WORLD CUP 2018: France vs Argentina, LIVE

FULL TIME: France 4-3 Argentina
 

90' + 5': Final chance for Argentina! A ball is put in the box from the left side, but the attacking player can't divert it towards the net.
 

90' + 4': It's all boiling here. Mercade fouls Pogba, but in the aftermath, Otamendi and Giroud collide. Both get yellow cards.
 

90' + 3': GOAL! Messi plays a lovely ball over the defense, and Aguero finishes it. What a finale in store for us.
 

90': Corner for Argentina in the final minute of normal time. Four minutes added on!
 

89': France make their final change. Match-winner Mbappe makes way for Thauvin.
 

86': It's all getting a bit heated up! Mercado wins a foul on the right, but then angrily brushes Hernandez as he tries to get the ball.
 

85': Chance for Messi! He wins the ball in the midfield, and runs at the defense. The defenders afford him space to shoot with his right foot, but his effort is easy for Lloris.
 

83': Second change for France. Fekir replaces Griezmann, who opened the scoring from the spot.
 

82': Argentina are trying everything to get another goal back. But every of their effort has been nullified by their poor final product. Messi has been a spectator the whole match.
 

75': Both teams making a change. Argentina's final substitution sees Meza coming in for Pavon. On the other hand, France replace Matuidi with Tolisso.
 

73': Poor from Mbappe! The resulting free kick is taken Banega, from which France counter through Kante. He heads forward, and plays a pass towards Mbappe. All he needs to do is put a sideways pass towards the onrushing Giroud. But the youngster makes a hash of it.
 

72': Free kick near the corner line of the left for Argentina. Di Maria plays a cross, but in the aftermath, is badly challenged by Pavard, who gets a yellow for it.
 

70': Side netting! France break again through Pogba, who plays a lovely pass towards Giroud. The No.9 takes on touch, and unleashes an effort on goal. It's just wide though.
 

68': GOAL! What a play by France! They pass the ball from their own box upto Giroud. The forward plays through Mbappe, who calmly passes the ball past the keeper for his second. Game over surely!
 

66': Free kick for Argentina in a dangerous position after Messi is fouled by Griezmann. Meanwhile, Argentina make their second change. Aguero comes in for Perez. Messi takes the resulting set piece, but it's straight at the wall.
 

64': GOAL! Oh my words! Another cross from France's left isn't well defended by the Argentine defense. This time, it falls to Mbappe, who takes a beautiful touch and hits the ball beyond the keeper.
 

58': GOAL! What a strike by Pavard! A cross from the left is not dealt by the Argentine defense, and it lands to the right back. Pavard hits the ball on the volley, and it flies past Armani.
 

56': Nearly a blunder! Fazio and Armani get in all sorts of confusion, and it allows Griezmann a chance. But the No.7, under pressure from Fazio, misses the target.
 

55': Another silly free kick conceded, this time by Matuidi. It's taken short, and played to Pavon on right. But he miscues his cross for a goal kick.
 

50': How will France be feeling right now? Having dominated the match, they find themselves behind as Argentina score a wondrous goal, and get lucky with a deflected strike.
 

48': GOAL! How lucky that was! Messi has an effort from the edge of the box. His effort is weak, but Mercado slides a leg midway, and it completely fools Lloris and goes in the back of the net. As lucky as it comes.
 

47': Free kick for Argentina on the left side! Di Maria bamboozles Pavard with some brilliant skills, and the full back pulls the Argentine down. Banega over the set piece.
 

Change for Argentina at half time. Fazio has replaced Rojo.
 

HALF TIME: France 1-1 Argentina
 

45': Two minutes have been added on!
 

43': Yellow card for Mascherano! The veteran Argentine gets a booking for constant fouls, and will miss the next match should his team qualify.
 

41': GOAL! What a beauty from di Maria. Banega finds di Maria free in the centre of the park. From 30 yards out, the winger curls in a sensational effort, which Lloris has no chance to save.
 

39': France attack again from the right side, as Pavard is free on the wing. He overhits his cross, and Giroud tries desperately to get his head to it. But it's out for a goal kick.
 

37': Calls for penalty! Messi goes down under a challenge by Griezmann, and all the Argentina players ask for a spot kick. The referee wasn't interested.
 

35': Giroud tackles Otamendi near the Argentina penalty area, and the defender rolls over five to six times in order to grab referee's attention. Play-acting at it's best.
 

31': Brilliant tackle! Mbappe is played through by Pogba, and he gets one on one with Tagliafico in the box. But the left back puts in a brilliant tackle to thwart the young French striker.
 

26': Another chance! This time Griezmann is played in behind the Argentine defense. He goes past his man in the box, but his cut back is well held by Armani.
 

23': Another corner for Argentina, after Banega's effort is deflected out. This time Banega takes the delivery, but it's well defended by the France players.
 

21': And it is Pogba with the free kick, but his effort is very poor. 
 

20': Again, Pogba and Griezmann are over the dead ball. The angle suits the right foot of Pogba though.
 

19': Yellow card and free kick! Pogba is fouled in his own box. He gets up fast and plays a long ball towards Mbappe, who is through on goal. He is fouled by Tagliafico on the edge of the box.
 

17': First chance for Argentina as they get a corner. Di Maria to take it.
 

16': France have never lost when Antoine Griezmann has scored! Can Messi and co. change it?
 

14': And France take an early lead in the match. It's pressure on Argentina and Messi now!
 

13': GOAL! Up steps Griezmann, and calmly slots the ball past the keeper, who dived the other way.
 

11': PENALTY! After Argentina lose ball in the attacking half, Mbappe sets on a pacey run. As he reaches the penalty box, he is pulled down to the ground by Rojo.
 

9': Pogba and Griezmann are over the set-piece. Griezmann takes it, and OFF THE BAR! The Atletico forward's effort clatters of the bar, much to his dismay.
 

7': Free kick in a very dangerous position for France, nearly 25 yards out. Mbappe takes the ball, and runs at the Argentina defense. Mascherano has no other option than tackling him.
 

5': His delivery is very poor and France have the possession back. And within seconds, Mbappe loses the ball, and Argentina go on a counter. Di Maria is played through on the left side, but under Varane's close surveillance, he sends a wayward cross for a goal kick.
 

4': Free kick for Argentina on the right side of the pitch after Messi is fouled by Matuidi. Banega is over it.
 

2': A slow start from both the sides as they trade possession early on.
 

KICK OFF!
 

Just minutes away from kick off!
 

Is Sampaoli making the right team selections?
 

The line-ups are out for both the teams. France are playing with Giroud up front. Argentina though, have decided to not field any recognized centre forward for this match.
 

Having scraped their way from death to the round of 16, Argentina take on one of tournament's favorites France in the first match of the knockout stage. Both the teams have quality within their ranks, but the South American nation will be wary of the European team, given their own form is very shaky, and their opponents have exceptional talents in their squad. 

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The World Cup 2018 has arguably been one of the best ever. Only the fixture between France and Denmark witnessed a 0-0 draw, but the rest of the matches produced goals and excitement.

The introduction of VAR has brought a breath of fresh air to the tournament, though, it is still widely debated among many sectors. Group stage matches provided some really interesting moments and results.

Teams like Croatia, Mexico, Sweden and Uruguay took the tournament by storm with their performances. On the other hand, the favorites of the tournament, Argentina, Spain, Portugal looked far away from their best.

Germany, the defending champions, failed to qualify for the next round after finishing bottom of their group. It came as a major shock to the entire football world, and only added to the unpredictability World Cup can offer.

But that was group stage. Now, it's time for the knockout matches. The round of 16 begins with arguably the best fixture of the tournament. UEFA Euro 2016 finalists France take on World Cup 2014 finalists Argentina to kick off the knockout round.

It will be followed by another gruesome encounter as an out-of-sorts Portugal side take on Uruguay, who head into the tournament on the back of a perfect record in their group.

Having just scraped their way into the round of 16, Spain will play against the host nation Russia, and the fixture will definitely be hostile for the 2010 champions. Croatia and Brazil, despite topping their respective groups, have got tricky matches. They face Denmark and Mexico respectively.

Sweden and Switzerland take on each other in a nothing to lose match. Both the teams won't be expecting much from the tournament, hence, the possibility of either of them reaching quarter-finals is huge in its own rights.

Swashbuckling Belgium will take on a spirited Japan side, while the final match of the round of 16 will see a tough fixture between Colombia and England.