Atletico will make history in the World Cup final for the third time in a row

Atlético Madrid will make history this Sunday by becoming the club with the most players participating in a World Cup final for the third consecutive time. According to the club, 10 of its current squad members will take part in the final against Argentina, which will be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This marks a unique achievement in football history, as no other team has managed such a feat in back-to-back tournaments. The list of Atlético's representatives includes six Argentine players, Julian Alvarez, José María Giménez, Nicolás Tagliafico, Alejandro Almada, Franco Armani, and Nicolás González, and four Spanish players, Álex Baena, Diego Costa, Koke, and Juanfran. The inclusion of both Alvarez and González has sparked some debate. While Atlético acknowledges that Alvarez’s registration belongs to Juventus, they argue he has played the entire season as a Rojiblanco. In the case of González, any television broadcast identifying him as a player of Bayer Leverkusen during the final could mislead viewers. Regardless of these controversies, the number of Atlético players in the final is undeniable. In the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, four players, Giménez, Ángel Di María, Antoine Griezmann, and Rodrigo De Paul, represented the club. In the 2014 World Cup in Russia, another quartet, Griezmann, Thomas Lemar, Lucas Torreira, and Ivan Perišić, also featured for Atlético. Now, with up to 10 players potentially appearing in the final, the club is set to break its own record. This historic milestone comes at a time when Atlético has been without a major title for five years. However, this season brought them closer than ever to success. They narrowly lost the Copa del Rey final to Real Sociedad on penalties and reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League after falling out of contention for the La Liga title before the halfway mark of the campaign. Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, Atlético’s executive vice president, expressed pride over the club’s performance. He stated that having nine or 10 players in the final was a significant indicator of their consistent quality and work over the past few seasons. Gil Marín also addressed the future of Julian Alvarez, who has publicly expressed his desire to join Barcelona. He emphasized that Atlético would not sell the forward under any circumstances. “We have heard statements from the Barcelona president indicating that their offer to us was not infinite,” Gil Marín said. “Our response is clear, we do not want to transfer him, and we will not accept any offers, whether they are for 100 million, 150 million, or 200 million euros.” Among the Spanish players, Álex Baena has stood out as a key figure. Despite being a regular starter for Spain, he has remained untouched by coach Luis de la Fuente. Meanwhile, Diego Costa has been selected as a starting player in some matches, although he faces competition from Pedro Porro for the right-back position. Koke and Juanfran have yet to play a minute in the tournament. On the Argentinian side, Lionel Scaloni has heavily relied on Giménez and Alvarez in his starting lineup. Nicolás González and Almada have primarily served as substitutes in the second half. Giuliano Simeone, known for his speed and versatility, made an impact in the semi-final against England and has become a contender for a starting spot in the final. Goalkeeper Franco Armani has yet to make his debut. Diego Simeone, Atlético’s manager, often emphasizes the importance of preparing all players, even those who see limited action. His philosophy ensures that every player is ready to contribute whenever called upon. This approach aligns well with Scaloni’s strategy, as the two coaches frequently communicate throughout the season. Scaloni regularly visits Simeone at the hotel whenever Atlético plays in Mallorca and makes several trips to the club’s training facility in the Cerro del Espino each year. His assistant, Walter Samuel, also maintains close ties with the Atlético staff, further strengthening the connection between the two teams ahead of the historic final.