WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.140
(upbeat music)
- The World Cup final

2
00:00:01.140 --> 00:00:02.460
is finally here.

3
00:00:02.460 --> 00:00:05.250
Argentina, France, the
defending champions,

4
00:00:05.250 --> 00:00:06.690
pretty clear who everyone's rooting for

5
00:00:06.690 --> 00:00:07.890
and who's gonna win right?

6
00:00:07.890 --> 00:00:09.330
- Yeah, it's gonna be

7
00:00:09.330 --> 00:00:10.401
France.
- Argentina.

8
00:00:10.401 --> 00:00:11.234
- Okay.

9
00:00:11.234 --> 00:00:12.390
- You're rooting for the Death Star, man?

10
00:00:12.390 --> 00:00:14.310
- Well, Darth Vader's
got to win at some point.

11
00:00:14.310 --> 00:00:15.870
I am going with the repeat champions,

12
00:00:15.870 --> 00:00:19.530
first to do it since
'58 and '62, in France.

13
00:00:19.530 --> 00:00:22.260
Yes, both these teams
have lost a previous game.

14
00:00:22.260 --> 00:00:24.300
Both these teams have
probably the two best players

15
00:00:24.300 --> 00:00:26.520
in this tournament in Messi and Mbappe,

16
00:00:26.520 --> 00:00:30.030
yet the French squad is more
non-one player dependent

17
00:00:30.030 --> 00:00:30.863
and at the end of the day,

18
00:00:30.863 --> 00:00:32.160
you're looking for a team of destiny

19
00:00:32.160 --> 00:00:34.980
compared to a player of
destiny in Lionel Messi.

20
00:00:34.980 --> 00:00:35.940
This French team wants to

21
00:00:35.940 --> 00:00:37.560
buck that trend.
- I'm insulted.

22
00:00:37.560 --> 00:00:38.940
- So might Messi, hi, if you're watching.

23
00:00:38.940 --> 00:00:39.840
Hi Lionel, big fan.

24
00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:43.830
But anyway, if you want to
look at actually the facts.

25
00:00:43.830 --> 00:00:46.800
This French team has been
way more solid as a whole.

26
00:00:46.800 --> 00:00:48.210
Argentina has been very streaky

27
00:00:48.210 --> 00:00:49.920
in this World Cup after
losing the Saudi Arabia.

28
00:00:49.920 --> 00:00:53.010
Yes, France lost to Tunisia,
but that was a throwaway game.

29
00:00:53.010 --> 00:00:55.350
France is had already
advanced the group stage.

30
00:00:55.350 --> 00:00:57.030
You look at how they faced adversity

31
00:00:57.030 --> 00:00:58.140
versus Australia.

32
00:00:58.140 --> 00:01:00.480
They got rid of a good Morocco team.

33
00:01:00.480 --> 00:01:01.770
France has just looked impressive.

34
00:01:01.770 --> 00:01:03.630
Every one of this tournament.
- Why does France

35
00:01:03.630 --> 00:01:04.920
get a pass for their loss?

36
00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:05.970
Eh, it's always an excuse.

37
00:01:05.970 --> 00:01:06.900
- Did I not just say that?

38
00:01:06.900 --> 00:01:08.040
- All right, all I'm saying.

39
00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:09.090
Look, listen, listen.

40
00:01:09.090 --> 00:01:10.800
Argentina entering this World Cup

41
00:01:10.800 --> 00:01:13.110
had won 36 consecutive matches,

42
00:01:13.110 --> 00:01:14.700
the second longest dream of all time.

43
00:01:14.700 --> 00:01:17.190
Yes, they slipped off in the
group stage, that happens.

44
00:01:17.190 --> 00:01:18.150
- [Eric] Big slip up.

45
00:01:18.150 --> 00:01:19.710
- It's a slip up, it happens.

46
00:01:19.710 --> 00:01:21.330
They're here in the final,
that's all that matters.

47
00:01:21.330 --> 00:01:22.892
This team is motivated
to win one for Messi.

48
00:01:22.892 --> 00:01:25.470
No, this is not a one man team.

49
00:01:25.470 --> 00:01:27.797
It's just that their
one man is essentially

50
00:01:27.797 --> 00:01:29.310
a God amongst men.

51
00:01:29.310 --> 00:01:32.220
At the age of 35, he's scored five goals.

52
00:01:32.220 --> 00:01:34.160
He's tied for most goals
right here with Mbappe

53
00:01:34.160 --> 00:01:35.640
in the entire World Cup run.

54
00:01:35.640 --> 00:01:37.710
He looked outstanding against Croatia.

55
00:01:37.710 --> 00:01:39.810
I mean, he looked 25
at least for one game.

56
00:01:39.810 --> 00:01:41.070
For next game, I think this,

57
00:01:41.070 --> 00:01:42.540
I think that's why this team right now

58
00:01:42.540 --> 00:01:44.850
is positioned to win this final.

59
00:01:44.850 --> 00:01:46.360
- Let's look at one thing
that could stop Messi

60
00:01:46.360 --> 00:01:48.210
and that's a good midfield.

61
00:01:48.210 --> 00:01:50.250
Which team in the World
Cup has the best midfield?

62
00:01:50.250 --> 00:01:51.180
It is France.

63
00:01:51.180 --> 00:01:52.013
- [DJ] There's only one team left.

64
00:01:52.013 --> 00:01:53.310
- [Eric] So there's only one team left.

65
00:01:53.310 --> 00:01:55.170
This is the dream final you wanted,

66
00:01:55.170 --> 00:01:58.560
this was a quarter final in
2018 with France winning.

67
00:01:58.560 --> 00:02:01.410
And that giving its Argentina
set up France to run the table

68
00:02:01.410 --> 00:02:02.940
with Belgium and then Croatia,

69
00:02:02.940 --> 00:02:04.020
and they ran the table.

70
00:02:04.020 --> 00:02:06.480
- I just think winning that
2021 Corporate America final

71
00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:07.770
like kind of put them over the hump.

72
00:02:07.770 --> 00:02:09.840
This team looks like they finally realized

73
00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:10.673
what they have.

74
00:02:10.673 --> 00:02:12.240
Pressure's off somewhat in a sense.

75
00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:14.040
As usual, I'm right, he's wrong.

76
00:02:14.040 --> 00:02:14.970
What do you guys think?

77
00:02:14.970 --> 00:02:17.603
Thanks for watching and stick
with "Deadspin" for more.

78
00:02:17.603 --> 00:02:20.103
(music fades)