After 28 days, 63 matches and 166 goals it all comes down to this, 90 minutes (plus extra-time and pens?) in Lusail, Qatar to determine the champions of the world.
It's not been a vintage edition of the World Cup but the final chapter could provide a faiytale ending.
Will the football gods shine on Lionel Messi and see him finally land the one title that has so far eluded him? Or will the French, inspired once more by 23-year-old Kylian Mbappe, win a second consecutive crown?
The bookies can barely separate Argentina and France in the betting. Both opened up at 9/5 but it looks like the South Americans might go off as favourites after being nibbled in to 7/4. It could be that punters are betting with their hearts as much as their heads with most fans keen to see Messi's hero status cemented with the ultimate prize.
Both he and Mbappe are tied at the summit of the goalscorers charts on five goals so that title could also be decided today. Again, the bookies are favouring Messi, making him 10/11 to finish top of the leaderboard while his PSG teammate is 21/20.
France are a formidable force. Even more impressive when you consider the talent they've been shorn of for the tournament but Argentina look like they have the X-Factor in Qatar. Tens of thousands of fans have made the trip, making them seem like the best supported nation in Qatar. There also seems to be a genuine connection with the squad, which looks like it has all the positive traits of a successful club side.
Finally there appears to be a duty among the squad to deliver this title for their teammate, their leader, their legend, Lionel Messi. They know this is Messi's last dance in an Argentina kit and they're willing to put their bodies on the line for him such is the reverence he's held in, even by his colleagues.
In a game of very fine margins every little edge could make a difference so the Argentians just get the nod this afternoon.
It's unlikely to be a runaway win, if it is indeed decided within 90 minutes. Both nations have enough attacking talent to get on the scoresheet so we could see a few goals. Both teams to score pays 19/20. A one-goal winning margin for either side also appeals at 11/8.
Let's hope the game lives up to expectations and it leaves us desperate to do it all again. In just 1,268 days time.
Super Singles
- Argentina to lift the trophy 10/11 Bet365
- Both teams to score 19/20 Bet365
- Argentina 2 France 1 11/1 Bet365
Upcoming Match Previews & Tip
- Sun 15:00 Argentina vs France
Racing Tips
Rizzel's only selection of the day runs at Wolverhampton, so fingers are crossed the weather doesn't make yet another meeting abandoned.
As always, let us know your best betting tips and predictions for today in the comments section below and good luck with all your bets!
Argentina to lift the trophy 🏆🏆🏆
10/11 Bet365
Good luck to everyone 👍
Messi to score ⚽️ 6/4
🇦🇷
Two decades of magic from the mercurial messi
One dance left to be untouchable, hope he bows out in style cmon 🇦🇷!!!
Twinkle toes messi score or assist 5/6
Catanzaro in Italian Seria C for me today as a single
They’ve played 9 games at home in the league and won all 9 scoring 29 in the process…
4-0,5-0,3-0,3-2,2-0,2-0,3-0,3-0,4-1
To score twice it’s 1/2 which a good addition to a double or treble but I’m gonna go the one extra as they’ve managed 3+ in 7/9 homes
Catanzaro 3+ team goals 6/4
37 mins, nice one Buddy.. 👌
Cheers Baggy,solid home team. Need a Turris goal in the 2nd half for the treble and to continue the longshot into the big game 🤞
there it is, nicely done!
Woow, woon💪💪
I’ll stick a treble in aswell in Italy
11:30am
Catanzaro 2+ team goals 1/2
Giugliano v Crotone BTTS 10/11
Turkish v Foggia BTTS 17/20
Just over 4/1
Best of luck today and we are all for Messi eh?
Turris not Turkish 😐😂
Took overs in the 2 btts games and catanzaro to win and overs. It absolutely flew in. Cheers mate!
Woon💪💪
Argentina v France
Draw at 21/10 (NAP)
Game decided on pens at 4/1
Prediction 2-2
The debate of who the GOAT is has finally been settled.
The award goes to……….Macca.
Take a bow son
Wow, nice one Macca. Cracking stuff mate.. 👌
I’ve not made up my mind just yet but all this talk of Messi is making both Giroud, Mbappe and Alavrez goal odds quite attractive.
France must be quietly pleased that the attention all seems to be on Argentina.
No joy with my pen at Norwich LOSER
Some good winners on the site yesterday .
Well done to all of them .
World Cup Final
BTTS,3 corners each & 1 card each 5/2
Longshot ACCA
Catanzaro 3+ goals 6/4
Giugliano v Crotone BTTS 10/11
Turris v Foggia BTTS 17/20
WCF BTTS,3 corners each & 1 card each 5/2
29/1 the longshot
Catanzaro 3+ team goals 6/4✅
In before halftime
Great shout Joe 👏
SUN, DEC 18/21:30HRS
🇷🇴Romania. Liga 1
UTA Arad 🆚 Rapid București PREDICTION: FULL-TIME DRAW @3.05
The match to end with draw result.
Boom💥 Full-time UTA Arad 1:1 Rapid București ✔️
Big well done to the caddy again and thanks for a good priced winner this time of year, excellent tipping 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
SPANISH SEGUNDA
Albacete v Ibiza 13.00
Over 2.5 Match Goals.. 11/8 NAP
☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️
SKYBET…… Good Luck…… 🤞
Catanzaro 2+ team goals 1/2
Giugliano v Crotone BTTS 10/11
Turkish v Foggia BTTS 17/20
Just over 4/1✅
Onto the WC final for the longshot 🤞
Nice start to the day Buddy.. 👍
fine and thanks Smokeyjoe I i was on 5.5 over thanks again elvis and dc boy where is Seon
Argentina V France
Bet Builder
Both teams to receive a card
O 0.5 Argentina offsides
O 0.5 France offsides
O 0.5 Messi SOT
6/4 boosted on Bet365
well done mr smokeyjoe
Well done Smokeyjoe! Lovely treble! 👏
Free fiver wi PP – 24/1+
Messi & Mbappe 1+ fouls
Messi & Griezmann to attempt 50+ passes
SPANISH SEGUNDA
Albacete v Ibiza 13.00
Over 2.5 Match Goals.. 11/8 NAP
☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ ✔️
Done and dusted, 3-0 at half time.. 👌
Argentina v France
Griezemann to score 4/1
🙂
Can’t wait for this final, have France backed ante post but would love to see Messi win it 😬
I like the look of Enzo Fernandez to be carded at 19/4 with Unibet, as he’s 11/4 and 14/5 elsewhere, so it seems decent value for a player that’ll be getting stuck in in the engine room.. BoL with all bets, hopefully it’s as good a game in reality as it is on paper!
Messi and mbappe both to have a shot on target
6/4 boosted bet 365
Gl
12 corners in the Brasilian ladies game yesterday😀
SANTOS W VS. PALMEIRAS W
OVER 9.5 CORNERS
(10/11, bet365) ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ✅️
Quick post for the WC Final:
ARGENTINA VS. FRANCE
OVER 3.5 CARDS
(10/11, betway) NAP
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
RED CARD AWARDED
(19/5, unibet) NB
⭐️⭐️
ARGENTINA TO MISS A PENALTY
(20/1, bet365) LONGSHOT
⭐️
Best of luck!
WCF………………….
overs, o6.5 corners alvarez to score 13/2
red card and penalty awarded 15/2
red card 2nd half 5/1
both teams red 60/1
p.s. cheers caddy for the rozner tip got him e/way at 16/1 GALLUS………………
Afternoon,
Argentina v France k.o 1500
Nahuel Molina Booking in 90mins.
Skybet 4/1 Goodluck.
Mint…
Couple of mad ones
Messi red carded 110/1 Unibet
Lloris red carded 100/1 Bet365
Martinez red carded 66/1 Bet365
Also on a more sensible bet
Over 4 first half corners 7/4 Hills
Rapid Bucharest
Frosinone
Over 0.5tgs double 11/10
Rapid Bucharest over 1.5tgs
Frosinone btts
Double 5/1
Good luck
both teams to score
genoa v frosinone
ladbrokes 21/20
NAP
both teams to score
malaga v alaves
bet365 6/5
NB
double on above
bet365 7/2
France corner please 🤞
There it is 👍
World Cup Final
BTTS,3 corners each & 1 card each 5/2✅
Longshot ACCA
Catanzaro 3+ goals 6/4
Giugliano v Crotone BTTS 10/11
Turris v Foggia BTTS 17/20
WCF BTTS,3 corners each & 1 card each 5/2
29/1 the longshot✅
Fullhouse the day 6/4,5/2,4/1 & 29/1 ✅
Well done all winners 👍
Nice work Joe 👍👍
First class Smokey
Well done
Belter smokey well in lad/
Love it Joe
Good work @macca
Nice work Smokey.. 👌
Main bet in – no idea how Otomendi wasn’t carded for the penalty earlier??) – no joy on the 4/1 and 20/1 but happy with that!
ARGENTINA VS. FRANCE
OVER 3.5 CARDS
(10/11, betway) NAP
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ✅️
👍
No joy for me in the WC final . All bets LOSERS
What a crazy game
Incredible,the best 120mins I’ve ever witnessed
Argentina v France
Draw at 21/10 (NAP) ✅
Game to be decided on pens at 4/1 ✅
Prediction 2-2 ✅
What a game of football,seen so many write-ups on Argentina’s defence when in actual fact they are as vulnerable as hell.
Well done all winners
Cracking stuff that Macca, you must of given up hope though.. 😅
Always keep the Faith Baggy lad.
Good man Macca
Well, I’m a cynical old sod about sport and life in general but that was a classic football game – really enjoyed it!
Low stakes punt from Spain for tonight:
MALAGA VS. ALAVES (8.00pm)
ALAVES OVER 4.5 TEAM CORNERS
(5/6, bet365) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
ALAVES OVER 5.5 TEAM CORNERS
(13/8, bet365) ⭐️⭐️
ALAVES OVER 7.5 TEAM CORNERS
(5/1, bet365) ⭐️
Best of luck!
Enzo Fernandez to be carded 19/4 ✔️
Well done all winners.. great game
Nice one Fitzy.. 👍
Messi and mbappe both to have a shot on target
6/4 boosted bet 365 ✅
Gl
Well done all winners
Nice one Mate, 👌
Brilliant final, a pleasure to watch that.
Pleased for Messi, strange personality but he writes his own scripts, at his age finally winning the Copa America and world cup under a manager who was only installed as a cheap option initially as apparently they had to pay the last guy off and finances were tight.
Scaloni was the coolest manager here, even when they lost to Saudi he looked composed and he unlocked the key to success with his introduction of Alvarez in game 2 which seemed to give Messi the licence to roam around and play in bursts, what he has that most don’t is that he picks his moments perfectly to influence games.
In the end they were worthy winners and their fans were immense throughout.
I just tried to imagine the England team in this final and I couldn’t see a way they could win.
The football today was a level higher.
Main difference was even when France made it 3-3 it was Argentina who were frantically looking for the winner, England under safegate maybe would think the other way and play for penalties.
Fortune favoured the brave today.
Mbappe to score a hat trick and lose is an amazing stat, this guy is only 23 I think and if he stays fit his numbers will be up there with Messi and Ronaldo in scoring terms.
Best 4 of all time right now in no particular order
Pele
Messi
Maradonna
Ronaldo
In time mbappe will be the 5th.
If course this is just my ramblings as some would want Jordan Henderson in there 😄.
Moment of the tournament despite today was hakimi’s winning penalty for Morocco v Spain and that odd celebration, that was magic.
Anyone know what the celebration was all about ??
Nice write up Elvis, unbelievable game of football that had everything.. Messi is just different class.. 👌
Was gonna say this until you hit the nail on the head…
Well the great debate for the majority of my life has been who was the best Pele or Maradona?
Well from now on it’ll be between 3 because the wee man has cemented his place in that debate. Won everything there was too win,he completed football tonight 🏆🇦🇷🐐
Nice write up until the point that mentions Jordan Henderson (no class).Messi best ever player to take to a football field Maradona Ronaldo Pele not even close.
The Jordan thing was tongue in cheek macca 👀
I know it was lol
Wee evening treble for an interest…
Genoa v Frosinone BTTS 1/1
Fidelis Andria v Latina BTTS 21/20
Malaga v Alaves BTTS & 1 card each 29/20
9/1 treble
Thankfully i took the World Cup on 1 bet only and thank god given what over the last few weeks it looks as if its been a general graveyard for punters who bet consistently… i looked it upon the way i do an ultra distance event., you get the rewards when the event finishes .
Think i,m gonna have a few extra shillings on ” The Pars ” to get up the road in Div 1… had a nibble on them at 11/4 before they put their toe to the line at the start of the season., coupled with ” The Dee ” at 7/4 to win the Championship..
Rapid Bucharest
Frosinone
Over 0.5tgs double 11/10
Rapid Bucharest over 1.5tgs
Frosinone btts
Double 5/1
Both lost….crap nowhere near