Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France tallied three goals in 11 minutes to defeat Argentina 4-3 in the World Cup round of 16 game.
Mbappe scored with a cool finish from a tight angle with a low shot past goalkeeper Franco Armani in the 64th minute. The teenager forward netted again four minutes later with some help from Olivier Giroud.
Mbappe scored with a cool finish from a tight angle with a low shot past goalkeeper Franco Armani in the 64th minute. The teenager forward netted again four minutes later with some help from Olivier Giroud.
Argentina’s defense is falling apart and keeps getting caught on the break, having relinquished a 2-1 lead. French defender Benjamin Pavard has equalized with his first international goal to make it 2-2 against Argentina in the 57th minute of the World Cup round of 16 game.
Pavard launched a superb strike from the edge of the area into the top left corner after a cutback from Lucas Hernandez.
Angel di Maria has equalized for Argentina with a powerful long-range strike in the 41st minute to level the World Cup round-of-16 game with France at 1-1.Di Maria was set-up in front of goal following a throw-in on the left of a pitch and he collected the pass and unleashed a powerful left-foot strike into the top right corner in the 41st minute.
Antoine Griezmann has given France a 1-0 lead over Argentina after scoring from the penalty spot in the 13th minute.
French teenager Kylian Mbappe won the penalty after being fouled in the box by Marcos Rojo. The Paris Saint-Germain forward sprinted 40 meters before entering the penalty area, where he was clumsily stopped by the Argentina defender.
Griezmann took the penalty calmly, sending goalkeeper Franco Armani the wrong way.
Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli sprung a surprise when he dropped striker Gonzalo Higuain and replaced him with midfielder Cristian Pavon for the blockbuster World Cup round of 16 clash against France on Saturday.
Sampaoli had been expected to stick with the team that rescued their campaign with a last-gasp win over Nigeria in the group stage but instead named Higuain on the bench alongside fellow forward Sergio Aguero.
The impressive Ever Banega retains his place in a midfield that looks designed to hit France on the break through Lionel Messi.
France coach Didier Deschamps has reverted to the lineup which secured their place in the knockout stage with a victory over Peru in their second group match.
Captain Hugo Lloris returns in goal after being rested with defender Samuel Umtiti, midfielders Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi as well as forward Kylian Mbappe for their third group match against Denmark.
Matuidi will play deep on the left looking to cut the link between Messi and his midfield support.
France coach Didier Deschamps has reverted to his most efficient lineup, making six changes to face Argentina in their round-of-16 World Cup match at Kazan Arena.
Deschamps picked the same players who beat Peru 1-0 in their second group match in a 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1 system, with Olivier Giroud up front supported by a three-man line of Blaise Matuidi, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe.
France will try to stop Lionel Messi with Samuel Umtiti, Raphael Varane and Lucas Hernandez, who know the Argentine playmaker very well from the Spanish league. Benjamin Pavard completes France’s back-four.
Goalkeeper Franco Armani is making is second appearance for Argentina while Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero remains on the bench. France has not lost to South American opposition at the tournament since a 2-1 defeat against Argentina in a group match at the 1978 World Cup.
Lineups:
France: Hugo Lloris, Benjamin Pavard, Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Kylian Mbappe, N’Golo Kante, Blaise Matuidi, Lucas Hernandez.
Argentina: Franco Armani, Gabriel Mercado, Nicolas Tagliafico, Ever Banega, Lionel Messi, Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano, Enzo Perez, Marcos Rojo, Nicolas Otamendi, Cristian Pavon.
