France and Argentina delivered one of the vital memorable finals in soccer historical past on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a match that helped spark an enduring rivalry between the 2 nations. Now, with the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, a former France worldwide has delivered a blunt message towards Lionel Messi’s workforce: “I solely really feel hatred towards them.“
Les Bleus have emerged as one of many world’s dominant nationwide groups lately, coming into the 2022 match with an opportunity to win back-to-back World Cups following their 2018 triumph. Nevertheless, Messi’s Argentina stood of their approach, lifting the trophy in a dramatic ultimate that led to huge celebrations, scenes that former France striker Djibril Cissé didn’t admire.
Throughout a stay broadcast on L’Équipe’s official YouTube channel, which revisited the third anniversary of the 2022 World Cup ultimate on December 18, Cissé watched Argentina’s celebrations and didn’t cover his emotions on digital camera: “I solely really feel hatred towards them.“
The previous striker, who represented France on the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, each ending in first-round exits, defined that the photographs following Argentina’s victory triggered a robust response. “After seeing these photos, I used to be even offended. I really feel numerous hatred towards them. Clearly, at present they’re our major enemy,” he acknowledged.
Djibril Cisse of France celebrating.
Cissé additionally referenced the controversy surrounding Argentina’s celebration of the 2024 Copa América, by which Enzo Fernández was concerned in a chant that drew criticism for its content material. “I don’t perceive how his teammates forgave him,” Cissé mentioned, questioning the Chelsea midfielder’s state of affairs.
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Now framing Argentina as France’s main rival, Cissé prompt a robust sense of revenge, expressing wishes reminiscent of “profitable the third star in Messi’s final World Cup match” and referencing “two or three scores to settle with Argentina.” With lower than six months till the match begins, a possible ultimate between La Albiceleste and Les Bleus is already being mentioned, with one former French worldwide serving to gas the narrative.
When may Argentina and France meet on the 2026 World Cup?
Drawn from Pot 1 in Teams I and J respectively and sitting close to the highest of the FIFA rankings, France and Argentina are thought-about two of the main contenders to win the 2026 World Cup. As Cissé prompt, if each groups advance deep into the match, a matchup between them is feasible.
If each Argentina and France win their respective teams, they’d be positioned on reverse sides of the knockout bracket, which means they may solely meet in a possible ultimate. An analogous situation, although much less seemingly, would happen if each groups end as runners-up of their teams.
With out accounting for a third-place end, the 2 sides may nonetheless meet earlier than the ultimate at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey. That situation would happen if one workforce wins its group whereas the opposite advances as a runner-up, establishing a potential semifinal conflict between France and Argentina.
