France vs Argentina Live Updates: Messi battles for survival again

Benjamin Pavard puts France level with Argentina
Benjamin Pavard puts France level with Argentina
Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates who narrowly escaped being ousted from the first round of the World Cup against Nigeria are set for a fresh crunch battle.
The World Cup knockout stages get underway as heavyweights France and Argentina go head-to-head at the Kazan Arena.
While Argentina scraped through to the knockout stages finishing as runners-up to Croatia, Les Bleus, came top of Group C after two wins and a draw.
The winner of today’s bout will play either Uruguay or Portugal in the quarter-finals on Friday, July 6 at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.



France Starting XI : Lloris, Hernandez, Umtiti, Varane, Pavard, Kante, Pogba, Matuidi, Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud
Argentina Starting XI: Armani, Mercado, Tagliafico, Mascherano, Rojo, Otamendi, Banega, Di Maria, Perez, Pavon, Messi

France get the game underway

Argentina dominating early proceedings… Ball possession: France: 39%, Argentina: 61%.

Free kick for France in a dangerous position from 25 yards

Pogba… Griezman plan for the kick

CHANCE!! A magnificent strike from Griezmann rattles the cross bar… France almost getting the lead

A penalty for France… The Iranian referee points to the spot

Kylian Mbappe wins the spot-kick after a dashing run into the Argentina box

Marcos Rojo gets a yellow card

GOAL!!!! Griezmann gives France the lead in the 13th minute from the spot

Two goals now for Griezmann at Russia 2018 both coming from the penalty spot

Interestingly, France has never lost once Griezmann scores for them

Argentina win a corner kick at the left flank as they seek to get back into the game

Mbappe brought down again just outside the box this time

The pace of the 19-year old causing lot of problems for the ageing Argentina defenders

Argentina quite lucky as the free kick is just six inches outside the penalty box

Pogba blasts the ball over the wall and the bar… Goal kick to Argentina

SAVE.. Hugo Lloris stops a chance by Argentina

Argentina have enjoyed 69% of the ball possession so far compared to France’s 31%

Mercardo appeals for handball against France Umtiti but referee waves that aside

Giroud fails with his ball control and Argentina makes a quick clearance from their box

So far Lionel Messi has been quiet… too early to say it is over for the Barcelona man

Mbappe unable to dribble past his marker after receiving a good pass from Pogba

FREE KICK .. Mascherano brings down Pogba…

France have never lost in the Round of 16 .. at the last World Cup in Brazil, they beat Nigeria

Giroud and Otamendi in a clash of studs

Messi goes down in the penalty box but no penalty for Argentina

Almost… Giroud jumps high but fails to get the connecting header

GOALLLLL!! Angel de Maria with a stunning goal

This is Di Maria’s second ever World Cup goal

France 1-1 Argentina

Mascherano gets a yellow card .. He would miss the quarter-final if Argentina progress

Two minuted added time

Argentina pass from the center circle as we resume for the second half

Bright start by the Argentines

Great skill from Angel Di Maria as he dribbles past his opponents

GOAL…. Argentina in front

Mercado is the goal scorer

Kante hacked down as he surges forward to help France… Free kick for Les Bleu

CHANCE… mistake by Argentina defender and Griezmann almost makes the most of it

GOALLLL!! Pavard puts France level

The right-back spins in the ball… maiden goal for Pavard

GOALLLL !! Mbappe gets his name on the scorers’ sheet

Anguish for Messi and Co.

Argentina SuB: Kun Aguero comes in for Enzo Perez

Another goal for Mbappe

France in control

70′ Mins Argentina 2- 4 France

Side netting by Giroud as France look to extend their lead

French man Matuidi gets a yellow card and misses the next match

Pavard also get a yellow card

France Sub Blaise Matuidi replaced by Corentin Tolisso

Di Maria tries to lob the ball into the France box but cleared

Fekir in for Griezmann

Messi tries a shot from close range but the ball goes straight into Lloris hands

Aguero with his chance also but also blocked

Free kick by Argentina easily cut out

Mbappe finally takes his leave as Thauvin comes in

Four minutes added time

GOAL!! Aguero pulls one back

Otamendi and Giroud get yellow cards

Nearly but all over

Full-Time: Argentina 3-4 France