The first match of Group 16 in Russia promises to be a fascinating clash of two under-achieving sides who are supposedly on different trajectories. This also marks the debut of Adidas Telstar Metcha. The new red design on the ball has been produced to reflect the colour of host nation Russia, while capturing "the rising heat of knockout stage football".
Full-time report: At the end of the match, Lionel Messi stared into the abyss. Probably, that's what great men do when their greatest dream is over. So when the giant screen at the Kazan arena showed 'France 4-Argentina 3' at the full-time whistle, Messi stood and stared -- into nothingness, showed no emotion -- in a sort of way that numbness gives way to deep wounds and speechlessness to shock.
The match was lopsided from the very beginning. France, a team full of exuberant young talents eager to show their skills on the world stage and Argentina, an excuse of a team being shouldered by a little bit of fortune and Messi. Argentina's manager Jorge Sampaoli started with a defensive line-up, choosing to reinforce his midfield and defence at the cost of blunting the team's attack. France's Didier Deschamps named a strong line-up, a mixture of talented youth and experienced seniors.
France dominated from the very beginning. Mbappe, in particular, ran riot with his pace against the snail-paced Argentinian midfield and defence. A trailer of what was to come later in the match happened in the seventh minute when Mascherano brought Mbappe in front of the Argentinian box. Griezmann took the free-kick and clattered the crossbow. Not that France had to wait too long for their goal, as in the 10th minute, Mbappe ran through the entire Argentinian defence before Marcos Rojo fouled him inside the box in a desperate bid to stop him. Griezmann slotted home the penalty.
France continued to attack on the counter and Argentina, despite dominating the possession, played second-fiddle. Just before the half-time though, in the 41st minute to be precise, an inspired Angel Di Maria scored a stunner from 30 yards out. He received the ball in the middle outside the France box and sent his shot in a top-corner to Lloris'left.
Argentina had a great start to the second half and within three minutes of the start of the half, Argentina lead France 2-1, courtesy an accidental goal by Banega who deflected Messi shot, which might would have been otherwise saved. Argentina started to look confident and ventured into the France final third. But, in the 57th minute, France's right-back Pavard had a Di Maria sort of moment when he received the ball on the right and with the outside of his boot and a swivel of his hips, he sent his effort searing into the top left corner.
The goal inspired the French, and within the next ten minutes, Mbappe scored twice to basically seal the deal. The first came in the 64th minute when Mbappe received the ball inside the box after Matuidi's shot was blocked. Mbappe took it in his stride, ran to his left and drove a low shot underneath Armani to restore France's lead.
His second goal came in the 68th minute, after Giroud, who was surrounded by the Argentinian defenders, passed the ball to Mbappe and the 19-year-old finished the move with a clinical strike.
Argentina did have a goal back, late in the injury time. Messi curled in a ball into the box and the substitute Sergio Aguero flew to head the ball home to give Argentinians their last hurrah in the Fifa World Cup 2018.
This might be it for Messi, the Argentinian maestro, who has lost three major finals and now failed to progress from the Round of 16. Before the start of the 2018 World Cup, Messi had said the future of his international career would depend on how his team fares, and given how shambolic they have been and how he had to basically carry the entire team on his own, it might not be a surprise to hear him announce his retirement soon.
France, on the other hand, have been superb, and it's good that they have started to turn it on when it mattered the most, given that they were punching below their weight in the group stage despite qualifying. Mbappe has seemingly come of age. And it's just a cruel turn of fate's wheel, that a generational talent should shine in a match that might write the epitaph of the career of one of the greatest players of all time.
Here are the live updates:
Final whistle. It's all over for Argentina!
Minute 90+3 (GOAL!!)-- Aguero scores! The Manchester City striker heads home a Lionel Messi curling pass. But it's anyway over.
Minute 88 -- Mbappe substituted out for Thauvin
Minute 82 -- Substitution: Griezmann out for Nebil Fekir.
Minute 75:Substitutions: France make a change -- Corentin Tolisso replaces Blaise Matuidi. For Argentina, Maxi Meza comes in for Cristian Pavon.
Minute 72 -- Pavard booked.
Kylian Mbappe - The Man of the Match
Minute 68 (GOAL!!) -- France saunter through the middle, easily passing around their way across the Argentina midfielders. The ball's worked to Giroud, who has space in front of the Argentina defence and Mbappe unmarked to his right. Giroud’s pass is perfect. Mbappe doesn't have to break stride. He simply has to run on to the ball and fire it into the bottom-right corner!
Minute 64 (GOAL!!) -- Mbappe scores and France lead!! Pogba plays a pass out to Hernandez on the left. Nobody deals with the left-back's cross. Matuidi sees a shot blocked and the ball falls to Mbappe. He takes it in his stride, jigs to the left and drives a low shot underneath Armani to restore France’s lead!
Minute 57 (GOAL!!)-- France score!! Pavard scores a blinder. The right-back receives the ball on the right, lets it bounce once, and with the outside of his boot and a swivel of his hips, he sends his effort searing into the top left-corner.
Minute 49 -- Ever Banega booked for a lunge on Mbappe. he's out of the next game.
Argentina leadsMinute 48 (GOAL!!) -- Argentina lead!! And in the most unlikely way. Banega sends his free-kick from the left to the middle. Pogba clears it but it falls to Messi. He swivels and turns back on to his left foot and takes the shot but his effort is deflcted off Mercado and it goes past the helpless Lloris! Argentina 2-France 1
Substitution for Argentina: Fazio in for Rojo
Second-half begins.
Half-time report: Argentina struggled against France to begin with. To be more precise, they struggled against Kylian Mbappe. The pacey teenager ran the slow Argentinian defence to the ground through his searing pace and trickery. That also earned France their penalty in the 11th minute, after Marcus Rojo unable to catch Mbappe, who was running with invisible wings into the box, dragged him down. Griezmann took the penalty and slotted the ball down the middle while the Argentina goalkeeper dived down the right.
Moments later, Mbappe was again brought down, this time just outside the Argentinian box but Pogba couldn't keep his free-kick down. France had a free-kick from the similar distance in the ninth minute, when Griezmann slammed his dipping free-kick into the crossbar. Argentina struggled after conceding the goal, especially because of a lack of midfield that could compete with the formidable midfield of France and Mbappe's pace. It looked like France would put in some more goals but Argentina somehow survived. That was before Angel Di Maria, in a moment of sheer inspiration, received the ball outside the box in the 41st minute and scored a stunner into the top-right corner with his left leg from more than 32 yards away.
Although the score is level, Argentina will need to mind their midfield, the lack of which has seen Messi in the midfield more than the final third. Messi has tried to create but have been failed by a lack of a proven goalscorer in the box. Maybe a change in the personnel will do the trick.
Di Maria equalisesMinute 41 (GOAL!!)-- Di Maria scores a stunner!! The winger receives the ball in the middle outside the France box from Banega and sends in a top-corner shot to Lloris' left. What a goal!! Argentina level the scores.
Minute 38 -- Messi slides a pass down the right to Pavon, who pulls the ball back into the area. It’s an easy clearance for Pavard, though.
Minute 37 -- Di Maria clips a pass to Messi, who takes the ball in his stride before going down in the area. That was a tangle of legs.
Minute 30 -- Mbappe again drives into the box and looks to cut-back but Tagalfico manages to dispossess him and brings the ball to safety.
Minute 27 -- Mercado claims handball by Umtiti after his cross is blocked by the French defender's arm. The referee ignores his appeals though.
Minute 25 -- France nearly add to their tally! Griezmann goes down the right and skips past Rojo and sent a pass to the near post for Matuidi but the Argentinian goalkeeper smothers it.
Minute 18 -- Free-kick to France!! Tagalfico brings down Mbappe at the edge of the box after Mbappe again shows his pace and runs in between two defenders to receive a pass and drive forward. Pogba takes the free-kick but skies it. Yellow card to Tagalfico
France 1 Argentina 0Minute 10 (GOAL!!) -- Penalty for France!! Mbappe brings out his lightning pace and literally runs through the entire Argentinian defence. Marocs Rojo desperately tries to stop Mbappe and fouls him inside the box! Griezmann steps up to take the penalty and scores! He sends his penalty straight down the line while the goalkeeper dives on his right side.
Minute 7 -- Mascherano brings down Mbappe just in front of the Argentinian box. The teenager was running at the heart of the Argentinian defence and Mascherano, coming from behind throws in a tackle and brings down the player. Griezmann takes the free-kick and it's sweetly-struck but it clatters against the crossbar. Uff!
Minute 4 -- Angel de Maria is released down the left wing and he sprints to almost near the byline. He looks up but there's no Argentinian in the French box. He sends in a cross nevertheless but it's poor and flies out of the play.
Minute 3 -- Umtiti clips his Barcelona teammate Messi's toes and Argentina get a free-kick. Messi takes the free-kick, sends pings the ball into the box but it's defended well.
ALSO READ: Fifa World Cup 2018: Adidas announces new ball for knockout stage
Peeeeeeeeeeeeppppp.. And.. we're off....
Trivia: -- Didier Deschamps will take charge of his 80th game as France manager; a new record as he overtakes Raymond Domenech (79 games). (Source: OptaJoe)
-- France have won just 18% of their games against Argentina (2/11), their lowest rate against a current country played at least 10 times. (Source: OptaJoe)
-- Jorge Sampaoli has chosen his 15th different starting 11 for Argentina, in his 15th game as their coach. (Source: OptaJoe)
-- Angel Di Maria's goal at 30.2 yards is the longest range goal scored at the 2018 World Cup so far. (Source: OptaJoe)
-- Both of Angel Di Maria's World Cup goals have come in round of 16 matches (vs Switzerland in 2014 and vs France today). (Source: OptaJoe)
-- Argentina have conceded a penalty goal in a World Cup knockout game for the first time since 1998 v England. (Source: OptaJoe)
Here are the live updates:
Line-ups out:
France are back to full strength after resting players against Denmark. It’s the same 11 that beat Peru 1-0, with Blaise Matuidi, preferred to the skill of Ousmane Dembele.
Argentina make one change to the team that beat Nigeria. Cristian Pavon replaces Gonzalo Higuain.
France vs Argentina line-upFrance vs Argentina line-up
Argentina and Lionel Messi need to find form as soon as possible if they are to go any further in the World Cup when they meet a France team who have yet to live up to their billing.
All the flaws of an ageing and unbalanced Argentina team were ruthlessly exposed in the thrashing by Croatia in the group stage.
But, roared on by a pumped-up Diego Maradona, Messi finally opened his account in this tournament before Marcos Rojo volleyed in a stunning winner against Nigeria as the 2014 finalists punched their ticket to the knockout stage.
Didier Deschamps' France, meanwhile, among the pre-tournament favourites, have looked sluggish despite easing through the group stage unbeaten.
First-choice striker Antoine Griezmann has been unable to recapture his best form and the creativity has failed to flow from the midfield.
Deschamps is adamant that France will get it all right when the business end of the tournament kicks off today.
"A whole new competition begins now, direct elimination," Deschamps said.
"We got what we wanted. Now the mountain looms up in front of us, but we're there and we're aiming to get through to the next round after that."
Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi underlined his importance to Argentina with a sublime opening goal against Nigeria on Tuesday.
But it made little amends to the Barcelona icon's penalty miss against Iceland in a lacklustre 1-1 draw in their opening match of Fifa World Cup 2018.
Messi was then virtually missing in action when Jorge Sampaoli's men suffered the chastening defeat to Croatia.
The tension of the win over Nigeria had 1986 World Cup winner Maradona grimacing towards the sky with a crazed look in his eyes.
Maradona later played down concerns over his health after he was checked over by paramedics inside his VIP box.
Argentina and Messi's performances are under scrutiny too. The 'G.O.A.T' has never scored in the knockout stage of a World Cup and his recent show apart from that scintilating goal has been more or less average.
"We know Messi is great but we're confused and sad for him. He is such a pure Barcelona product but with Argentina right now, Messi's in a mess." "And let's face it, France have yet to show anything to make us feel optimistic, to give us hope," said Marcel Desailly, a World Cup winner with France in 1998.
With just three goals from three games, an attacking line featuring Griezmann, 145-million-euro teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud has hardly set the tournament on fire.
Griezmann, particularly, is facing increasing scrutiny two years after his six-goal, seven-assist tally steered France to the final of Euro 2016, where France lost to Portugal.
His campaign so far has been more remarkable for the controversy caused by his decision to announce his commitment to Atletico Madrid, rejecting Barcelona in the process, in a 40-minute video aired on the eve of France's World Cup opener.
"He's fine, he's fine. You mustn't ever doubt one of the best players in the world," said his Atletico teammate Lucas Hernandez.
Les Bleus should have the measure of Messi, according to Marius Tresor, the former France defender who helped Les Bleus to a fourth-place finish at the 1982 World Cup.
"Against Messi, they (France) will have to play intelligently," Tresor told AFP. "If Messi comes through the middle we have a guy called N'Golo Kante who doesn't let people past him easily.
On Messi's right side there's Hernandez, who knows him well from the Spanish league.
"Messi likes to move around, so we have to try and control him." said Hernandez
Meanwhile, Argentina's World Cup squad focused on practising penalties in their final workout ahead of the knockout clash.
After missing Thursday's training session due to a hip injury, Enzo Perez rejoined his teammates on the field. Argentina's goalkeepers Franco Armani, Willy Caballero and Nahuel Guzman trained on blocking kicks from the 12-yard mark, in preparation for a possible penalty shootout against the Europeans.
The France national team are training at Central Stadium in Kazan while Argentina travel to Kazan later on Friday, but both the teams are not expected to train at the Kazan arena, the venue for their last-16 match.
The 23-member full squad of France:
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda, Alphonse Areola.
Defenders: Layvin Kurzawa, Benjamin Mendy, Samuel Umtiti, Raphaël Varane, Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard, Adil Rami, Djibril Sidibé
Midfielders: Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi, Corentin Tolisso, N'Golo Kante, Steven Nzonzi.
Forwards: Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, Florian Thauvin, Thomas Lemar, Nabil Fekir.
The 23-member full squad of Argentina:
Goalkeepers: Nahuel Guzman, Wilfredo Caballero, Franco Armani
Defenders: Cristian Ansaldi, Gabriel Mercado, Nicolas Otamendi, Federico Fazio, Marcos Rojo, Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Tagliafico
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano, Cristian Pavon, Maximiliano Meza, Angel Di Maria, Giovani Lo Celso, Ever Banega, Lucas Biglia, Eduardo Salvio, Enzo Perez
Forwards: Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero
Full-time report: At the end of the match, Lionel Messi stared into the abyss. Probably, that's what great men do when their greatest dream is over. So when the giant screen at the Kazan arena showed 'France 4-Argentina 3' at the full-time whistle, Messi stood and stared -- into nothingness, showed no emotion -- in a sort of way that numbness gives way to deep wounds and speechlessness to shock.
The match was lopsided from the very beginning. France, a team full of exuberant young talents eager to show their skills on the world stage and Argentina, an excuse of a team being shouldered by a little bit of fortune and Messi. Argentina's manager Jorge Sampaoli started with a defensive line-up, choosing to reinforce his midfield and defence at the cost of blunting the team's attack. France's Didier Deschamps named a strong line-up, a mixture of talented youth and experienced seniors.
France dominated from the very beginning. Mbappe, in particular, ran riot with his pace against the snail-paced Argentinian midfield and defence. A trailer of what was to come later in the match happened in the seventh minute when Mascherano brought Mbappe in front of the Argentinian box. Griezmann took the free-kick and clattered the crossbow. Not that France had to wait too long for their goal, as in the 10th minute, Mbappe ran through the entire Argentinian defence before Marcos Rojo fouled him inside the box in a desperate bid to stop him. Griezmann slotted home the penalty.
France continued to attack on the counter and Argentina, despite dominating the possession, played second-fiddle. Just before the half-time though, in the 41st minute to be precise, an inspired Angel Di Maria scored a stunner from 30 yards out. He received the ball in the middle outside the France box and sent his shot in a top-corner to Lloris'left.
Argentina had a great start to the second half and within three minutes of the start of the half, Argentina lead France 2-1, courtesy an accidental goal by Banega who deflected Messi shot, which might would have been otherwise saved. Argentina started to look confident and ventured into the France final third. But, in the 57th minute, France's right-back Pavard had a Di Maria sort of moment when he received the ball on the right and with the outside of his boot and a swivel of his hips, he sent his effort searing into the top left corner.
The goal inspired the French, and within the next ten minutes, Mbappe scored twice to basically seal the deal. The first came in the 64th minute when Mbappe received the ball inside the box after Matuidi's shot was blocked. Mbappe took it in his stride, ran to his left and drove a low shot underneath Armani to restore France's lead.
His second goal came in the 68th minute, after Giroud, who was surrounded by the Argentinian defenders, passed the ball to Mbappe and the 19-year-old finished the move with a clinical strike.
Argentina did have a goal back, late in the injury time. Messi curled in a ball into the box and the substitute Sergio Aguero flew to head the ball home to give Argentinians their last hurrah in the Fifa World Cup 2018.
This might be it for Messi, the Argentinian maestro, who has lost three major finals and now failed to progress from the Round of 16. Before the start of the 2018 World Cup, Messi had said the future of his international career would depend on how his team fares, and given how shambolic they have been and how he had to basically carry the entire team on his own, it might not be a surprise to hear him announce his retirement soon.
France, on the other hand, have been superb, and it's good that they have started to turn it on when it mattered the most, given that they were punching below their weight in the group stage despite qualifying. Mbappe has seemingly come of age. And it's just a cruel turn of fate's wheel, that a generational talent should shine in a match that might write the epitaph of the career of one of the greatest players of all time.
Here are the live updates:
Final whistle. It's all over for Argentina!
Minute 90+3 (GOAL!!)-- Aguero scores! The Manchester City striker heads home a Lionel Messi curling pass. But it's anyway over.
Minute 88 -- Mbappe substituted out for Thauvin
Minute 82 -- Substitution: Griezmann out for Nebil Fekir.
Minute 75:Substitutions: France make a change -- Corentin Tolisso replaces Blaise Matuidi. For Argentina, Maxi Meza comes in for Cristian Pavon.
Minute 72 -- Pavard booked.
Kylian Mbappe - The Man of the Match
Minute 68 (GOAL!!) -- France saunter through the middle, easily passing around their way across the Argentina midfielders. The ball's worked to Giroud, who has space in front of the Argentina defence and Mbappe unmarked to his right. Giroud’s pass is perfect. Mbappe doesn't have to break stride. He simply has to run on to the ball and fire it into the bottom-right corner!
Minute 64 (GOAL!!) -- Mbappe scores and France lead!! Pogba plays a pass out to Hernandez on the left. Nobody deals with the left-back's cross. Matuidi sees a shot blocked and the ball falls to Mbappe. He takes it in his stride, jigs to the left and drives a low shot underneath Armani to restore France’s lead!
Minute 57 (GOAL!!)-- France score!! Pavard scores a blinder. The right-back receives the ball on the right, lets it bounce once, and with the outside of his boot and a swivel of his hips, he sends his effort searing into the top left-corner.
Minute 49 -- Ever Banega booked for a lunge on Mbappe. he's out of the next game.
Argentina leadsMinute 48 (GOAL!!) -- Argentina lead!! And in the most unlikely way. Banega sends his free-kick from the left to the middle. Pogba clears it but it falls to Messi. He swivels and turns back on to his left foot and takes the shot but his effort is deflcted off Mercado and it goes past the helpless Lloris! Argentina 2-France 1
Substitution for Argentina: Fazio in for Rojo
Second-half begins.
Half-time report: Argentina struggled against France to begin with. To be more precise, they struggled against Kylian Mbappe. The pacey teenager ran the slow Argentinian defence to the ground through his searing pace and trickery. That also earned France their penalty in the 11th minute, after Marcus Rojo unable to catch Mbappe, who was running with invisible wings into the box, dragged him down. Griezmann took the penalty and slotted the ball down the middle while the Argentina goalkeeper dived down the right.
Moments later, Mbappe was again brought down, this time just outside the Argentinian box but Pogba couldn't keep his free-kick down. France had a free-kick from the similar distance in the ninth minute, when Griezmann slammed his dipping free-kick into the crossbar. Argentina struggled after conceding the goal, especially because of a lack of midfield that could compete with the formidable midfield of France and Mbappe's pace. It looked like France would put in some more goals but Argentina somehow survived. That was before Angel Di Maria, in a moment of sheer inspiration, received the ball outside the box in the 41st minute and scored a stunner into the top-right corner with his left leg from more than 32 yards away.
Although the score is level, Argentina will need to mind their midfield, the lack of which has seen Messi in the midfield more than the final third. Messi has tried to create but have been failed by a lack of a proven goalscorer in the box. Maybe a change in the personnel will do the trick.
Di Maria equalisesMinute 41 (GOAL!!)-- Di Maria scores a stunner!! The winger receives the ball in the middle outside the France box from Banega and sends in a top-corner shot to Lloris' left. What a goal!! Argentina level the scores.
Minute 38 -- Messi slides a pass down the right to Pavon, who pulls the ball back into the area. It’s an easy clearance for Pavard, though.
Minute 37 -- Di Maria clips a pass to Messi, who takes the ball in his stride before going down in the area. That was a tangle of legs.
Minute 30 -- Mbappe again drives into the box and looks to cut-back but Tagalfico manages to dispossess him and brings the ball to safety.
Minute 27 -- Mercado claims handball by Umtiti after his cross is blocked by the French defender's arm. The referee ignores his appeals though.
Minute 25 -- France nearly add to their tally! Griezmann goes down the right and skips past Rojo and sent a pass to the near post for Matuidi but the Argentinian goalkeeper smothers it.
Minute 18 -- Free-kick to France!! Tagalfico brings down Mbappe at the edge of the box after Mbappe again shows his pace and runs in between two defenders to receive a pass and drive forward. Pogba takes the free-kick but skies it. Yellow card to Tagalfico
France 1 Argentina 0Minute 10 (GOAL!!) -- Penalty for France!! Mbappe brings out his lightning pace and literally runs through the entire Argentinian defence. Marocs Rojo desperately tries to stop Mbappe and fouls him inside the box! Griezmann steps up to take the penalty and scores! He sends his penalty straight down the line while the goalkeeper dives on his right side.
Minute 7 -- Mascherano brings down Mbappe just in front of the Argentinian box. The teenager was running at the heart of the Argentinian defence and Mascherano, coming from behind throws in a tackle and brings down the player. Griezmann takes the free-kick and it's sweetly-struck but it clatters against the crossbar. Uff!
Minute 4 -- Angel de Maria is released down the left wing and he sprints to almost near the byline. He looks up but there's no Argentinian in the French box. He sends in a cross nevertheless but it's poor and flies out of the play.
Minute 3 -- Umtiti clips his Barcelona teammate Messi's toes and Argentina get a free-kick. Messi takes the free-kick, sends pings the ball into the box but it's defended well.
ALSO READ: Fifa World Cup 2018: Adidas announces new ball for knockout stage
Peeeeeeeeeeeeppppp.. And.. we're off....
Trivia: -- Didier Deschamps will take charge of his 80th game as France manager; a new record as he overtakes Raymond Domenech (79 games). (Source: OptaJoe)
-- France have won just 18% of their games against Argentina (2/11), their lowest rate against a current country played at least 10 times. (Source: OptaJoe)
-- Jorge Sampaoli has chosen his 15th different starting 11 for Argentina, in his 15th game as their coach. (Source: OptaJoe)
-- Angel Di Maria's goal at 30.2 yards is the longest range goal scored at the 2018 World Cup so far. (Source: OptaJoe)
-- Both of Angel Di Maria's World Cup goals have come in round of 16 matches (vs Switzerland in 2014 and vs France today). (Source: OptaJoe)
-- Argentina have conceded a penalty goal in a World Cup knockout game for the first time since 1998 v England. (Source: OptaJoe)
Here are the live updates:
Line-ups out:
France are back to full strength after resting players against Denmark. It’s the same 11 that beat Peru 1-0, with Blaise Matuidi, preferred to the skill of Ousmane Dembele.
Argentina make one change to the team that beat Nigeria. Cristian Pavon replaces Gonzalo Higuain.
France vs Argentina line-upFrance vs Argentina line-up
Argentina and Lionel Messi need to find form as soon as possible if they are to go any further in the World Cup when they meet a France team who have yet to live up to their billing.
All the flaws of an ageing and unbalanced Argentina team were ruthlessly exposed in the thrashing by Croatia in the group stage.
But, roared on by a pumped-up Diego Maradona, Messi finally opened his account in this tournament before Marcos Rojo volleyed in a stunning winner against Nigeria as the 2014 finalists punched their ticket to the knockout stage.
Didier Deschamps' France, meanwhile, among the pre-tournament favourites, have looked sluggish despite easing through the group stage unbeaten.
First-choice striker Antoine Griezmann has been unable to recapture his best form and the creativity has failed to flow from the midfield.
Deschamps is adamant that France will get it all right when the business end of the tournament kicks off today.
"A whole new competition begins now, direct elimination," Deschamps said.
"We got what we wanted. Now the mountain looms up in front of us, but we're there and we're aiming to get through to the next round after that."
Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi underlined his importance to Argentina with a sublime opening goal against Nigeria on Tuesday.
But it made little amends to the Barcelona icon's penalty miss against Iceland in a lacklustre 1-1 draw in their opening match of Fifa World Cup 2018.
Messi was then virtually missing in action when Jorge Sampaoli's men suffered the chastening defeat to Croatia.
The tension of the win over Nigeria had 1986 World Cup winner Maradona grimacing towards the sky with a crazed look in his eyes.
Maradona later played down concerns over his health after he was checked over by paramedics inside his VIP box.
Argentina and Messi's performances are under scrutiny too. The 'G.O.A.T' has never scored in the knockout stage of a World Cup and his recent show apart from that scintilating goal has been more or less average.
"We know Messi is great but we're confused and sad for him. He is such a pure Barcelona product but with Argentina right now, Messi's in a mess." "And let's face it, France have yet to show anything to make us feel optimistic, to give us hope," said Marcel Desailly, a World Cup winner with France in 1998.
With just three goals from three games, an attacking line featuring Griezmann, 145-million-euro teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud has hardly set the tournament on fire.
Griezmann, particularly, is facing increasing scrutiny two years after his six-goal, seven-assist tally steered France to the final of Euro 2016, where France lost to Portugal.
His campaign so far has been more remarkable for the controversy caused by his decision to announce his commitment to Atletico Madrid, rejecting Barcelona in the process, in a 40-minute video aired on the eve of France's World Cup opener.
"He's fine, he's fine. You mustn't ever doubt one of the best players in the world," said his Atletico teammate Lucas Hernandez.
Les Bleus should have the measure of Messi, according to Marius Tresor, the former France defender who helped Les Bleus to a fourth-place finish at the 1982 World Cup.
"Against Messi, they (France) will have to play intelligently," Tresor told AFP. "If Messi comes through the middle we have a guy called N'Golo Kante who doesn't let people past him easily.
On Messi's right side there's Hernandez, who knows him well from the Spanish league.
"Messi likes to move around, so we have to try and control him." said Hernandez
Meanwhile, Argentina's World Cup squad focused on practising penalties in their final workout ahead of the knockout clash.
After missing Thursday's training session due to a hip injury, Enzo Perez rejoined his teammates on the field. Argentina's goalkeepers Franco Armani, Willy Caballero and Nahuel Guzman trained on blocking kicks from the 12-yard mark, in preparation for a possible penalty shootout against the Europeans.
The France national team are training at Central Stadium in Kazan while Argentina travel to Kazan later on Friday, but both the teams are not expected to train at the Kazan arena, the venue for their last-16 match.
The 23-member full squad of France:
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris, Steve Mandanda, Alphonse Areola.
Defenders: Layvin Kurzawa, Benjamin Mendy, Samuel Umtiti, Raphaël Varane, Lucas Hernandez, Benjamin Pavard, Adil Rami, Djibril Sidibé
Midfielders: Paul Pogba, Blaise Matuidi, Corentin Tolisso, N'Golo Kante, Steven Nzonzi.
Forwards: Kylian Mbappe, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, Florian Thauvin, Thomas Lemar, Nabil Fekir.
The 23-member full squad of Argentina:
Goalkeepers: Nahuel Guzman, Wilfredo Caballero, Franco Armani
Defenders: Cristian Ansaldi, Gabriel Mercado, Nicolas Otamendi, Federico Fazio, Marcos Rojo, Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Tagliafico
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano, Cristian Pavon, Maximiliano Meza, Angel Di Maria, Giovani Lo Celso, Ever Banega, Lucas Biglia, Eduardo Salvio, Enzo Perez
Forwards: Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain, Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero
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