Explorer

FIFA WC 2018: France beat Argentina 4-3, enter quarter-finals

France will next take on either Uruguay or Portugal in the quarter-final.

France gave a horrifying nightmare to Argentina after registering a terrific 4-3 victory in the first match of the pre-quarters on June 30 at the at the Kazan Arena. Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappé (64th, 68th minutes) played a major role in France's victory. The 19-year-old sensation set the Kazan Arena alight, scoring a brace and winning a penalty. That penalty was converted by Antoine Griezmann (13th minute) while Benjamin Pavard (57th minute) scored the other French goal. Mbappé is the first teenager to score twice in a World Cup match since the legendary Pele struck twice for Brazil in a 5-2 win over Sweden in the 1958 final. He had earlier become the youngest France player to score in a World Cup during the group stages. Ángel Di María (41st minute), Gabriel Mercado (48th minute) and Sergio Agüero (90+3rd minute) found the back of the net for Argentina. Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli made changes to his team's formation and tactics, leaving star strikers Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero on the bench in order to put out a more packed midfield and used Lionel Messi as a 'false nine'. The move however, did not turn out to be a big success as Argentina struggled to create clear chances in the first half. The veteran Javier Mascherano had an indifferent game in the centre of the Argentine midfield while the defenders struggled to contain the pace and power of the French forwards and midfielders. Argentina full backs Mercado and Nicolas Tagliafico were repeatedly caught out of position by the speed of the French counter-attacks. Nicolas Otamendi did have a fairly decent game at the heart of the Argentina defence althugh the same could not be said of his fellow centre-back Marcos Rojo. Griezmann almost gave France the lead in the ninth minute, but his viciously swerving, dipping free-kick thundered off the bar with Argentina goalkeeper Franco Armani well and truly beaten. But the Atletico Madrid star could not be denied four minutes later when he fired home from the penalty spot after Mbappe had been brought down inside the box by Argentine defender Marcus Rojo. With Griezmann, Mbappe, Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante and Blaise Matuidi causing all sorts of problems for the South Americans' defence with their superior pace and tactical nous, a second French goal seemed only a matter a time. At the other end of the pitch, Argentina were struggling to break down the French defence. But Angel di Maria brought the two-time winners back on level terms with a superb long range strike shortly before the break. Gabriel Mercado put the South American giants ahead just after half-time when he somewhat inadvertently deflected Messi's attempt in at the near post. But whatever hopes the Argentine players and fans may have entertained at that point soon evaporated into thin air as France gradually started to dominate proceedings. Pavard scored the equaliser for France when he fired home a first tie effort from just inside the penalty box. Mbappe played a crucial role in the French resurgence. He put the Europeans in the lead by beating Armani at the near post with a powerful finish after a nice move down the left side of the Argentine box. He got his second goal a short while later after yet another nice move by the French. That knocked the wind out of Argentina's sails and they never seemed capable enough to make a comeback. Aguero scored their third goal in second half added time to ensure a tense finish to what was surely the best match so far of this World Cup.
View More
Advertisement

IPL Auction 2025

Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Virat Kohli
₹21 CR
Josh Hazlewood
₹12.50 CR
Phil Salt
₹11.50 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Rishabh Pant
₹27 CR
Nicholas Pooran
₹21 CR
Ravi Bishnoi
₹11 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Jasprit Bumrah
₹18 CR
Suryakumar Yadav
₹16.35 CR
Hardik Pandya
₹16.35 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Heinrich Klaasen
₹23 CR
Pat Cummins
₹18 CR
Abhishek Sharma
₹14 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Ruturaj Gaikwad
₹18 CR
Ravindra Jadeja
₹18 CR
Matheesha Pathirana
₹13 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Shreyas Iyer
₹26.75 CR
Arshdeep Singh
₹18 CR
Yuzvendra Chahal
₹18 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Sanju Samson
₹18 CR
Yashaswi Jaiswal
₹18 CR
Riyan Parag
₹14 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Venkatesh Iyer
₹23.75 CR
Rinku Singh
₹13 CR
Varun Chakaravarthy
₹12 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Rashid Khan
₹18 CR
Shubman Gill
₹16.50 CR
Jos Buttler
₹15.75 CR
View all
Most Expensive Players In The Squad
Axar Patel
₹16.50 CR
KL Rahul
₹14 CR
Kuldeep Yadav
₹13.25 CR
View all
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

Eknath Shinde Announces Shiv Sena Support To BJP CM Face, Leaves Final Decision With PM Modi
Eknath Shinde Announces Shiv Sena Support To BJP CM Face, Leaves Final Decision With PM Modi
Kailash Gahlot Resigns From Membership Of Delhi Assembly After Joining BJP
Kailash Gahlot Resigns From Membership Of Delhi Assembly After Joining BJP
Priyanka Gandhi To Take Oath As Wayanad MP Tomorrow, Will Join Mother & Brother In Parliament
Priyanka Gandhi To Take Oath As Wayanad MP Tomorrow, Will Join Mother & Brother In Parliament
India Welcomes Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Deal, Hopes For 'Stability In Wider Region'
India Welcomes Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Deal, Hopes For 'Stability In Wider Region'
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

FIR Filed Against Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman, Statement Released Amidst ControversyFIR Filed Against Sambhal MP Ziaur Rahman and Local MLA's Son in Controversial CaseSambhal Violence Sparks Political Firestorm, Congress MP Imran Masood's Strong Remarks | ABP NewsBreaking News: SP Leader Ram Gopal Yadav Reacts to Sambhal Violence | ABP News

Photo Gallery

Embed widget