European champions Spain will meet South American champions Argentina in a historic World Cup final on Sunday, when the two continents meet for the biggest reward in football.

Holders Argentina are looking to become the first side in 64 years to retain their title, in what is very definitely going to be the last World Cup match of captain Lionel Messi’s career.

Spain are hoping to frustrate those plans by winning the country’s second World Cup title after their first in 2010.

The biggest World Cup ever will culminate at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, with a star-studded audience of slightly over 80,000, including US President Donald Trump.

World Cup authorities say they are “closely monitoring” air quality from Canadian wildfires impacting the area surrounding the final, which kicks off at 3pm local time (1900 GMT).

There will also be a record 25-30 minute half-time break for a Super Bowl-style show including the likes of Madonna, Shakira and Justin Bieber.

But the true drama will be on the pitch in a cross-continental confrontation of footballing giants that sparkles with sub-plots.

The storyline will concentrate on Argentina’s Messi, the talent considered by many to be the greatest football player of all time.

The experienced superstar will be only the second man ever to participate in three World Cup finals, equalling the feat of Brazilian great Cafu in 1994, 1998 and 2002.

Messi is in the race for the Golden Boot after scoring eight goals as part of Argentina’s run to the final, and is enjoying a classic World Cup.

REPEATED FLIGHT

More importantly, the eight-time Ballon D’Or winner has bailed out Argentina time and time again when they looked on their way out.

Messi provided the spark for an astonishing comeback triumph over Egypt in the last 16 when the South Americans were 2-0 behind with 11 minutes to go before winning 3-2.

He then set up two goals in a dramatic 2-1 come-from-behind win over England in Wednesday’s semi-final in Atlanta.

That victory was emblematic of Argentina’s stubborn, never-say-die attitude, a rough resilience moulded under head coach Lionel Scaloni.

Scaloni, who has guided Argentina to two Copa America titles around a 2022 World Cup win, credits his team’s success to fearlessness.“This is a hard group to describe,” he remarked. “It’s a showing of the collectiveness, the brotherhood that we are in, the want to fight the fight to the very end.I know the men. They fear nothing.”

Argentina’s incredible resilience is expected to be tested most severely in the tournament’s most exciting game on Sunday.

Spain have built up momentum in the early rounds before coming in the final with a great performance in the semi-finals to overcome favourites France 2-0.

That performance highlighted the talents of Spain coach Luis de la Fuente’s squad, who responded to France’s formidable attacking arsenal with their typical brand of excellent possession-based football.

But Spain’s brilliant midfield, led by captain Rodri and also Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo, ran rings around France, biding their time before creating the openings that led to the vital goals.

RING OF STEEL

So far, Spain’s defence has been the strongest of the tournament, with just one goal conceded and six clean sheets in seven games.

A win and another shutout on Sunday would give Spain the record for the least goals ever allowed by a World Cup winner.

Lamine Yamal, the Spanish prodigy, might be vital in attack.

The 19-year-old Barcelona winger was the hero of Spain’s European Championship winning campaign in Germany two years ago, but has not been at his dazzling best in this tournament as he continues to work his way back from a hamstring injury.

But Yamal was also in the semi-final loss of France, gaining the penalty that gave La Roja an important lead, and having what would have been a spectacular third goal knocked out after a slight offside call.

Spain’s dynamic manager de la Fuente will meanwhile face a personal confrontation against a former student in Argentine counterpart Scaloni.

De la Fuente, 65, replaced Spain coach in 2022 after a successful spell as youth team boss, and coached Scaloni back in 2018 when the Argentina boss was working for his professional licence.

Scaloni, 48, who has strong personal and professional links to Spain, where he lives, says he would shelve his friendship with de la Fuente for the final on Sunday.He was my guru, he taught me everything I know and now we are fighting each other in a final,” Scaloni said of de la Fuente.Everybody knows I live in Spain and have Spanish family. And I’m very, very sad, but I’m going to attempt to beat him on Sunday.”

Despite the most recent increase in the cost of fuel, the Petroleum Division has determined to keep the existing petroleum charge on petrol, diesel and kerosene. This decision was communicated through a notification.

The statement states that the petroleum duty has not altered from its previous levels of Rs80 per litre for petrol, Rs70.82 per litre for high-speed diesel and Rs20.36 per litre for kerosene.

In accordance with the new daily pricing method, the government has declared that the prices of petroleum will be adjusted and will continue to be in place for a period of three days.

As a result of the most recent revision, the price of high-speed diesel has increased by Rs31.05 per litre, bringing the new retail price to Rs354.35 per litre.

The price of fuel has also been increased by Rs5.44 per litre, and the new rate is Rs316.15 a litre. This represents a significant increase.

In the meantime, the price of kerosene oil has increased by Rs34.33 per litre, leading to an increase in the price from Rs242.33 per litre to Rs276.66 per litre.

In accordance with the recently implemented daily petroleum pricing procedure, which was recently enacted by the government, the prices of fuel will henceforth be evaluated and notified on a daily basis.

In the current fuel price revision, Pakistan has increased the costs of petrol and high-speed diesel. Petrol prices have been hiked by Rs5.44 per litre while diesel prices have seen a far higher increase of Rs31.50 per litre.

The steep jump comes against the backdrop of surging worldwide energy prices with the administration also planning a substantial revamp of the country’s petroleum pricing regime.

The new fuel prices are effective immediately and are in response to increasing pressure from global oil markets where energy prices have increased in recent weeks as regional tensions have built up.

OGRA to release fuel prices on daily basis under new cabinet decision

The decision comes as the federal cabinet authorised a new system under which the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) would determine petroleum prices on a daily basis instead of the existing periodic pricing method.

Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik announced the decision during a joint press conference with Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar. Malik said the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the federal cabinet have decided that OGRA will now determine the prices of petroleum products on a daily basis as per the developments in foreign markets.

Under the new approach, the regulator would determine revised fuel prices on a daily basis and publish them on its official website, enabling domestic prices to more closely reflect changes in world oil markets.

The minister for petroleum indicated that the government had deliberately reduced its participation in establishing fuel prices and that OGRA had assumed increasing responsibility for pricing in line with existing international market circumstances.

“We are once again witnessing rising tensions in the region that are putting a lot of upward pressure on international energy markets,” he said.

But Malik said international prices of diesel had soared from $110 a barrel to $140 a barrel, demonstrating the extent of the growth and the steep increase in global energy costs.

He also thanked the public for their patience during the current economic troubles stating residents have proved to be resilient during a tough time.

OGRA will keep an eye on international market movements, calculate petroleum product prices on a daily basis and inform the public of the revised rates on its website, in one of the biggest changes to Pakistan’s fuel pricing system in recent years, with the new policy now approved by the cabinet.