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41% Ball Possession FRANCE and 59% Ball Possession ARGENTINA
France 4 – 3 Argentina 
13′ Antoine Griezmann (PEN) 41′ Ángel Di María
57′ Benjamin Pavard 48′ Gabriel Mercado
64′ Kylian Mbappé 93′ Sergio Agüero
68′ Kylian Mbappé
France defeating Argentina and win the Round of 16 game on Saturday 30 June 2018 at the Kazan Arena in Kazan, Russia. Young France forward Kylian Mbappé leading the French team with two goals being the highlight of the match while the expected Lionel Messi failed to grab this victory not even scoring a goal. Argentina is out of the World Cup. Messi is considered by many as the best footballer in the world, yet, failed with the national team. France qualifying for the World Cup Quarterfinal.
The first goal of the match is thanks to a penalty conceded by Marcos Rojo after bringing down Mbappe inside the penalty box. Referee consulted the VAR and thus French forward Antoine Griezmann converted the penalty in the 12th minute sending a cold shower to Argentina while starting the party for French fans. Argentina goalkeeper Franco Armani went to the wrong way. Rojo got a yellow card too.
Argentina level the score for the 1-1 in the 41st minute. It is Ángel Di María to defeat France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris with a left footed shot in the top right corner. The assist is by Éver Banega.
Argentina take the lead in the 48th minute for the 1-2. It is Gabriel Mercado to score with a left footed shot in the bottom right corner. The assist is by Lionel Messi.
France level the score again for the 2-2 in the 57th minute. It is Benjamin Pavard to defeat goalkeeper Armani with a right footed shot in the top left corner. The assist is by Lucas Hernández with a cross.
The draw is broken…. France taking the lead for the 3-2 in the 64th minute. There he is… Kylian Mbappé giving a ray of hope to France after delivering a right footed shot in the bottom left corner. The assist is by Olivier Giroud with a through ball. Players and fans going wild and gaining momentum.
France rocking big time… the star is only one…. the young footballer Kylian Mbappé scoring his second goal in the 68th minute to put France with a 4-2. Mbappé delivering a right footed shot in the bottom left corner. The assist is by Olivier Giroud with a through ball.
In the agonizing 93rd minute Argentinean forward Sergio Aguero “El Kun” smacks a late goal, though, not enough to overturn the result. Final result is 4-3. France qualified for the Quarterfinal while Argentina is eliminated.
Here is FRANCE official starting lineup – formation by Head Coach Didier Deschamps:
FRANCE (4-3-3): Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernández; Pogba, Kanté, Matuidi; Griezmann, Giroud, Mbappé.
Here is ARGENTINA official starting lineup – formation by Head Coach Jorge Sampaoli:
ARGENTINA (4-3-3): Armani; Mercado, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico; E. Pérez, Mascherano, Banega; Di María, Messi, Pavón.
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Italian Serie A Players among the 23-man called ups
France: 1 Italian Serie A player Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi.
Argentina : 5 Italian Serie A players, AS Roma defender Federico Fazio, Torino defender Cristian Ansaldi, AC Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia, Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain, and Juventus forward Paulo Dybala.
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2018 FIFA World Cup
Round of 16
France 4 – 3 Argentina
Saturday 30 June 2018
Kazan Arena
Kazan, Russia
17:00 (Local time)
Referee: FAGHANI Alireza (IRN)
Assistant Referee 1: SOKHANDAN Reza (IRN)
Assistant Referee 2: MANSOURI Mohammadreza (IRN)
Fourth official: BASCUNAN Julio (CHI)
Video Assistant Referee: IRRATI Massimiliano (ITA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: ASTROZA Carlos (CHI)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2: GIL Pawel (POL)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 3: VALERI Paolo (ITA)
Goals: 13′ Antoine Griezmann (PEN)(F), 41′ Ángel Di María (A), 48′ Gabriel Mercado (A), 57′ Benjamin Pavard
(F), 64′ Kylian Mbappé (F), 68′ Kylian Mbappé (F), 93′ Sergio Agüero (A)
Official lineups – formations
FRANCE (4-3-3): Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernández; Pogba, Kanté, Matuidi; Griezmann, Giroud, Mbappé.
Subs: Mandanda, Areola, Kimpembe, N’Zonzi, Mendy, Tolisso, Fekir, Rami, Thauvin, Sidibé, Lemar, Dembélé.
Coach: Deschamps.
ARGENTINA (4-3-3): Armani; Mercado, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico; E. Pérez, Mascherano, Banega; Di María, Messi, Pavón.
Subs: Caballero, Guzmán, Fazio, Ansaldi, Acuña, Salvio, Biglia, Lo Celso, Meza, Dybala, Agüero, Higuaín.
Coach: Sampaoli.
The games were postponed as a result of the tragedy that hit the City of Genoa. The recovery dates will be announced in the next few days.
