Senior United debuts for the young and the not so young

 Manchester United's Carabao Cup tie against lowly third tier outfit Charlton offered the ideal opportunity for Erik ten Hag.

Four days out from the pivotal meeting with cross-town rivals Manchester City and their boss Pep Guardiola, ten Hag unsurprisingly opted to rest most of his important senior stars. Casemiro, Marcus Rashford and Christian Eriksen got half an hour under their belt, whilst Lisandro Martinez made his first post-World Cup start with Anthony Martial and Raphael Varane not in the squad at all. In keeping with the previous ties in this competition, David de Gea was given the night off.

The latter enabled Tom Heaton to finally make his long awaited full debut between the sticks for the Reds. The veteran 36-year-old won the FA Youth Cup in 2003, a year after signing for the club. Two decades on, and Heaton, despite the loan arrival of Jack Butland, was in from the start against the League One side.

Heaton was handed a surprise debut by ten Hag's predecessor Ralf Rangnick, when he was brought on to replace Dean Henderson in the final minutes of last season's Champions League dead rubber at home to Young Boys. 

This was an ideal opportunity for the custodian as he kept a clean sheet and was untroubled throughout  the 90 minutes in which the brave League One midtablers battled gamely. Heaton was not called upon to make a save and will have enjoyed his long overdue moment in getting a chance of a senior appearance for the Reds. Martin Dubravka played against Villa and again in the win over Burnley. With ten Hag's United now through to the semi-finals, it seems likely de Gea will come into the team as United are 180 minutes away from a Wembley final. 
Heaton could play when we welcome Reading in the FA Cup fourth round but Butland will also be hoping to make his debut in that one. Nothing can take away from the fact Heaton now joins the pantheon of greats in pulling on the famous goalkeeper jersey at Old Trafford in a competitive game. 

At the other end of the age range, 17-year-old Stockport-born Kobbie Mainoo, widely tipped as a United star of the future, was a perhaps surprising name on ten Hag's team sheet. Mainoo shone during the Reds fabled run to Youth Cup glory last season and also caught the eye when he featured in United's winter Spanish training camp during the World Cup. He scored in the friendly defeat to Cadiz 

With Bruno Fernandes suspended and Donny van de Beek the victim of unfortunate injury, Mainoo slotted into midfield in front of Scott McTominay and Fred against Charlton, and didn't look out of place with a decent work rate, nice link play and some good touches on the ball. His passing was good and he acquitted himself well before he was replaced by Casemiro - the man he names as one of his heroes - on the hour mark. The League Cup has proved a launchpad for many a career, either here at United or elsewhere, and hopefully it will be the same for Mainoo, who was on the bench for the visit of Newcastle in October. There is certainly a lot more to come from just one of our promising crop of youngsters and this will be a night Mainoo will never forget.

There was also another United debut: it was from the bench and brief, but no less special for the lad involved for that. Step forward, Facundo Pellistri. 
The highly-rated Uruguayan international joined the Reds from Penarol in 2020 and made it thirteenth time lucky when he came on for Anthony Elanga in the closing minutes after being an unused sub on twelve previous occasions. A small sample size of ten minutes against tiring League One opponents is admittedly not much to go on, but Pellistri made a mockery of his lack of game time with an eye-catching cameo. With respect to Elanga, Pellistri looked far more of a threat. He was bright and lively, looked neat and tidy and showed a willingness to take people on.

Pellistri popped up with an assist for Marcus Rashford's strike to make it 2-0 late on and definitely deserves further chances to show what he can do. He could be useful back up for Antony and I'd like to see the talented 21-year-old get more minutes under his belt. On this evidence, it's baffling he's been held back for so long. United host Reading in the FA Cup in a few weeks and so that could be more first team involvement for Pellistri. So far, so good, for the young winger. You don't play for your country by the age of 21 and feature in a World Cup no less if you're not a good player. 

Congratulations to our trio of great Reds on a memorable night in an otherwise routine United victory. Well done lads! 

What a job Erik ten Hag is doing at Manchester United

Let's all just take a moment to appreciate the incredible body of work Erik ten Hag is already building seven months into the job at Old Trafford. 
The erudite Erik became the first United manager to lose his first two competitive games in charge of the club since John Chapman way back in 1921 when we tumbled to ignominious losses against Brighton and Brentford back in August.

But, since then the trajectory has been sharp and upward. ten Hag steered United into the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a 3-0 win over third tier Charlton on Tuesday. With the result, he became the fastest United manager in history to reach 20 wins. 
The Reds renaissance was kick started by victory over Liverpool and since then - bar minor setbacks at derby rivals Manchester City and new manager-inspired Aston Villa - only Arsenal have pilfered more Premier League points.

The Gunners were vanquished in their only league loss so far, Spurs were brow beaten in the best United performance Old Trafford has seen for decades, and Chelsea were torn apart in an opening 45 minutes in which Graham Potter made a first half change. Newcastle would have been beaten too if not for banter officiating.

Since that opening day debacle against Brighton, no opposition side has left Old Trafford victorious. M16 has become a fortress again with nine successive wins United's best home sequence since 2017-18 when Jose Mourinho was in charge. You have to go back to the Reds last title winning campaign of 2012-13 for our previous best winning streak on home soil when we put together 12 consecutive home successes during Sir Alex Ferguson's final flourish.

You can consider the 'lesser' opposition of this run if you want - Tottenham, Sheriff, West Ham, Aston Villa, Burnley, Forest, Bournemouth, Everton and Charlton - but the fact is United would've struggled to beat most of these sides in the past. Indeed, Burnley and Villa have both won at Old Trafford in recent seasons and United have struggled against many of the league's so called 'lesser' lights. Middlesbrough and Southampton both got joy last term and it's these types of games which separate the successful sides from the also rans. It is eight wins on the spin for the first time since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's initial purple patch as caretaker manager but, this time, you feel the form is somewhat sustainable. 

There will be tougher tests to come; none tougher than Saturday's opponents from across the city - the ultimate barometer, the biggest test of how far we've come - and then the trip to Arsenal, but United should not fear anyone. No one will want to face this United side at the minute. You look forward to watching us play now and ten Hag has brought back discipline, instilled a team spirit and got us playing with style and verve again. He's improved the standards and the mentality, put his own stamp on the team's identity and has been assertive and decisive. In short, ten Hag has been everything a Manchester United manager should be, so far at least. Dedicated and determined but demanding, he is the first manager we have had since Sir Alex to be the perfect embodiment of an Old Trafford boss. 

Cristiano Ronaldo has been moved on with the circus surrounding his acrimonious departure dealt with through minimal fuss. United are four points off Manchester City and level on points with high flying surprise package Newcastle having played a game less. Joint third as we approach the halfway point of the season and in a major cup semi final - a position we'd have gladly taken with both hands if offered it back in August. A 74% win rate at this stage is mightily impressive but he is only just getting started and United remain the only English side in contention for all four domestic and European competitions. 

Casemiro's signing has been seminal and sensationally impactful. He has been surely the signing of the season (excluding the freakish cyborg of Erling Haaland), with his ability to break up play, hold up opponents, stop counter-attacks, make tactical fouls and win the ball back. In turn, the full-backs have improved and the attackers get more service. And to think United very nearly went for Adrien Rabiot instead. Thank you, Veronique Rabiot!

Marcus Rashford has been a man reborn by ten Hag's arrival with his relentless red-hot streak in front of goal the epitome of ten Hag's coaching excellence. Rashford's best goalscoring season came in 2019-20 when he missed three months of the season only to return after the lockdown-enforced hiatus to plunder 22 goals. He is already on 15 goals for the season (18 if you include the World Cup) for 2022-23, a goal every 123 minutes, and is a man on top of his game right now. Rashford is a man revitalised and is clearly loving life under the tutelage of ten Hag. He is a shoo-in for any team of the season and looks set to win a second PL Player of the Month award for November&December. He is just one of many of United's hitherto faltering stars to be given a new lease of life under the Dutchman. 

Luke Shaw has been the best left-back in the league this season, Diogo Dalot has been our most improved player and Fred has been very impressive despite being reduced to the role of squad player upon the arrivals of Messrs Casemiro and Christian Eriksen.

There is still a long way to go, and the true judgement of ten Hag and United has yet to come to pass. But the early signs are really positive, and he has managed to unite an erstwhile divided fanbase into believing just about anything is possible. ten Hag you're the one... 
 

Match report: Man Utd 3-1 Everton

Marcus Rashford scored for the fifth game in a row as United increased the pressure on Everton's beleaguered boss Frank Lampard with a deserved FA Cup victory at Old Trafford.

This was a seventh win in a row for Erik ten Hag's side, as the Reds sealed their place in the fourth round of the world's oldest cup competition - one which United's Dutch manager admits he will be aiming to win.

Antony turned home Rashford's cross in the fourth minute before Conor Coady capitalised on a rare David de Gea error to equalise. Coady then scored at the wrong end to restore the Reds lead and - after Dominic Calvert - Lewin had a goal disallowed, Rashford's injury time penalty settled matters.

ten Hag opted not to rest any of his first team; that chance will surely come on Tuesday when we host third tier Charlton in the Carabao Cup. There were four changes from the XI which beat Bournemouth on Tuesday as the returning Diogo Dalot was restored to the side in place of Aaron Wan - Bissaka. Raphael Varane came in for Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia replaced Victor Lindelof and Antony recovered from his knock to come in ahead of the stricken Donny van de Beek.

It took United less than five minutes to go ahead when the front three linked up to devastating effect. Anthony Martial fed Rashford and he burst past Seamus Coleman to pick out the onrushing Antony, who slid home a simple finish at the back post.

United almost went 2-0 ahead immediately after more good work from Antony found Martial, but he fired his effort across goal and wide when he perhaps should have done better. 

The writing looked on the wall for the struggling Toffees given United have not conceded since the World Cup, but de Gea's baffling error changed all that ten minutes further on. Neal Maupay's trickling, mishit cross somehow bemused the usually dependable de Gea, who seemed to forget he could use his hands as the ball squirmed under him and fell invitingly for Coady to tap in from three yards.

Demarai Gray struck the outside of a post and Jordan Pickford saved well to deny Martial at the other end in an exciting, end to end encounter. 
Christian Eriksen flashed narrowly off target and Rashford went close from distance with the tie played in the classic frantic, harum scarum manner associated with the classic English FA Cup match.

United had scored early in the first half and did so again after the resumption. Having collected the ball out wide, Rashford drove into the box and showed lovely footwork to beat his defender and his drilled cross was turned into his own net by the stretching Coady.

Pickford saved superbly from Bruno Fernandes as United looked to put the game to bed but Everton sub Calvert - Lewin, searching for his obligatory goal against the Reds, seemed to have done just that shortly after coming on.

Calvert - Lewin fired in under de Gea after good build up play from Gray, but replays showed the latter was marginally offside and VAR correctly chalked the 'goal' out. 

Rashford went close with a trademark free-kick - well saved by Pickford - but Rashford eventually prevailed against his compatriot when substitute Alejandro Garnacho was scythed down by Godfrey. Our no.10 rolled the resultant spot-kick into the corner for his 13th goal of a red-hot season to finally put the game beyond any lingering doubt.

United certainly weren't at their best but got the job done to move into the next round and leave a cloud hanging over Everton manager Lampard. You're getting sacked in the morning?

Overall team performance: 6/10
United Faithful Man of the Match: Marcus Rashford 

Match report: Wolves 0-1 Man United

Marcus Rashford stepped off the bench to earn United a hard-fought fifth successive win and lift Erik ten Hag's side into the top four.

Rashford; dropped for disciplinary reasons; came on at the interval and struck his eleventh of the season - and third goal in as many games - in new Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui's first home game at the helm.

Molineux has traditionally been an unhappy hunting ground for United and despite the old Gold's current struggles at the wrong end of the Premier League table, this would prove no different.

After Newcastle's goalless stalemate with Leeds and City's 1-1 draw with Everton, the Reds sit a place and two points behind Eddie Howe's high flyers with a game in hand. Guardiola's slickers are currently in second place, but only four points ahead of us.

There was one charge to ten Hag's side from the XI which beat Wanderers relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Tuesday as Alejandro Garnacho came in for Rashford.

In United's final fixture of a largely forgettable 2022, our red hot no.10 showed great strength to hold off a posse of players and drill home an excellent finish 14 minutes from the end.

United will go into the New Year in fourth place; two points behind Newcastle with a game in hand and only four off Pep Guardiola's faltering City. 

The influential Casemiro had a header deflected over in the sixth minute before an excellent piece of last-ditch defending saw Nelson Semedo snuff out the danger from a lurking Garnacho.

The Wolves right-back then underhit his backpass to the feet of the forward, but the teenager was thwarted by the smart reactions of keeper Jose Sa.

The home keeper was soon called into action again to keep out Antony's deflected effort, before both sides were indebted to brilliant pieces of defensive play. First, the much-maligned Aaron Wan - Bissaka came to the Reds rescue when his lunging block prevented a certain goal from Joao Moutinho. Minutes later, James Collins was on hand to deny Anthony Martial a clear opening after his excellent challenge meant the Frenchman couldn't turn home a Bruno Fernandes cross.

Sa saved well from Antony on the stroke of half-time when the Brazilian winger perhaps should have done better. 

Rashford was summoned off the naughty step whilst Wolves also upped the ante with speedster Adama Traore on in place of the Reds old nemesis Diego Costa. With Luke Shaw at the heart of a makeshift back four, Traore was tasked with unsettling the Reds' defence and pinning us back.

Clear cut chances were few and between as the Reds' annual visit to Molineux lapsed into a familiar, jarring pattern. Fernandes fired over from a free-kick before compatriot Ruben Neves almost showed his Portugal team-mate how it's done, only for David de Gea to produce an excellent full-length save.

Struggling Wolves face a battle for survival and Lopetegui must find the answer to his new team's problems in front of goal. United also have well-documented issues in that department but came up with the solution here in the shape of the red-hot Rashford.

A give-and-go between Rashford and Fernandes saw the latter release the former to show great strength and perseverance as he cut inside to hold off three players and fire in under the stranded Sa.

Our super sub thought he had put the result beyond doubt minutes later when Wan - Bissaka picked him out. Rashford's shot was saved by Sa only for the ball to rebound in off the onrushing Rashford only for VAR to chalk the goal off for handball.

That set up a frantic finale in which de Gea saved superbly from substitute Raul Jimenez, and Ruben Neves had a drive deflected narrowly wide in the final moments.

United survived through five harum scarum minutes to hold out for victory and ensure a perfect ending to 2022. A third straight win (and clean sheet) for United since the restart and a clear upward trajectory. Roll on 2023. 

Overall team performance: 6/10. Job done
United Faithful Man of the Match: Marcus Rashford MBE. 

Winds of change: A look at Manchester United's summer signings

For too long, a contributory factor to Manchester's United decline in form and fortunes has been the club's inept record when it comes to recruitment. 
There can be no doubt the club have spent money and liberal amounts of it - primarily under successive managers Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Yet there has been only one outstanding signing worth his weight in gold with the arrival of Bruno Fernandes in the winter window of 2020. A few have had a short-term impact (think of Zlatan Ibrahimovic) whilst others such as Daley Blind, Juan Mata and Paul Pogba were never utilised correctly.

In short, the club have spent their own money but have spent it badly. But all that changed this summer. With the arrival of incoming Dutch boss Erik ten Hag, so there was a shift in philosophy and strategy. For the first time in many a year, United's recruitment and transfer policy has been absolutely perfect. 

ten Hag has signed players not just of supreme quality but has assembled a dressing squad of strong characters with a strong mentality.

All five of our new players have been very impressive and have brought an exciting and eye-catching combination of youth and experience to Old Trafford. This was the year United finally acted like a proper club and got things right. 

First came Tyrell Malacia, a player unknown to many outside of his native Netherlands, but a young full-back ten Hag had clearly been keen on for some time. After impressing for Feyenoord, he came to United for £14m to provide youthful zest and competition for Luke Shaw following the departure of the not good enough Alex Telles. Malacia was United's only bright spot in the abject 4-0 defeat at Brentford, and then shone on his maiden start in the Reds shock 2-1 win over a faltering Liverpool. Malacia pocketed Mo Salah and caught the eye with a simply supreme performance of pace, energy and athleticism in which he was a man of the match contender. Malacia has belied his tender years and looks like he's been playing at this level, and this standard, all his life.

The arrival of Malacia may have felt a little underwhelming given United's need to strength elsewhere, but when Christian Eriksen was unveiled ten days later, it certainly set pulses racing. Having been released by Brentford, it seemed a no brainer to bring in a player of Eriksen's undoubted class and guile for absolutely nothing at all and so it proved. United thinking rationally and using their common sense? Whoever would have thought. 

After years of watching the anodyne antics of McFred plodding around in a non existent midfield, Eriksen provided an instant upgrade and brought a sprinkling of stardust to an area of the team in desperate need of reinforcements. And the best thing of all? He was free.

United had gone into the season needing a new full-back, a new centre-back, another right footed winger, two midfielders and a forward. ten Hag again turned to his native homeland - and his former club - to beef up his options. Lisandro Martinez was the third new addition through the door, from Ajax for £40m and, despite reservations about his height, has been a colossus since day one. Like Malacia, he announced his Old Trafford arrival in fine style with a man of the match performance against Liverpool in which he silenced his critics and instantly endeared himself to the United faithful.

Affectionately nicknamed Licha, Martinez is the closest player to Nemanja Vidic since the man himself, the Butcher of Amsterdam is strong in the tackle, quick, elite on the ball and clearly loves the club already. It's easy to see why ten Hag wanted the newly crowned World Cup winner so much. He has been magnificent and is the early favourite for United's Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award. I absolutely love the man and I'm so glad we've got him. Where are those doubters now? He has dispelled them in his own indomitable style. With Martinez and Raphael Varane at the heart of the defence, United can legitimately claim to boast the finest pair of centre-backs in the land. 

But the player the new Reds boss wanted above all others is the one he never got. From the day his appointment was announced, United were involved in a tug-of-war with Barcelona for the services of Frenkie de Jong. Every year there's a protracted transfer 'saga' which seems to drag on for eternity and the squabble for de Jong proved no exception. But even that turned out alright on the night. Enter, Casemiro. He may have been second choice in terms of targets, but he is certainly very much at the top of his game in terms of his undoubted quality. ten Hag will be so pleased he ended up with a five-time Champions League winner instead, despite the Brazilian's advancing years.

What a player this man is and what a difference he has made. Adding steel and stability to a midfield in a terrified state of flux, Casemiro's elite mix of both brain and brawn are exactly what we have needed for years. It's a shame we didn't get him a few years ago, but United's midfield is now a place where United move the ball around rather than simply moving it on. 

Casemiro was drafted in as an emergency, makeshift centre-back for the Carabao Cup visit of Burnley but you'd never know it. He was just as much of a baller back there as he is when deployed in midfield. A five-time Champions League winner, you still have to pinch yourself United have a player this good in our ranks. As per, Casemiro was dubbed ' too old' from a press pack desperate to criticise, conveniently forgetting he's younger than Thiago Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Virgil van Dijk. 

Because of the difference he has made and the impact he's had, I would say Casemiro is the best of all of our summer additions. 

With Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford sharing left-wing duties, and the latter incompatible on the right, there was an obvious need for another right-sided player. The usual names were bandied about but ten Hag had a clear vision in mind and again went back to raid former club Ajax in search for the missing piece of his jigsaw.

An Olympic gold medallist and twice Eredivisie winner with the Amsterdam giants, Antony seemed exactly in keeping with the attacking, dynamic mindset ten Hag had set out for United. Tricky and direct, Antony made an immediate impact at Old Trafford with a goal on his United bow in the ding-dong tete a tete with erstwhile unbeaten leaders Arsenal. He netted again in his second game and then curled in a wordlie in United's loss at derby rivals City - three goals in his first three United games for the man from Sao Paulo, our second Selecao, who arrived for an eye-popping £81m. 

Although the glut of goals have dried up a little since then, Antony has continued to excite us with his flair, box of tricks and unpredictability - an edge-of-your-seat showman, a tricky and mercurial winger. 

United have backed ten Hag with the money and the signings he wanted and so far, both he and the new additions have been vindicated. This time, maybe just maybe, we have found the winning formula. The winds of change are beginning to bluster through Old Trafford. 

Man Utd vs Burnley: Understrength Reds as domestic football returns

Manchester United return to action for the first time in 37 days as the Reds host Championship leaders Burnley at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup fourth round.

The game will be played with a reduced capacity of 62,000 due to ambulance strikes in the area with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. Whatever your view on the virtues of this competition, several of the big guns have already fallen by the wayside with Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham already eliminated. Either Manchester City or Liverpool will join that illustrious list as the two heavyweights meet on Thursday, clearing a path for the Reds to make a concerted push for the Wembley final as second favourites.

So with all that in mind, and with the availability of United's World Cup stars uncertain, here is the side we think Erik ten Hag will pick for Wednesday night's game.

Martin Dubravka made his United bow in the last round KO of Aston Villa and will be in contention again here, but David de Gea was not selected for Spain in Qatar. It therefore seems likely he will get the nod between the sticks behind what will be something of a makeshift defence.

Diogo Dalot picked up an injury in Portugal's last eight exit to surprise package Morocco and so is unlikely to feature, although he probably wouldn't have played anyway. Aaron Wan - Bissaka got a rare run out in the two winter friendlies and looks set for his first competitive start under ten Hag. On the left, both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are unavailable so Brandon Williams will come in from the cold to fill the void. For obvious reasons, both Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez will miss out so Harry Maguire could be rushed back alongside Sweden international Victor Lindelof, a shoo in to start after his nation missed out on Qatar.

Christian Eriksen has been back at Carrington for a week after his Denmark side's earlier than expected World Cup exit. He seems certain to start with the well rested Scott McTominay in midfield with the talented playmaker's selection for this tie a welcome boost for an otherwise hugely understrength United side. 

The most clear cut selections will come in United's front four which picks itself. ten Hag will go with the same quartet he went with against Cadiz and Betis as none of the players involved featured in the World Cup.

So it will be Anthony Elanga and Alejandro Garnacho in the wide positions with another chance for Donny van de Beek tucked in at 10 behind line-leading Anthony Martial. Jadon Sancho is unlikely to feature having been on an individual training programme which saw him miss out even on selection for the shadow training squad in Spain. 

Man Utd predicted XI vs Burnley: De Gea; Wan - Bissaka, Maguire, Lindelof, Williams; McTominay, Eriksen; Elanga, van de Beek, Garnacho; Martial

Prediction:

Vincent Kompany's high flying Clarets will fancy their chances of a minor upset here considering the fact they are fresher, and considering the Reds will be missing most of their regular first choice XI. We think this will be a close encounter, but ten Hag will still be able to send a reasonably strong team out with options aplenty on the bench just in case. United will do enough to secure a narrow victory. 

Man Utd 2-1 Burnley

Rapha against Licha in 2022 World Cup Final

After the holders and defending champions France won their semi-final on Wednesday night to set up a final with Argentina, one thing is certain.
A Manchester United player will return to Carrington as a world champion.

In a World Cup full of shocks and heroic underdogs, we're left with a final which - in truth - was widely predicted. Argentina recovered from falling victim to arguably the greatest upset of them all when they were humbled by the rank outsiders of Saudi Arabia in their first game. Since then, Lionel Scaloni's side, spearheaded by the little genius with magic in his feet and the heart of a lion, has got better and better. But enough about Lisandro Martinez. This has been a tournament where the stars seem set to align for Lionel Messi to finally deliver on the biggest stage of all. At times, it has seemed as if he has dragged them to this point virtually single-handedly. Underwhelming and erratic in their first two games, La Albiceleste have eventually lived up to their billing as pre-tournament favourites.

Martinez has started two of Argentina's six ties in Qatar with his role dependent on the shape deployed by manager Lionel Scaloni, who has tinkered liberally between a 3-5-2, a 4-4-2 and a 4-3-3 system. Let's not forget his totemic, match-winning block against a fast-finishing Australia side in the round of 16; truly Martinez at his combative and no holds barred best! 

 Since dispensing with Licha's out-of-sorts namesake Lautaro in favour of Manchester City's Julian Alvarez after the second group game with Mexico, Argentina have never looked back. Should he win it, the Butcher would go back to Manchester with a winner's medal draped proudly around his neck. It would also mean BOTH of United's first-choice centre-backs would be World Cup winners. Not many clubs can say that. Barcelona had Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, Bayern had Mats Hummels and George Boateng in 2014. 2010 winner Sergio Ramos played alongside a certain Raphael Varane - himself a World Cup four years ago - as part of an immense and impenetrable pairing at Real Madrid for the best part of a decade.  

Speaking of which, Varane of course is now very much United's defensive lynchpin. Having left the pitch in tears after picking up an injury against Chelsea, our totemic no.19 clearly feared his World Cup was over. But Rapha is made of stern stuff. France coach Didier Deschamps left him out of Les Bleus opener against Australia, preferring Ibrahima Konate alongside Dayot Upamecano to manage Rapha's fitness and ease him back in having not played a minute since that tie at Stamford Bridge in October.

Rapha has looked back to his best since coming into the side for their second group match against Denmark. Always assured in and out of possession, Varane lifted the trophy in 2018 and impressed against England in the quarters in which he sent club team-mates Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Marcus Rashford packing. 

His stunning break-the-line pass started the move which led to Theo Hernandez's opener in the semi against Morocco. Varane is now geared up for a second, back-to-back final having been impressive as Deschamps tournament specialists prevailed four years ago in Russia. Should he do so again, he would have two World Cup and four Champions League winners gongs - before he's even turned 30. That is simply staggering and I wouldn't mind betting no other player boasts such an illustrious achievement. 

Argentina are looking for their third World Cup triumph and first since 1986. Messi was one when a small, squat footballing magician by the name of Diego Maradona captained his nation to victory against West Germany. 36 years on, and there is certainly a sense of poetic symmetry as the late Maradona's heir apparent Messi, also his country's captain, takes centre stage in what could be his last international match. 

There is added impetus as Messi is yet to win a major global international trophy and this would be Licha's first taste of that particular delicacy, too. 

Varane, on the other hand, is part of a side vying to become the first to retain the trophy since Brazil in 1962. The task of keeping Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and, of course, the French's talisman Kylian Mbappe quiet will be a stern examination for Licha with all three purring and pulling the strings for Deschamps depleted but no less dynamic side. 

Varane, meanwhile, will have to be at his considerable best to shut down Messi, no doubt drawing on his experience of shackling the diminutive genius during his time at Real Madrid.

Argentina will start as marginal favourites simply because of the presence of Messi  (then again, France have Mbappe), but which Red will come out on top? 

The World Cup final kicks off at 3pm on Sunday in Lusail.