Mbappe magic sees France into the quarterfinals

by Graeme Jackson

Saturday Jun 30, 2018. 18:00

Kylian Mbappe earned a penalty and scored two goals as France defeated Argentina 4-3 in a thrilling 2018 World Cup last 16 clash at the Kazan Arena on Saturday.

A three-goal salvo in the space of 11 second-half minutes saw ‘Les Bleus’ come from behind to defeat the ‘Albiceleste’ and become the first team to ink their name in the quarterfinal line-up.

France dominated the early stages and nearly claimed the lead in the ninth minute as Antoine Griezmann rattled the crossbar with a shot direct from a free kick.

Yet the French forward scored from a penalty four minutes late to put his team 1-0 up. The spot kick was awarded after Marcos Rojo had to resort to pulling down Kylian Mbappe to halt his powerful run.

The speedy teenager was a constant menace to Argentina’s defence, and Nicolas Tagliafico almost gave away another penalty for a foul on Mbappe – luckily for the ‘Albiceleste’ left-back the infringement was just outside the 18-yard area.

Yet while ‘Les Bleus’ always looked threatening in attack, Argentina gradually gained a foothold in the game and they were rewarded for their determination in the 41st minute, as Angel Di Maria scored from a fearsome long-range hit to make it 1-1.

The South Americans completed the turnaround three minutes into the second half. A free kick was only half-cleared and found its way to Lionel Messi on the edge of the box, he in turn sent a low shot toward goal, but teammate Gabriel Mercado redirected it enough to wrong-foot goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and put Argentina 2-1 up.

France nearly restored parity in the 55th minute when a mix-up at the back from Argentina almost let Griezmann in, but shortly thereafter a magnificent strike from right-back Benjamin Pavard – who struck a swerving volley into the top corner – made it 2-2.

This roller-coaster game took another twist in the 64th minute, as Mbappe picked up a loose ball in the Argentina penalty area and fired a low effort through the legs of goalkeeper Franco Armani to make it 3-2 in favour of ‘Les Bleus’.

Four minutes later France put together a superb attacking move which ended with Olivier Giroud’s deft ball putting Mbappe in on goal, and the 19-year-old coolly passed home a low shot to make it 4-2 and knock the stuffing out of the South Americans.

Argentina pulled a goal back deep in injury time when Sergio Aguero headed home from Messi’s cross, but it was nothing more than a consolation.

France saw out the remainder of the game to claim victory and book a place in the first quarterfinal match next Friday at Nizhny Novgorod against either Portugal or Uruguay.

France (1) 4 (Girezmann pen 13’, Pavard 57’, Mbappe 64’ 68’)
Argentina (1) 3 (Di Maria 41’, Mercado 48’, Auguero 90+3’)

France: Lloris, Pavard, Umtiti, Varane, Hernandez, Kante, Pogba, Matuidi (Tolisso 75’), Mbappe (Thauvin 89'), Giroud, Griezmann (Fekir 83’)

Argentina: Armani, Mercado, Otamendi, Rojo (Fazio 46’), Tagliafico, Perez (Aguero 66’), Mascherano, Banega, Pavon (Meza 75’), Messi, Di Maria