France pipped Argentina 4-3 to enter the quarter-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup on Saturday. Kylian Mbappe scored a brace in France's victory over Lionel Messi-led Argentina. The youngster scored in 64th minute and then found the net in 68th minute to put France on top. Apart from Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann (13th minute) and Benjamin Pavard (57th minute) were the other scorers for France. Angel Di Maria (41st minute), Gabriel Mercado (48th minute) and Sergio Aguero (90+3rd minute) found the back of the net for Argentina. Mbappe becomes the sixth teenager to score more than once at a World Cup: Pele (6, Brazil), Edmund Conen (4, Germany), Manuel Rosas (2, Mexico), Jose Altafini (2, Brazil) and Michael Owen (2, England). (HIGHLIGHTS: France vs Argentina)
Highlights of 2018 FIFA World Cup, France vs Argentina match, straight from Kazan Arena
21:24 IST: FRANCE beat ARGENTINA 4-3 to enter World Cup quarter-finals
21:22 IST: GOAL!! Sergio Aguero finds the net. ARGENTINA 3-4 FRANCE.
21:19 IST: 4 minutes of added time.
21:18 IST: France hero Mbappe has been substituted for Thauvin. A loud cheer for the youngster. What a performance from him tonight.Standing ovation for him from the fans at Kazan Arena.
21:17 IST: Four minutes to go. Argentina will have to do something exceptional.
21:14 IST: Chance for Argentina. Aguero runs with the ball but fails to hit a goal. FRANCE 4-2 ARGENTINA.
21:13 IST: Mbappe's style
21:11 IST: Mbappe becomes the sixth teenager to score more than once at a World Cup: Pele (6, Brazil), Edmund Conen (4, Germany), Manuel Rosas (2, Mexico), Jose Altafini (2, Brazil) and Michael Owen (2, England).
21:08 IST: Kazan witnessing an amazing clash today!!
The crowd in Kazan has seen quite the match today. #FRAARG 4-2 pic.twitter.com/TLlOJBhmZJ — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2018
21:04 IST: Tolisso comes off the bench to replace Matuidi for France.
21:02 IST: Mbappe - the star for France tonight.
20:57 IST: GOAL!!!!!!!!!! Mbappe again. Mbappe finds the net once again. France take 4-2 lead against Argentina.
20:56 IST: Kun Aguero comes off the bench to replace Perez for Argentina.
20:53 IST: GOAL!!!!!!!!! Mbappe scores!! What a celebration. France lead Argentina 3-2. What a match.
20:51 IST: What a celebration:
20:46 IST: GOAL!!!!!!!! Benjamin Pavard scores as France equalise 2-2 against Argentina.
20:45 IST: Grizmann nearly scored another goal for France. Superb defending by Argentina.
20:42 IST: France have an upper hand?
Key stats:
#FRA have won each of their last six #WorldCup knockout matches in which they scored the opener
Angel Di Maria scores his second World Cup goal, after netting in the 118th minute in #ARG 1-0 win against #SUI#FRAARG pic.twitter.com/w1yG6pBSze — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2018
20:39 IST: GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gabriel Mercado scores as Argentina take 2-1 lead against France. What a deflection. Messi strikes from inside the area and the rest done by Mercado.
#SomosArgentina A diez minutos del inicio del segundo tiempo, @Argentina supera a #Francia por 2 a 1. pic.twitter.com/AzFFjDqhmA — Seleccion Argentina (@Argentina) June 30, 2018
20:35 IST: The action resumes at Kazan Arena
Argentina make 1 change as Federico Fazio replaces Marcos Rojo.
France make no changes
20:18 IST: HALF-TIME: Argentina and France locked 1-1 at half-time at Kazan Arena
The first match of the knock-out stages has been lively. Nice. #FRAARG // #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/okjHTbt7mn — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2018
It's half-time, and we've got a game here in Kazan. Let's get the lead back in the second half, boys!#FiersdetreBleus #WorldCup #FRAARG pic.twitter.com/04qbvqmdt6 — French Team (@FrenchTeam) June 30, 2018
20:11 IST: GOAL!!!! Angel Di Maria scores as Argentina equalise 1-1 in 41st minute. What a goal from him. Huge celebration in Argentine camp.
#ARG What a goal!
Angel Di Maria with an incredible strike to equalise in Kazan!#FRAARG 1-1 pic.twitter.com/sXhcpnGoEM — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2018
#SOMOSARGENTINA GOLAZO, ANGELITO! Di Maria la clavo en el angulo desde afuera del area y puso el 1-1 ante Francia. pic.twitter.com/ILYCPpqO9a — Seleccion Argentina (@Argentina) June 30, 2018
20:09 IST: Argentina are trying hard to equalise.
#SomosArgentina A diez minutos del final de la primera etapa, @Argentina cae ante #Francia por 1 a 0. pic.twitter.com/rxiJODXe7w — Seleccion Argentina (@Argentina) June 30, 2018
20:06 IST: Chance for Argentina but they fail against a brilliant France's defence.
20:03 IST: Mbappe is on fire today
20:01 IST: Good run from Pogba in the middle. He passes the ball to Mbappe. Mbappe fails to do the rest. Good defending by Argentina.
19:59 IST: Kante hits the ball hard but Argentina's goalkeeper Armani collects it comfortably.
19:55 IST: Mascherano runs with the ball. France goalkeeper Lloris dives and grabs the ball. Superb work from him.
19:54 IST: Kylian Mbappe is giving the Argentinian defence nightmares. Brilliant work from him.
19:52 IST: Pogba fails to covert the free kick into a goal. FRANCE 1-0 ARGENTINA
19:51 IST: Pogba to take the free kick. Danger looming for Argentina here.
19:50 IST: Free kick for France.
19:49 IST: YELLOW CARD: Argentina's Tagliafico is booked by the referee.
19:46 IST: Griezmann - the hero.
19:44 IST: GOAL!! Griezmann scores as France take 1-0 lead against Argentina.
19:43 IST: YELLOW CARD! Argentina's Marcos Rojo is booked by the referee.
19:40 IST: Griezmann strikes the crossbar from the free-kick! Argentina survives.
19:38 IST: Free kick for France in the 8th minute in the dangerous position
19:36 IST: Di Maria runs with the ball but fails to capitalise on the chance.
19:35 IST: Free kick for Argentina. Brilliant defending by France.
19:30 IST: All eyes on Lionel Messi. The game is underway. Here we go..
19:27 IST: Players are exchanging handshakes.
19:25 IST: The wait is over! Both teams - France and Argentina - are in the middle for national anthem. A loud cheer from fans. It is jam-packed at Kazan Arena. What an atmosphere.
19:14 IST: On the other hand, Portugal football star Cristiano Ronaldo has spent 424 minutes in the knockout stages without a goal too.
19:11 IST: Despite having 666 minutes of World Cup knockout football to his name, LIONEL MESSI is yet to register a goal outside of the group stages. Can he do it today?
19:07 IST: France (4-2-3-1)
Hugo Lloris (capt); Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Hernandez; Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante; Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Blaise Matuidi; Olivier Giroud
Coach: Didier Deschamps (FRA)
Argentina (4-3-3)
Franco Armani; Gabriel Mercado, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico; Enzo Perez, Javier Mascherano, Ever Banega; Cristian Pavon, Lionel Messi (capt), Angel Di Maria
Coach: Jorge Sampaoli (ARG)
Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRI)
19:00 IST: The teams are ready.
18:42 IST: The teams have arrived at Kazan Arena.
The teams have arrived for #FRAARG!
Who's looking forward to this one?
TV listings https://t.co/xliHcxWvEO — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2018
18:29 IST: France are ready for the high-octane clash against the 2014 runners-up.
18:27 IST: All eyes on Lionel Messi today. Can he take Argentina into quarter-finals today?
18:25 IST: The starting 11 of Argentina and France have been announced
17:53 IST: Football without fan is nothing. that's why it is called - Beautiful Game.
Football without the fans is nothing.
Thank you to everyone who has attended matches so far! #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/lxzrAsjZDi — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2018
17:51 IST: Who will progress to the quarter-finals - ARGENTINA or FRANCE?
The two teams have three #WorldCup titles between them...
Who will progress to the quarter-finals? #FRAARG — FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2018
17:50 IST: The mouth-watering clash between Argentina and France few moments away.
17:44 IST: Hello and welcome to the Live updates of FIFA World Cup 2018 Round of 16 match between France and Argentina.
Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud will spearhead France's attack in their last-16 World Cup match against Argentina as Didier Deschamps made six changes from the line-up he fielded in the final group match. France reached the quarter-finals in Brazil four years ago but Deschamps is under pressure to take his star-studded side further in Russia, with former teammate and ex-Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane cited as a potential replacement. Deschamps opted to deploy the same team in Kazan that eked out a precious 1-0 win over Peru in the group stages. Barcelona midfielder Ousmane Dembele starts on the bench, with Deschamps opting to line up Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann and Juventus player Blaise Matuidi behind Giroud. Chelsea's N'Golo Kante retains the midfield holding role alongside Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.
Five-time world player of the year Lionel Messi will spearhead Argentina, who reached the final in 2014, after they squeezed into the knockout phase courtesy of a late winner from Marcos Rojo against Nigeria. In his only change from the side that snatched the crucial 2-1 win over Nigeria, in which Messi scored the opener, Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli opted to leave Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain on the bench in favour of Boca Juniors' Cristian Pavon.
Starting line-ups for the World Cup last-16 match between Argentina and France at Kazan Arena on Saturday (kick-off 1400 GMT)
France (4-2-3-1)
Hugo Lloris (capt); Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Hernandez; Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante; Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Blaise Matuidi; Olivier Giroud
Coach: Didier Deschamps (FRA)
Argentina (4-3-3)
Franco Armani; Gabriel Mercado, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico; Enzo Perez, Javier Mascherano, Ever Banega; Cristian Pavon, Lionel Messi (capt), Angel Di Maria
Coach: Jorge Sampaoli (ARG)
Referee: Alireza Faghani (IRI)
The Argentine defence have also let the team down and had committed several glaring errors, specially against Iceland and Croatia. The poor form of the veteran Javier Mascherano must be giving sleepless nights to Sampaoli. As a team, Argentina will have to do much better against France, who have, on paper at least, one of the most talented squads at this World Cup.
France have not fared any better. Placed in a relatively easy group, they struggled to beat Australia and Peru by narrow margins before being held to a goalless stalemate by Denmark. They will face their first big test against Argentina. Thanks to a profusion of African origin players in their squad, France have pace and power in attack. If N'golo Kante, Blaise Matuidi and Paul Pogba manage to impose themselves in the midfield, then things will get extremely tough for Argentina.
France coach Didier Deschamps however, feels that Messi could prove to be the desicive factor. "Messi is Messi. Just you have to look at his statistics: 65 goals in 127 appearances with his national team. The intention is to neutralize him," the 1998 World Cup winning captain said. "We do not have a specific plan for him. A 'plan' is a big word, the idea is to limit his influence," the 49-year-old added.
TEMPO.CO , Jakarta - Prancis akan melawan Argentina dalam pertandingan babak 16 besar Piala Dunia 2018 di Kazan Arena, Rusia, Sabtu, 30 Juni 2018. Pertandingan akan berlangsung mulai pukul 21.00 WIB dan disiarkan Trans TV. Ini adalah laga big match , satu-satunya partai 16 besar yang mempertemukan dua mantan juara dunia. Argentina masuk final Piala Dunia pada 1930, 1978, 1986, 1990, dan 2014, dengan dua di antaranya mereka juarai, masing-masing edisi 1978 di negeri sendiri dan 1986 di Meksiko. Sedangkan Prancis sudah dua kali tampil pada final turnamen ini, masing-masing 1998 di negara sendiri yang mereka juarai dan 2006. Baca: Laporan Pertandingan Piala Dunia 2018: Prancis Vs Argentina Prancis tak pernah mengalahkan Argentina dalam ajang Piala Dunia atau non pertandingan persahabatan apa pun, padahal ini adalah pertemuan ke-12 mereka melawan Tim Tanggo. Pada 11 pertemuan mereka terdahulu, Argentina menang enam kali, Prancis dua kali, dan sisanya tiga pertandingan seri.
Kendati begitu, dalam tujuh pertandingan Piala Dunia terakhirnya melawan tim-tim Amerika Selatan, Prancis tak pernah kebobolan. Pemain Amerika Latin terakhir yang membobol Les Bleus adalah Careca dari Brasil pada 1986. Bukan itu saja, di luar pertandingan yang harus berakhir dengan adu tendangan penalti, Prancis hanya pernah satu kali kalah dalam sebelas pertandingan terakhir fase knockout Piala Dunia. Statistik ini diperhatikan betul oleh Argentina yang pada latihan tim Jumat kemarin, tiga penjaga gawang mereka khusus berlatih mementahkan tendangan penalti. Baca: Piala Dunia 2018 Dinihari Nanti: Prediksi Uruguay Vs Portugal Argentina menyadari bahwa selain sulit dibobol lawan, mereka juga sulit membobol lawan, sehingga harus bersiap dengan skenario bahwa pertandingan di Kazan Arena Sabtu malam nanti itu akan menemui jalan buntu sehingga harus ditentukan oleh adu penalti. Dalam empat pertandingan terakhir fase gugur Piala Dunia yang diikutinya, tim asuhan Jorge Sampaoli ini hanya memasukkan dua gol dan kemasukan satu gol. Kedua tim melenggang ke 16 Besar setelah melewati fase grup dengan catatan yang tidak terlalu mengesankan. Prancis memang menjuarai Grup C tetapi dengan cara yang tak terlalu meyakinkan, khususnya tampil medioker melawan Denmark pada pertandingan terakhir fase grup mereka yang berakhir 0-0. Mereka memang mulus melewati fase grup dan bertabur bintang-bintang, tetapi mereka kehilangan ambisi dan intensitas. La Albiceleste lebih buruk lagi karena dipaksa harus mengandalkan keajaiban tatkala melawan Nigeria demi memperebutkan tiket kedua 16 Besar dari Grup D. Baca: Jadwal Piala Dunia Sabtu: Portugal - Uruguay, Argentina - Prancis Lionel Messi mulai menunjukkan penampilan terbaiknya, tapi Argentina tak bisa balik berubah bagus secepat dilakukan Messi, khususnya sektor pertahanan mereka yang amat rapuh sampai-sampai lima kali dibobol lawan. Padahal, seperti Kroasia, lawan Argentina sekarang memiliki para gelandang dan penyerang haus gol nan petarung yang siap memporakporandakan benteng pertahanan terakhir Argentina, meskipun mesin gol Prancis Antoine Griezmann sejauh ini belum mencetak satu pun gol. "Pada Euro 2016, saya juga kesulitan selama fase grup tetapi saya bisa memuncak pada fase knockout," kata Griezmann menegaskan ancamannya untuk mencetak gol saat melawan Argentina nanti. Argentina sendiri melempem saat melawan Islandia dan makin rusak ketika menghadapi Kroasia karena mungkin oleh satu faktor saja, yakni Lionel Messi. Kaka itu ia bermain tidak seinspiratif, tidak seantusias, dan tidak selevel dengan sewaktu dia bermain bersama Barcelona. Argentina kemudian bangkit manakala melawan Nigeria pada pertandingan terakhir Grup D, tapi lagi-lagi karena inspirasi Lionel Messi. Seperti lawannya Prancis, Argentina juga bertabur superstar. Tapi tidak seperti Barcelona, para superstar ini terlihat bermain tidak padu dan tidak sehati, kecuali saat menghadapi Nigeria. Dan sekali lagi, yang membuat Argentina berubah relatif bagus kembali untuk kemudian siap menerkam lagi lawan adalah Lionel Messi juga. Oleh karena itu, meskipun Prancis agak malu-malu mengatakan bahwa Argentina itu Messi, hampir sebagian besar perhatian Les Bleus, bahkan mungkin energinya, dicurahkan kepada cara mendinginkan untuk kemudian merontokkan mesin utama Argentina itu. Salah seorang pesepakbola yang mengantarkan Prancis menjuarai Piala Dunia 1998, Marcel Desailly, mengungkap kelebihan dan kekurangan Messi kepada harian Inggris The Guardian berikut, "Kita tahu Messi itu hebat tapi kita bingung dan sedih untuk dia. Dia jelas produk murni Barcelona, tetapi bersama Argentina sekarang, Messi itu kacau balau." Messi memang disebut-sebut tak bisa bermain pada level seperti dia bermain bersama Barcelona. Dia terlihat menuntut rekan-rekannya di Argentina memberikan dukungan yang selevel dan sekualitas dukungan rekan-rekannya di Barcelona sehingga dia bisa bermain secemerlang yang dia inginkan. Seperti apapun tampilan Messi di babak sebelumnya, lawan pasti waspada. Hal sama berlaku pada Prancis. "Tak ada orang di planet ini yang bisa menghentikan Messi. Jawabannya harus kolektif," kata bek Prancis Presnel Kimpembe. Adapun mantan bek Timnas Prancis Bixente Lizarazu, mengatakan, "Tak masuk akal menerapkan (strategi) man-to-man marking terhadap Messi. Dia terlalu kuat dalam satu lawan satu. Prancis harus memutus tautan antara Messi dengan barisan depan lainnya (Argentina). Karena Messi bukan hanya striker, tetapi juga playmaker." Didier Deschamps kemungkinan akan menghimpun gelandang di tengah dalam formasi 4-2-3-1 dengan tujuan menutup semua sektor ini yang faktanya Argentina memang sering kedodoran di bagian ini, demi memotong suplai bola kepada Messi. Intinya, Prancis akan berusaha mengendalikan tempo permainan, seperti saat Kroasia mengganyang Argentina 3-0 pada fase grup. Prancis akan mencoba memasang formasi seperti Kroasia memerangkap Argentina dengan menumpuk gelandang petarung seperti Paul Pogba dan N'Golo Kante guna mendikte lapangan tengah baik dalam rangka mengaransemen serangan maupun dalam upaya melapis pertahanan sebelum dianeksasi Argentina. Dengan cara seperti itu, para gelandang Prancis akan terus-terusan meneror gelandang dan bek Argentina yang akhirnya membuat Messi miskin berkreasi di lapangan sehingga tak bisa menopang permainan. Taktik seperti itu efektif diterapkan Kroasia ketika area pertahanan Argentina dipaksa dipenuhi para pemainnya sendiri sehingga mereka lamban saat naik karena tidak bisa melewati gelandang-gelandang tengah Kroasia, khususnya duo Ivan Rakitic-Luka Modric yang di Prancis persis diperankan duo Paul Pogba-N'Golo Kante. Pemenang di laga ini akan bertemu pemenang partai Uruguay versus Portugal. Susunan Pemain Prancis (4-2-3-1): Hugo Lloris; Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Hernandez; Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante; Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele; Olivier Giroud. Argentina (4-3-3): Franco Armani; Gabriel Mercado, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Tagliafico; Ever Banega, Javier Mascherano, Enzo Perez; Angel Di Maria, Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain.
London - Argentina terseok-seok sepanjang fase grup Piala Dunia 2018. Menghadapi Prancis pun, tim Tango tak dijagokan untuk menang di babak 16 besar. Argentina akan menghadapi Prancis di babak 16 besar Piala Dunia 2018. Pertandingan itu digeber di Kazan Arena, Sabtu (30/6/2018) mulai pukul 21.00 WIB. Laga itu diprediksi bergulir ketat dengan kedua tim bertabur bintang. Legenda Arsenal yang kini menjadi pengamat dan komentator Paul Merson, tak menjagokan Argentina.
Bagi dia, Argentina tak punya kualitas yang lebih memadai ketimbang Prancis. Faktanya, Argentina sampai kandas 0-3 di tangan Kroasia dan diimbangi tim debutan Islandia di laga pertama. Juga Lionel Messi yang mandul pada dua pertandingan perdana. "Laga ini mungkin terdengar sangat menarik. Tapi, jika harus jujur, sebenarnya tidak terlalu (seru). Menengok dari performa kedua tim sejauh ini, saya tak melihat peluang Argentina untuk memenanginya. Mereka seperti tim yang buruk," kata mantan timnas Inggris itu kepada Sky Sports. "Prancis sebenarnya juga tak bagus-bagus amat. Tapi, saya pikir mereka terlalu bagus untuk Argentina. Saya melihat sesuatu dari Prancis yang membuat mereka bisa klik pada beberapa poin," dia menambahkan. "Sedangkan Argentina terlihat seperti tim tua. Mereka seperti tim yang lelah dan karena itu saya memilih Prancis menang," tutur Merson. Merson memprediksi Prancis menang meyakinkan 2-0 dari Argentina. Menarik untuk menunggu hasil akhirnya. 'Messi atau Griezmann, Siapa Lebih Jago?' Saksikan video selengkapnya di 20Detik:
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France vs. Argentina: Live Updates, Score and Reaction from 2018 World Cup
France (National Football) vs Argentina (National Football)
Kazan
Messi's Argentina take on a stacked France side in the World Cup last 16. Argentina just scraped through, while France's stars are yet to deliver to their potential. The game will be played at the Kazan Arena in Kazan, Russia.
