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World Cup 2018: Mbappe takes France into quarterfinals

France are ready to face Argentina in a highly anticipated World Cup last-16 match at the Kazan Arena on Saturday, a
Hamza Khan Updated 30 Jun, 2018

France are ready to face Argentina in a highly anticipated World Cup last-16 match at the Kazan Arena on Saturday, as knockout stage of the tournament get underway.

The French side is one of the pre-tournament favourites, topped a group containing Denmark, Peru and Australia, only to run headfirst into Lionel Messi and Argentina.

They made it through as runners-up in Group D despite only taking four points from their three matches amid a rift between coach Jorge Sampaoli and the squad.

Live Updates

What a game! Argentina are out as France move into quarterfinals of the World Cup 2018.

Full Time: France 4-3 Argentina

GOALLLLL!!!! France 4-3 Argentina

Messi picks Aguero out and he heads in. Two minutes to go.

Four minutes added time

89 mins: France 4-2 Argentina

No hat-trick today as Mbappe comes off to a standing ovation from French fans. Florian Thauvin is on in his stead.

85 mins: France 4-2 Argentina

Messi has his chance after skipping around a defender but he's off balance for the strike and it's into the grateful clutches of Lloris.

Griezmann makes way for Nabil Fekir, as he has done for all of the France games so far.

82 mins: France 4-2 Argentina

Messi beats Kante like he's invisible and feeds Meza out wide in space but the shot is deflected down Lloris' throat.

80 min: France 4-2 Argentina

Ten minutes to go but it really doesn't feel like a comeback is on.

GOALLLL!!!!! France 4-2 Argentina

Second goal for flame boy Mbappe. A superstar is born. France break again and Giroud perfectly feeds a through ball for Mbappe.

GOALLLL!!!!! France 3-2 Argentina Mbappe

GOALLLL!!!!! France 2-2- Argentina, Another screamer! This is some game.

Pavard produces a strike out of this world. Hernandez powers down the left and his cross bounces to Pavard on the half volley.

Fazio almost gifts Griezmann a goal.  The substitute has got away with one. Two actually as he fouls Griezmann after giving him the ball with a terribly weighted pass-back

GOALLL!!!!!!! France 1-2 Argentina (Mercado)

The free-kick falls to Messi. He attempts a shot but it takes a wicked deflection off Mercado and Lloris is wrong-footed horribly.

47 mins: France 1-1 Argentina

Free-kick Argentina - Di Maria on the move That goal has done the trick for Di Maria. He takes on Pavard and forces a foul outside the box down the left.

We're back underway in Kazan: Fazio is on for Rojo. The only change of the game so far and the Manchester United player, who gave away that penalty, has been hooked.

Angel Di Maria is the first South American player to score against France in a World Cup knockout game since Brazil's Careca in 1986.

HALF TIME

Mascherano dives in on Kante and picks up a yellow. It's a naughty tackle and if Argentina go through then he'll be suspended for the next game.

GOAL! From out of nowhere, an Angel descends from heaven for Argentina as Di Maria bludgeons a shot from 30m past the despairing dive of Hugo Lloris in the 41st min!

40 mins: France 1-0 Argentina

Another good France move as Benjamin Pavard plays a one-two with Antoine Griezmann but his cross is just beyond his team-mates.

37 mins: France 1-0 Argentina

No appeal from Messi. He burst onto the ball in the box and lost it after a tangle of feet, it looked risky at first but the striker didn't even appeal for a penalty and play goes on.

35 mins: France 1-0 Argentina

French striker Giroud catches Otamendi with a high boot on the edge of the Argentina box. Both players roll round for a bit.

31 mins: France 1-0 Argentina

Pogba surges through the middle and feeds Mbappe out on the right. The 19-year-old attempts to bamboozle the defence but Tagliafico is equal to it this time and makes a vital tackle.

28 mins: France 1-0 Argentina

Mercado wants a penalty after his cross hits Umtiti's elbow. But Umtiti's arm was down by his side.

However Mercado is unlucky not to get a corner, the referee obviously didn't see Umtiti's touch at all.

27 mins: France 1-0 Argentina

Griezmann bursts into the box on the right and stumbles after a challenge (not a foul though).

25 mins: France 1-0 Argentina

Enzo Perez almost gets onto a pass but Hugo Lloris is off his line to deal with it.

Samuel Umtiti goes down after getting a Perez arm to the face.

23 mins France 1-0 Argentina

Argentina have a corner after Ever Banega's shot is deflected over. But France get it clear again.

The South Americans end up running it all the way back to their keeper.

19 mins: France 1-0 Argentina

Pogba finds Mbappe over the top and in behind, Tagliafico brings him down and is booked. It's just outside the box. Another great chance.

What a run by Mbappe. He was again bought down just outside Argentina box.

13min: France 1-0 Argentina

Goal!!!! Antoine Griezmann puts France in front. He has been directly involved in 10 of France's last 15 goals at World Cups and European Championships (8 goals, 2 assists).

Penalty to France! Mbappe runs from his own area. Incredible speed and he's so direct. Marcos Rojo hauls him down in the box and that is a definite penalty. Griezmann will have the chance to put Les Bleus ahead.

8min: France 0-0 Argentina

What a free kick! Griezmann hits the bar. It rattles the meat of the crossbar and Armani was rooted to the spot. Pogba lined up on the other side to keep the goalkeeper honest and Griezmann ambled up before unleashing his effort into the woodwork, very unlucky.

Foul on Mbappe just outside the Argentine box. Free kick fro France

5 mins: France 0-0 Argentina

The free-kick comes into the box but no Argentine player can do anything with it. It doesn't quite land for Gabriel Mercado.

France get us underway. The last 16 is here and 12 seconds in the first foul of the day, Giroud leaping into Tagliafico

Argentina legend Diego Maradona is in the house cheering for the South Americans.

This is the first time in 40 years that Argentina are facing France as both teams are out for National Anthems ahead of the highly anticipated kickoff.

 

Copyright Business Recorder, 2018

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