The Qatar World Cup has been amazing for Argentina. With every match following the Saudi Arabia debacle, they have grown in confidence.

And on Sunday at the Lusail Stadium one more win — against France — will see them bring home the Cup they yearned for during the last 36 years. Yes they were in the final in 2014 and from that squad only Lionel Messi, Nicolas Otamendi, and Angel Di Maria are the trio who have survived the test of time.

Lionel Messi, 35, who will play his final match for Argentina on Sunday, had shared the dressing room with Maxi Rodriguez in 2006. Rodriguez was a very important cog in the Argentina wheel in that World Cup and his incredible goal against Mexico is still being talked about.

Rodriguez, in Qatar as one of Argentina Football Association delegates, spoke to the media about the team and the situation of players and coaching staff in the days leading up to the grand final of this World Cup.

“Everyone has worked hard. After the Saudi loss, every match became like a final. If we have lost against Mexico then we would have been ousted from the tournament. And all the good work in the last four years would have gone down the drain,” he said.

Pablo Zabaleta, who was with Messi when Argentina lost to Germany at the Maracana on that July evening in 2014, is someone who has seen the Argentina captain up close and personal.

“He’s a winner, a genius. He has that winning mentality. Now he knows that it’s his last chance, his last World Cup. Being the captain of the team, he has always been the best. Leo is now the leader of this new generation, showing the way and with a personal challenge to lift the Cup,” was Zabaleta’s take.

Both Rodriguez and Zabaleta were effusive in praising Julian Alvarez, who has already scored four goals in this tournament. “Julian is just 22 but gives an impression as if he is playing for the national team for the last 10 years. He was not expected to start and the focus was more on Lautaro Martinez. Julian’s performance has relegated Lautaro to the bench,” 41-year-old Rodriguez said.

“Before the World Cup, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez and Julian Álvarez were seen as substitutes. Now they are the headline-grabbing performers for the team. They are just 21 or 22. It’s just amazing to see what they are doing here in Doha.

“I met Julian in the pre-season with (Manchester) City, I saw a couple of workouts and spoke to Pep (Guardiola). He told me that he was impressed by his ability to sacrifice. It is not an easy virtue to find in strikers. There are few who work like Julian. He constantly puts pressure on the central defenders and tracks back to help the midfelders. He has been the standout performer,” Zabaleta, 37, a former Man City player, said.

Antoine Griezmann is the man, Rodriguez feels, who can ruin Messi and Argentina’s night in Lusail. “Griezmann is a fundamental player, he is very complete and intelligent, and you always want to have those players. I hope he doesn’t have his evening on Sunday.” Rodriguez said.

Agreed Javier Zanetti, former Argentina and Inter Milan player. “Yes, Griezmann can destroy us. I’m also worried about (Kylian Mbappe) and Olivier Giroud. If Adrien Rabiot plays (he missed the semi-final clash against Morocco due to illness), he is a quality player. I am also a huge fan of Hugo Lloris. It is a very complete and organised team. They have the same coach for a long time. But it’s a World Cup final, anything can happen.”