spain from Monaco for £68m last summer.
But France have found a way through, calling on midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni (pictured)
The 22-year-old has proved vital for his side, scoring the crucial first goal against England
He’ll now be an integral part of a side who will have to inhibit Messi during Sunday’s final
Tchouameni has started every game at this World Cup and scored the crucial first goal against England in the quarter-final last weekend.
‘Those players that are not here are great players,’ he said after Wednesday’s victory.
‘It’s been really unfortunate that they are injured but people like myself have tried to do our best to be able to help the team in the middle of the pitch.
‘I think overall the team have done a great job.
While Kylian Mbappe (pictured) has been the star in France’s front line, others have stepped up
Olivier Giroud (left) and Antoine Griezmann (right) have both been exemplary for Les Bleus
‘This team is a mixture. We have other people who have already won the World Cup but we also have a lot of young players in our team.
‘Players like myself, we don’t have a lot of experience but we earn experience game by game out here surrounded by the others.
‘We are growing and are ready to fight until the end to win this title.’
Of the team that beat Croatia in the final four and a half years ago, five players can expect to start tomorrow.
Hugo Lloris (pictured) is another who has been another leader on the pitch throughout
It has been an evolution quickened by necessity and the constants – players such as Giroud, Hugo Loris, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann – remain fundamental to French chances against Argentina on an occasion that will once again see French supporters heavily outnumbered.
Deschamps’ experienced players have come through for him this last month. Hugo Lloris, for example, has been a steadying presence in goal while, despite an indifferent display on Wednesday, Giroud has been exceptional.
The AC Milan striker is 36 now but said: ‘We have one more time a great squad.
‘We believe in ourself and our quality. I think we deserve to be there in the final because we put so much effort to reach that level.
‘Now we will do everything to bring a third star for France.’
And Giroud (pictured) believes that his side have the ‘self belief to bring home third star’
In some ways the story of this World Cup has already been decided on and it has Messi at its core. That may suit France, a team capable of winning big games on the back of limited possession.
They did just that against Morocco and previously against England. France have not conceded a goal in open play since Deschamps made nine changes for his team’s final group game against Tunisia.
‘We just have one game now to make history,’ added Tchouameni.
‘We will do everything to win.’