France defender: 'Messi doesn't scare us'
Hernandez opened the scoring for France in the fifth minute of the 2022 World Cup semi-final against Morocco on the evening of December 14, helping the home team win the final 2-0. After the match, he told RAI Sport: "I'm very tired, but winning a semi-final always feels great. Now it's time to recover for the final. Messi doesn't scare us. Argentina is strong, but we are. Only a few days left to prepare."
This is the second time in a row that France has reached the final of the World Cup, after the championship in 2018. But Hernandez only appeared for the first time, when he debuted for the team in 2021. "Playing two World Cup finals in a row is something. great with France, and we will do everything to win the last match," added the 25-year-old defender.
Hernandez grew up in the Atletico Madrid academy, but played for Real Madrid at the age of 20. Unable to compete for a position at Real, he joined Milan in the summer of 2019 and became the mainstay of the Italian club that won the Serie A 2021-2022. When playing for Real, Hernandez once said that "Cristiano Ronaldo is better than Messi".
Hernandez opened the scoring for France in the fifth minute, with a back-kick after Kylian Mbappe hit the Morocco defender. Four of France's last five goals in a World Cup semi-final were scored by defenders. In the 79th minute, striker Randal Kolo Muani cushioned the close to seal a 2-0 victory for France, also from a deflected shot from Mbappe.
Hernandez plays at left-back, so he can face Messi many times in the final, when the Argentina captain tends to drift to the right. The 35-year-old superstar is co-leading the list of goals and assists at the 2022 World Cup, with five goals and three passes for teammates to score.
Hernandez has faced Messi four times, both while playing in Spain, with two for Alaves, one for Real Madrid and Real Sociedad. In particular, Messi only scored one goal in Barca's 6-0 victory over Alaves on February 11, 2017.
France will meet Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final at Lusail Stadium at 10pm on Sunday, December 18, Hanoi time.
