DANNY MURPHY: France may beat it, but my heart wants Argentina to win the World Cup

I saw Kylian Mbappe destroy Argentina when France beat them 4-3 at the World Cup four years ago. It won’t be easy for him to top Lionel Messi this time, the South Americans are a completely different team, more disciplined and less open than in Russia.

Apart from the opening game against Saudi Arabia and a crazy 15 minutes against Holland, Argentina looked solid and tactically flexible at the back with different formations. It will be interesting to see if they go with full-backs to stop Mbappe like Morocco wanted to do before injuries hit.

I’m sure Lionel Scaloni will look at how Morocco caused problems for the French, although Argentina right-back Nahel Molina is not as athletic as Mbappe’s last two opponents, Kyle Walker or Achraf Hakimi.

Kylian Mbappe destroyed Argentina at the 2018 World Cup but it won’t be easy this time

The Frenchman might struggle to outdo Lionel Messi and Argentina are a better side now

I don’t think it’s going to be a seven-goal thriller this time, but the stakes are so high that it will be captivating. A moment of magic could decide a tight game and the world will watch if Messi or Mbappe can make it happen.

I find my head and heart divided. Logic says France are the best team when it comes to putting games over the line, but I would wish Argentina wins, both for Messi and for their fans who have contributed tremendously to the overall Qatar experience . Messi has been fantastic in the last three games and has scored in all of them.

Can he do it one last time? There is hope for them in Mbappe being allowed to focus solely on attacking, leaving the Frenchman vulnerable defensively.

Hope for them is that Mbappe can only concentrate on attacking in the final

Messi (pictured) has been fantastic in the last three games, scoring in all of them for Argentina

Didier Deschamps eventually had to close the gap, bringing in Marcus Thuram on the left and moving Mbappe down the middle.

The odds suggest a 50-50 game. I’m similarly divided. I think France will do it, but maybe it’s in the stars that Messi will lift the trophy.

After a month in Qatar, I’m back in England in time to watch the final with my son. Come on Argentina!

Danny Murphy thinks France could win against Argentina in a close game