Sunday Scroll

Welcome to The GIST’s Sunday Scroll, where we dive deep into one timely sports topic.

Today at 10 a.m. ET (aka soon), No. 3 Argentina and No. 4 France will wrap up the month-long tournament by duking it out for the title of world champs. So today’s Scroll has the key matchup details before the party begins. It all comes down to this.

And then there were two. Four weeks after 32 teams arrived in Qatar eyeing men’s soccer’s ultimate prize, Argentina and France are the last two standing. The South American side rebounded from a surprise aforementioned opening loss to Saudi Arabia, reaffirming themselves as one of the world’s best by returning to the final for the first time since 2014.

• Defending champs France, meanwhile, have aced nearly every test thrown their way. They’re the first team since Brazil’s 2002 squad to make consecutive finals and could be the first to win back-to-back since Brazil did it in 1962. Très bien.

The mood: Today’s final marks Lionel Messi’s last chance at World Cup glory, a missing milestone that haunts his legacy. The masses are feeling more nostalgic and appreciative than ever as the end of his national team career nears, especially after the Maestro almost single-handedly ensured his team a place in the knockouts.

• Argentine journalist Sofi Martinez summarized the nation’s feelings on Tuesday writing: “Truly, you made your mark in everyone’s life. And that, to me, is beyond winning any World Cup. No one can take that from you.” Not not crying.

Key to success: Very simply, Messi is the key to Argentina’s success. The GOAT has five goals and three assists so far, but his brilliance lies both in his individual talent and his ability to inspire the best from his teammates. His leadership has allowed players like fellow forward Julián Álvarez to quickly build confidence after a shaky group stage.

Players to watch: You already know Messi is La Albiceleste’s main man, but the best news for Argentina is that he’s not the only one putting on a show. Twenty-two-year-old lifelong Messi fan Álvarez is enjoying a breakout tournament with four goals, including a brace in their 3–0 semifinal win over Croatia.

• As for the defense, it has stabilized throughout Argentina’s strong run in the knockouts thanks to Cristian Romero and Nicolás Otamendi. But the duo are just as crucial in the back as they are in attack — the latter assisted Messi’s Round of 16 goal against Australia.

The mood: Les Bleus’ talent pool is just as special as the UNESCO-approved baguette. The team began play in Qatar sans several injured stars, but the rest have stepped up to the challenge. The reigning champs are flying high heading into today’s match, especially as superstar Kylian Mbappé continues to make his case as the sport’s top talent.

Keys to success: The world-class French offense has overwhelmed some of the game’s sturdiest defenses, with Mbappé leading the charge. The attacking strategy is a full-team effort, though — left back Theo Hernández scored in Wednesday’s semi against Morocco in a career-defining moment after replacing his injured big brother, Lucas, in France’s opener. All in the family.

Players to watch: Mbappé is tied with Messi at five goals this tourney, but France’s run to the final has been defined by career renaissances for forwards Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann. The 36-year-old Giroud, who became France’s all-time leading men’s scorer during the World Cup, enters the final with four golazos.

• And while Griezmann wasn’t in his best form when he arrived in Qatar, he has pulled the strings on France’s explosive attack. Watch for him to add to his three assists thus far.

🏈 Call an audible

No matter who wins today, this World Cup’s horrifying legacy was set long before teams arrived in Qatar. The world’s most popular sporting event has been used to erase the host nation’s human rights abuses ever since it won hosting rights in 2010, and the sportswashing certainly didn’t stop after the tournament kicked off.

Qatar’s oppression of the LGBTQIA+ community dominated headlines during the first week of play after multiple European teams were ostensibly forced to opt out of wearing the OneLove armband. FIFA’s decision to threaten players who wore it with a yellow card rather than a fine stood in direct contrast with the body’s promise of a welcoming environment.

• Many still protested. Late journalist Grant Wahl was detained for wearing a rainbow T-shirt, German players posed for a team photo by placing their hands over their mouths as “a sign…that FIFA is muzzling us,” and a pitch invader flew a rainbow flag.

The country’s migrant worker crisis also worsened during the month-long event. A Filipino man passed away while doing repairs at the resort housing the Saudi Arabian team, and a Kenyan man died while working security at a match. Though investigations are ongoing, a Qatari official downplayed these tragedies, saying “death is a natural part of life.”

The host nation isn’t the only one in a human rights fight. Iran’s team played amidst nationwide civil unrest regarding women’s rights, and protested by refusing to sing their anthem before their first game.

• Players and families were subsequently threatened by the government to stay quiet, and a former youth national team member reportedly faces execution. Sickening.

• The weight on Iran’s team didn’t go unnoticed. After the nation was eliminated, U.S. players embraced and commended their Iranian counterparts, who, as USMNT forward Tim Weah put it, “displayed so much pride and love for their country and their people.”

So while we prepare to rain confetti on today’s champs, it’s crucial to keep the troubling context surrounding this tourney top of mind. Sports remain inherently political.

First things first, let’s talk food. With a 10 a.m. ET kickoff, it’s the perfect excuse to serve yourself a breakfast of (potential) champions.

• If you’re riding with Argentina, brew up Messi’s morning jolt, yerba mate. Sip it with a sweet medialuna, some revuelto gramajo, or lean into the team’s carnivorous appetite by grilling up the national dish, Argentinian asado.

• And if you want to support Les Bleus, go traditional with a tartine (a baguette slathered with butter and jam) to dip into some café au lait, or pretend you’re watching on Paris time by filling up on a French omelette or some sweet crêpes. Bon appétit!

Grab those eats, plop yourself in front of a screen and tune in on Fox (in English) or Telemundo and Peacock (in Spanish) if you’re in the U.S. and TSN if you’re watching from Canada. Let the game begin!

Now that you’re an expert on today’s World Cup final, get in on the exciting action yourself by placing a bet on FanDuel.

• Will Messi finally get to kiss that elusive trophy, or will France steal the show yet again and become a rare repeat champion?
  

• Pick the winner of the match with a moneyline bet, or bet outside the box on things like total goals or exact final score on FanDuel.