📝 France 4-3 Argentina: Mbappé masterclass sends Messi home | OneFootball

Goals from Antoine Griezmann, Benjamin Pavard and Kylian Mbappé were enough to give France a 4-3 victory over Argentina in Kazan on Saturday.

In what was another hugely entertaining tie, both sides went for broke with attacking football and the final scoreline summarised that perfectly.

Plenty of players performed well throughout but the headlines will go to Mbappé who was devastatingly good and proved to be the match winner.

France 4-3 Argentina:

1-0: Griezmann 13′ 1-1: Di María 41′ 1-2: Mercado 48′ 2-2: Pavard 57′ 3-2: Mbappé 64′ 4-2: Mbappé 68′ 4-3: Agüero 90+3′

France made the brighter start of the two sides and almost went in front after eight minutes, when Griezmann’s free-kick smashed off the crossbar with goalkeeper Franco Armani rooted.

It wasn’t long before Les Bleus were in the lead, however, when Kylian Mbappé showed the world why PSG were willing to pay €166m for his services.

The 19-year-old collected a loose ball deep inside his own half and breezed past four Argentina players before being fouled in the box by Marcos Rojo whilst bearing down on goal.

Griezmann was the man tasked with taking the penalty, confidently slotting home from 12 yards and his trademark celebration followed shortly after.

The remainder of the first half lacked chances for either side until Ángel Di María levelled the score with some individual brilliance.

Picking up the ball 30 yards from goal, the French were too slow to close him down and the PSG forward whipped in a beautiful strike past a helpless Hugo Lloris.

Just minutes after the break, a dangerous Éver Banega free-kick was not cleared properly and Lionel Messi fired in a shot which deflected off Gabriel Mercado and past Lloris to somehow put Argentina ahead.

Jorge Sampaoli’s men had struggled to create anything of note and then out of nothing – they found themselves ahead.

Their lead lasted all of nine minutes though with another contender for goal of the tournament being fired home by Stuttgart defender Benjamin Pavard.

Pavard found himself free on the edge of the box and strolled beautifully onto a cross from Lucas Hernández, rifling into the top corner in similar fashion to Spain’s Nacho Fernández.

A strike worthy of the occasion which breathed life back into France who were clearly winded by their opponents going ahead in unlikely fashion.

Then Mbappé wanted the final word.

After more good work down the left hand side, the France number 10 weaved his way past two Argentine defenders in a crowded penalty box before rifling beneath Armani with his left foot.

Another accomplished finish for a player playing with confidence found in strikers ten years his senior.

The final blow came in the 68th minute where another smart counter-attack left acres of space in behind, allowing Olivier Giroud to slot Mbappé through who showed exemplary confidence in front of goal.

Sergio Agüero buried a well taken header for La Albiceleste in injury time, but it was too little too late. Their shambolic World Cup campaign would go no further.

A thrilling match made all the more spectacular by individual moments, but in truth, this defeat was a long time coming for Argentina. They often looked lost, tired and without Messi on top form – flat.

France lacked fluency at times but were clearly the better side and will be watching Uruguay take on Portugal with intent. With Mbappé, Griezmann and N’Golo Kanté in this kind of form, anything is possible.

Man of the Match: Kylian Mbappé (France)

The teenager was electric at times and gave a ponderous backline problems every time he went forward. Had one or two moments where his final ball was lacking, but his well taken brace made all the difference.

What happens next?

France will face either Portugal or Uruguay in Nizhny Novgorod on July 6th.

Argentina – and Messi – are unfortunately heading home.