You would expect Argentine fans to feel this way, but one Malaysian French supporter is also rooting for the South Americans in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final.
The reason? They told Twentytwo13 it is because Lionel Messi, undoubtedly, his generation’s most outstanding player.
Journalist and host Rizal Hashim, is a well-known French fanatic.
He, however, is a lover of the beautiful game and believes Messi encapsulates all that is good about football.
“I cried when the French lost the 1982 semifinal to the West Germans. They should have won the match in Seville in regulation time after suffering profound injustice when Harald Schumacher brutally hacked Patrick Battiston on the jaw but remained on the pitch,” said Rizal, the host of Sinar Daily’s ‘The Footy Forum Qatar World Cup 2022’ .
He said the deep sense of injustice grew when Max Bossis and Didier Six failed to convert their penalties in the shootout.
“In 1986, I jumped for joy when France beat Brazil in the last eight, despite the South American goalkeeper Carlos escaping punishment for fouling French winger Bruno Bellone.
“I remembered all the French moves by heart because of the VCR, until someone borrowed the tape without returning it. A half-fit Michel Platini could not galvanise the French as it lost to an efficient West Germans in the last four.”
He said by the time Les Bleus lifted the Cup in their backyard in 1998, he merely smiled because the flamboyant and cavalier French game – the reasons why he fell in love with Les Bleus in the first place – had been replaced by a more pragmatic approach.
Rizal said Aime Jacquet’s team, symbolised by Didier Deschamps’ grit and determination, was fortunate to have Zinedine Zidane’s silky touch that was a throwback to the French of the 80s.
And while he was surprised when Deschamps moulded a winning team according to his philosophy four years ago – greatly influenced by Jacquet but augmented by a new phenomenon in the form of Kylian Mbappe – he hopes the French fall short on Sunday.
“For sentimental reasons, the 2022 World Cup is Messi’s for the taking. I suspect he will make a clean sweep of all the possible accolades – the World Cup, the Golden Ball (best player) and the Golden Boot (top scorer),” said Rizal, who previously served as special officer to the president at the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
“It would be a fitting finale as Messi has made the world better with his God-given talent.”
He added that Messi came close eight years ago in Brazil, but Germany won 1-0 in extra time, and it is time for redemption.
Unlike Rizal, Tammy Chan said she is confident Mbappe would shoot France to glory.
“When I saw how Mbappe performed during the group stages, I knew he would be the star of the tournament,” said Chan, a public relations practitioner.
“I also believe it is France’s title as most of the ‘legends’ in this tournament have not lived up to expectations.
“I expect Mbappe to be the new king of football.”
Separately, die-hard Argentina fan Mustapha Kamaruddin, who never lost hope, even after Saudi Arabia shocked the South Americans 2-1 in the first match, predicted a win for his favourite team.
“Messi aside, Argentina has a few more players who can play significant roles in the final,” said the former Malay Mail Sports editor.
“Players like Manchester City attacker Julian Alvarez, midfielder Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid) and defenders Cristian Romero (Tottenham), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica) and Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United) are well-equipped to handle anything the French can throw at them.
“Then, there is goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez of Aston Villa to stop the French attackers if they breach the backline.
“It will be a tough match. However, the motivating factor for La Albiceleste (The White and Sky Blue) under coach Lionel Scaloni is that the players have vowed to play until they drop, to see captain Messi finally lift the World Cup.”
Dr Shantini Kulasingam, who has supported Argentina for over 30 years, said nothing would prevent it from winning.
“I have been a fan since I was 10 years old. I was ecstatic when they won in 1986, but too young to understand what happened in 1978,” said Dr Shantini, a general practitioner, who grew up in Kota Bahru, Kelantan.
“France has Mbappe, and Argentina has Messi. It will be a close game. The defeat to Saudi Arabia was probably a good thing. It made the players realise they cannot take anything for granted.
“Argentina will win this match, but probably on penalties.”
Meanwhile, Croatia and Morocco will face each other tomorrow (11pm) for the bronze medal.
FIXTURES
TOMORROW
Third-fourth: Croatia vs Morocco (11pm)
SUNDAY
Final: Argentina vs France (11pm)
