Russian government resigns after President Putin announces reforms

Russia's government resigned in a shock announcement on Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin proposed a series of constitutional reforms.
In a televised meeting with the Russian president, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said the proposals would make significant changes to the country's balance of power and so "the government in its current form has resigned".

"We should provide the president of our country with the possibility to take all the necessary measures" to carry out the changes, Medvedev said.
"All further decisions will be taken by the president." Putin asked Medvedev, his longtime ally, to continue as head of government until a new government has been appointed.
"I want to thank you for everything that has been done, to express satisfaction with the results that have been achieved," Putin said.
"Not everything worked out, but everything never works out." He also proposed creating the post of deputy head of the Security Council, suggesting that Medvedev take on the position.
Earlier Wednesday Putin proposed a referendum on a package of reforms to Russia's constitution that would strengthen the role of parliament.
The changes would include giving parliament the power to choose the prime minister and senior cabinet members, instead of the president as in the current system.

Mueller's Russia report outlines episodes of possible Trump obstruction

Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report on his inquiry into Russia’s role in the 2016 US election detailed a series of actions by President Donald Trump to impede the probe, raising questions about whether he committed the crime of obstruction of justice.
The release on Thursday of the 448-page report that disclosed the findings of a 22-month investigation represented a watershed moment in Trump's tumultuous presidency. Mueller did not make a conclusion on whether Trump, whose presidency has been overshadowed by the Russia investigation, had committed obstruction of justice but did not exonerate him either.

The report provided fresh details of how the Republican president tried to force Mueller’s ouster, directed members of his administration to publicly vouch for his innocence and dangled a pardon to a former aide to try to prevent him from cooperating with the special counsel.
It also concluded, as Barr announced last month, that Trump and his campaign had not engaged in a criminal conspiracy with Russia during the election.
Barr in March concluded that Trump had not broken the law, but told a news conference on Thursday that Mueller had detailed "10 episodes involving the president and discusses potential legal theories for connecting these actions to elements of an obstruction offense."
Trump appeared to be in a celebratory mood, saying at a White House event with wounded US troops that he was “having a good day” following the report's release, adding, "It's called no collusion, no obstruction."
The report's disclosure, with portions blacked out by Barr to protect some sensitive information, is certain to launch a new political fight in Congress and on the 2020 presidential campaign trail, as Trump seeks re-election in a deeply divided country.
Trump has long described Mueller's inquiry as a "witch hunt."

S-400 deal announced quietly after Doval's opposition, Modi's approval

The low-key announcement on Friday of India’s $5.43-billion purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defence missile system contrasted sharply with the flourish with which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Francois Hollande announced their April 2015 agreement to supply India 36 Rafale fighters.
Meeting the press in New Delhi, Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin avoided any mention of the S-400 during their comments to the media. Nor did the contract feature in an official Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) list of documents signed.
Eventually, India’s biggest overseas arms contract since the Rafale buy found official mention only through one brief sentence in the Indo-Russian joint statement, released by the MEA.
The joint statement noted: “The sides (New Delhi and Moscow) welcomed the conclusion of the contract for the supply of the S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile system to India.”
Business Standard learnt it was not wrangling over the price that clouded the deal with uncertainty. Instead, top Indian government officials disagreed on whether to risk US ire by concluding a deal that Washington has made clear it disapproves of.
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ALSO READ: S-400 can launch 72 missiles simultaneously, engage 36 targets at a time

Sources close to the negotiations said, while Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharman has consistently backed the S-400 purchase, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval — who is more alert to the US signalling — wanted to postpone signing the contract.
On his visit to Washington in mid-September, Doval met top US officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Defence Secretary James Mattis and his American counterpart, John Bolton. They are understood to have warned him that India's purchase of the S-400 might trigger US sanctions under the “Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act” (CAATSA). CAATSA binds the US administration to impose sanctions against countries that engage in “significant transactions” with Russian, Iranian and North Korean defence and intelligence entities. To exempt close partners such as India and Vietnam, the US Congress has legislated a waiver that the US president can invoke. However, Doval was told there is no guarantee that President Donald Trump would invoke the waiver for India.
Two days after returning from the US, Doval received a top-level delegation from Rosoboronexport, Moscow's defence exports agency, to tie up details of defence contracts to be signed during the Modi-Putin summit. Doval expressed his strong reservations about signing the S-400 contract, given the “current climate” — an apparent reference to the Rafale controversy, but which could have also meant pressure from Washington.
In the days leading up to Putin’s visit, Moscow remained in touch with Doval’s office to tie up the visit agenda. The NSA steadfastly maintained that neither the S-400 deal, nor the deal for four Krivak III-class frigates, would be signed during Putin’s visit. As late as Thursday, when Putin landed in New Delhi, the Russian side was told that no defence agreements would be signed during the summit. However, Putin raised the subject with Modi, both on Thursday night and in the Friday talks.

ALSO READ: India-Russia S-400 deal: US says cannot prejudge sanctions decisions
“Eventually, it was Modi who took the call on Friday morning to go ahead with the S-400 contract,” says an individual close to the decision-making. Even so, the announcement was done without flourish. “It is hard to say whether the government is more worried about blowback from the US Congress, or from the Indian National Congress,” quipped a senior civil servant.
According to Russian language technical papers published by designers of the S-400, it is designed primarily as an air defence system with only limited capability to shoot down ballistic missiles.
The designers of the S-400 Triumf (NATO designation SA-21 Growler) say it is built to shoot down aircraft at low and very low altitudes, even when stealth technology greatly reduced their target signatures. Its ability to track multiple targets caters for a crowded airspace with large numbers of aircraft, as well as drones. It is designed to defeat advanced electronic jammers and survive on a battlefield where the enemy is targeting the S-400 with precision- guided munitions. The capability to engage tactical ballistic missiles and intermediate range ballistic missiles — the anti-ballistic missile (ABM) role — is mentioned at the end, almost as an afterthought.
ALSO READ: Modi-Putin summit: From S-400 Triumf to manned space flight, 8 pacts signed
Even though the first S-400 units might be deployed to protect Delhi — its long range allows it to cover the area up to the Indo-Pakistan border from deployment areas in the National Capital Territory — its primary mission will remain anti-aircraft protection. Guarding Delhi from ballistic missile attack will be the job of an ABM system the Defence Research & Development Organisation is currently developing and testing.
While the S-400 will be paid for from the air force budget, its vehicle-mounted configuration allows it to provide air defence cover to the Army's mechanised strike corps. It can also be fitted onto capital warships such as the Aegis system, which guards US Navy warships.
Putin has travelled back to Russia on Friday evening, after attending the 19th India-Russia Annual Summit. The last summit was held in June 2017 in Russia.

India reconsidering Rs 2 trn 5th generation fighter jet project with Russia

India has conveyed to Russia its unwillingness to go ahead with the joint development of a fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) primarily due to high cost involved in the project, official sources said.
They, however, said the negotiations between the two countries on the much ambitious project have not yet been shelved as India was ready to have a re-look at co-development of the jet if an appropriate cost sharing formula between the two countries was arrived at.

India and Russia had signed an inter-governmental agreement for the mega project in 2007, vowing to take the military ties between the two strategic partners to the next level.
However, the project has been stuck for the last 11 years as there have been serious differences between the two sides on sharing cost of developing the jet, technologies to be used in it and number of aircraft to be produced.
The sources said the cost of the project has been estimated at around USD 30 billion or Rs 2 trillion.
"Our position on various aspect of the project, including the cost component, has been conveyed to the Russian side and there has been no resolution to the issues yet," a top official involved in the negotiations with the Russia over the project said.
In December 2010, India had agreed to pay USD 295 million towards the preliminary design of the fighter jet. Later, both sides had expressed intent to contribute each USD 6 billion for final design and production of the aircraft in the first phase. However, they could not come out with a final agreement on it.
"We have not closed our door on the project," the sources said.
It is learnt that India was insisting on equal rights over the technology to be used in the aircraft but Russia was not ready to share all the critical technologies of the plane with New Delhi.
In the negotiations for the project, India had insisted that it must get all the required codes and access to critical technology so that it can upgrade the aircraft as per its requirements, sources said.
In February 2016, both the countries had revived talks on the project after a clearance from then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Sources said both sides were attempting to thrash out the sticky issues but added that India was not optimistic that the project will fructify due to cost involved in the project.
Interestingly, state-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is strongly pitching for the fifth-generation fighter jet project. The HAL feels the multi-billion dollar project will provide India a significant opportunity to encourage its aerospace sector as no country has ever offered such critical technologies to India.
There have been indications from the Indian Air Force that it was not very keen to pursue the project in view of the high cost.

Fifa World Cup 2018 Spain vs Russia live: Dzyuba equalises, ESP 1 RUS 1; ET

Extra Time
Updates
105 min: The 1st of extra time ends with the socres tied at 1-1.
95 min: Spain are enjoyijng possesion and are attacking in numbers. Russia are holding on.
Updates:
90 min: The scores are tied at the 90th minute. Extra time awaits to find a winner.
72 min: Spain are doing their usual Tiki Taka but are not getting any direct chance to score.
54 min: Spain are dominating possesion but lacks that final pass. Meanwhile, Russia are hanging on and hoping to counter.

Half-time analysis: Spain vs Russia started with the casual Spain possession antics with Russia making strides to counter them by pressing. Russia was most active in the wings with Golovin leading the charge. Spain were making advances with some good midfield playing with Isco leading the players. In the 11th minute, a fatal mistake by Sergei Ignashevich gave Spain the lead. Ignashevich was under pressure from Sergio Ramos and wrongly put the ball in his own net.
Fifa World Cup 2018 Spain vs Russia: Dzyuba equalises, ESP 1 RUS 1
The entropy of the match then shifted to Spain attacking with their typical midfield playing. However, by the end of the first half, Russia started attacking more with an intent. They almost scored with a short from Golovin who failed to give the ball a proper bend. Pique committed a handball just inside the penalty area which leads to a Russia being awarded a penalty. Dzyuba equalised for Russia with a cool strike. The match is all set for the 2nd half with nothing to separate both the teams.
Trivia:
Artem Dzyuba has been directly involved in four of Russia's last seven World Cup goals, scoring three and assisting another.
Russia are the first team to score multiple own goals in a World Cup tournament since 1966, when Bulgaria conceded two.
Sergei Ignashevich is the oldest ever player to score an own goal in a World Cup match.
Spain have scored in each of their last 23 games in all competitions (67 in total), their longest ever run.
Spain have scored 10 goals in their last three games against Russia (7 in two games at Euro 2008, 3 in a friendly in November 2017).
Updates:

42min: Dzyuba equalises with a penalty as Pique commits a hand ball.
35 min:Golovin shot wide as he struggles to find the bend.
30 min: Spain are playing their usual possession football while Russia has struggled to find the final dead ball.
11min: Ignashevich scores an own goal for Russia amid pressure from Ramos. Spain leads!!
5min: Spain trying to play possession but Russia is pressing hard.

Line-ups:

TEAM NEWS
Here's how ESP and RUS will begin in Moscow ESPRUS pic.twitter.com/FtetYgKCtG
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2018
Russia subs: Andrey Semenov, Denis Cheryshev, Yuri Gazinskiy, Alan Dzagoev, Fedor Smolov, Andrey Lunev, Vladimir Granat, Aleksey Miranchuk, Anton Miranchuk, Vladimir Gabulov, Aleksandr Erokhin.
RUSSIA (3-4-2-1): Igor Akinfeev; Ilya Kutepov, Sergei Ignashevich, Fedor Kudryashov; Mario Fernandes; Daler Kuzyaev, Roman Zubnin; Yuri Zhirkov; Aleksandr Samedov, Aleksandr Golovin; Artem Dzyuba.
Spain subs: Daniel Carvajal, Andres Iniesta, Saul Niguez, Rodrigo Moreno, Thiago Alcantara, Lucas Vazquez, Alvaro Odriozola, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cesar Azpilicueta, Nacho Monreal, Iago Aspas, Pepe Reina.
SPAIN (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Nacho, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba; Koke, Sergio Busquets; David Silva, Isco, Marco Asensio; Diego Costa.
Fifa World Cup 2018 Spain vs Russia: Costa, Isco starts, Iniesta dropped
Spain played remarkably well in a 3-3 draw with European champions Portugal - just two days after Lopetegui's dismissal - and scraped to a 1-0 victory over Iran before a shaky 2-2 draw with Morocco.
Russia have been one of the surprise teams of the tournament. Ranked 70th in the world by FIFA, Stanislav Cherchesov's side won their opening match against Saudi Arabia 5-0 before disposing of Egypt 3-1 five days later.
They thudded back to earth with a 0-3 loss to Uruguay in their final group match after Igor Smolnikov's 36th-minute red card.
When and where to watch Spain vs Russia
Time: 7:30 PM (IST)
In today's third Group of 16 match, Spain vs Russia, will be played in Moscow on Sunday, July 1, 2018 at 7:30 PM (IST).
Spain vs Russia will be broadcast on Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony Six and Sony Six HD in English Commentary and Sony Ten 3 and Sony 3 HD in Hindi Commentary.
Spain vs Russia will be available for live streaming on Sony Liv also. And Both Airtel and Jio would broadcast the FIFA World Cup 2018 matches for free to their respective subscribers.
Match Preview
But one senses that the result against the Uruguayans has done little to dampen team spirit as Russia benefit from a groundswell of optimism and support that goes along with being the tournament hosts.
While their defence has looked shaky on occasions, Russia has genuine quality in attack. Spain will be wary of the threat posed by Artem Dzyuba, Denis Cheryshev, and Aleksandr Golovin, who have scored six of Russia's eight goals and produced three assists.
Spain also have no shortage of scoring options, even if there are doubts about who will start up front for them at Luzhniki Stadium.
Diego Costa has been Spain's top scorer here with three goals but there remains a feeling that the 29-year-old, who thrives in a counter-attacking team like Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid, may not be an ideal fit for Spain.
His battering ram style looks at odds with a side that still prioritizes possession and slick triangular passing, hallmarks of their tiki-taka revolution that delivered two European championships and the World Cup from 2008 to 2012.
The Brazil-born Costa was anonymous for long periods against Morocco, struggling to find pockets of space against the African side's deep-lying defence. The introduction of Iago Aspas, who replaced Costa in the 74th minute, provided Spain with an immediate spark and Hierro might be tempted to start the Celta Vigo player on Sunday, either as a false nine or on a wing.
Hierro also seems undecided about how to set up his midfield, having chopped and changed personnel and formations in the first three matches.
Thiago Alcantara failed to impress in his first start for the tournament against Morocco and an opportunity may be given to Atletico Madrid's Koke against Russia.
The fact that defender Sergio Ramos has completed more passes than anyone in the group stage says a lot about a side that saw a lot of the ball but didn't do much with it.
However, they will hope that Russia will offer them more space than a defensive Iran did. If Russia do open up, the Spanish should have more than enough quality to beat them.
The host nation have a tough task to get past the Spanish, especially after Uruguay exposed their weaknesses in their last group match.
However, Russia can expect help from the 81,000 fans in the Luzhniki Stadium and will also take heart from the fact Spain have never beaten a host nation in a major tournament.
Their best hope will be to play a high-energy pressing game in their own half and look for Denis Cheryshev to exploit spaces behind a Spanish defense which tends to push to the halfway line.
Team speak
Russia's World Cup topscorer Denis Cheryshev says the hosts can hurt 2010 winners Spain in the World Cup last 16 despite the huge disparity in talent between the two teams.
Russia entered the tournament as the lowest-ranked side, at 70th in the world, but comprehensive wins over Saudi Arabia and Egypt have boosted expectations.
Now they must find a way past title contenders Spain to prolong their run after reaching the knockout phase for the first time in the post-Soviet era. Villarreal winger Cheryshev, who has scored three goals so far, is looking to exploit a surprisingly suspect Spain defence.
Fernando Hierro's side have conceded five goals in three matches, with questions in particular over the form of Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea.
"That's my intention as a forward," said Cheryshev.
"Spain have some great players and might even be the best team in the world, in any case they're close to being the best. But any team can hurt another and we'll certainly do our best."
Cheryshev is no stranger to Spanish football, having spent most of his life in the country and come up through the Real Madrid youth system.
"I'm sure we're going to have a hard time and I repeat we know they're excellent and can play very well," he said. "But we also have our assets and we'll have to take advantage of them.
"However, I think that we can win against anybody, we can always win and that's what we need to believe, just think about victory."
Russia will have the support of most of the 80,000 fans at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, and Cheryshev is hoping the team can deliver a performance they will remember.
"I think for us tomorrow has to be a party, especially for the fans. They need to enjoy the match and we need to give 200 percent.
"We are playing at home but I think the team is relaxed and very much ready to do a good job." Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov said it was a "life and death match".
"It's not a pressure," he said. "I believe there is a responsibility, Spain feels this and so does Russia. If you lose this you're out.
"This is something like an exam in Russian -- what you write your teacher or professor will read and check and you can't change anything."
Russia drew 3-3 with Spain in a friendly in Saint Petersburg in November, but former national team goalkeeper Cherchesov said much had changed since then.
"It was like a test game, tomorrow is an official game. They are two different things," said the 54-year-old.

Messi's Argentina out of World Cup as Mbappe-inspired France win 4-3

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

DefExpo 2018: Indian and Russian firms sign 7 deals for defence hardware

As a result of year-long talks between the governments of India and Russia on availability of spare parts for defence equipment this country had bought from there, seven agreements were signed between Indian and Russian companies on Friday at the Defence Expo in Chennai, for indigenous manufacture.
The ministry of defence had identified 48 items covering all major platforms which can be made in India with Russian collaboration. The products to get support include helicopters, aircraft and naval systems.

In the Third India-Russia Military Industrial Conference between the two countries, held at DefExpo 18, the Indian manufacturers and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) from Russia had discussion on the final aspects before the signing.
Larsen & Toubro signed one deal for various programmes of the navy and for Future Ready Combat Vehicles (FRCV) and rockets' co-production on Indian territory. Ananth Technologies signed an agreement for opto-electric sighting and navigation for Su-30MKI aircraft. Ananth also signed one to to set up technical and logistics support in India for the T90-S and T72 tanks in service with the army.
Sukhoi Su-30 military jet Visitors look at a model of the Sukhoi Su-30 military jet on the third day of Defexpo 2018 in Chennai on Friday. Photo: PTI
Russian Company JSC AGAT signed agreements for after-sale support and modernisation of the Fregat radar, installed on Indian naval ships.
Ajay Kumar, secretary, defence production, said the first meet was in Delhi in March 2017, to address the issue of maintenance and lifecycle support of Russian-origin defence platforms in India, by facilitating production of spare parts in the country.
Several procedural issues related to transfer of technology, setting up of joint ventures (JVs), intellectual property rights, and others have been discussed.
Four platforms - 231 Mark-I aircraft, INS Vikramaditya, MiG-29K aircraft and Mil Mi-17 helicopters - were identified for manufacturing of components and spares in India through transfer of technology, partnerships and JVs with the Russian OEMs.
At the second conference in August 2017, as many as 39 Indian companies and 32 Russian ones were engaged in discussion, apart from the Indian and Russian authorities. The armed forces in India and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd undertook an exercise, to identify Indian industry partners which could manufacture the specific spares and components. The list was shared with the Russian counterparts and further discussion has been held by industry representatives from both sides.
The new deals would pave way for transfer of technology for some identified spares and there would be concerted effort for more such initiatives, it was stated.
DRDO outlines investment plans
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has earmarked 25-30 per cent of its ~180-billion Budget allocation for new projects, including developing an unmanned aerial vehicle for border surveillance. It has lined up several projects in various verticals for future development, including missiles, said S Christopher, chairman of DRDO.
C P Ramanarayanan, director-general (aeronautical systems), said the organisation is planning to complete the payload trials by this year end.
The department has received 270 patents in the last three years.
DRDO, along with two private agencies as production partners, has designed and developed an advanced Towed Artillery Gun System.
On exports, he said the organisation has exported naval system worth $37.9 million. DRDO is in talks to export some of the missiles. It is planning to develop an anti-tank missile, which can be launched from both helicopter and from the ground.

Spy row: Russia expels diplomats from 23 countries in tit-for-tat measure

Russia expelled diplomats from 23 countries on Friday in retaliation against the West in a spy row, in the biggest wave of tit-for-tat expulsions in recent memory.
The Russian foreign ministry said it had summoned the heads of missions from 23 countries -- almost all of them European Union member states -- to tell them that some of their diplomats had to leave.

The diplomats from France, Canada, Germany, Australia and other countries were earlier seen arriving at the Russian foreign ministry in flagged official cars.
France, Germany and Poland each said that Russia was expelling four of their diplomats. Among the other countries that had similarly been told to pull their envoys were the Netherlands, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Finland, Lithuania and Norway.
Thirteen Ukrainian diplomats should also leave Russia.
The moves came in retaliation for the coordinated expulsion of Russian diplomats by Britain and its allies over a nerve agent attack against former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English city of Salisbury on March 4.
"This is certainly not a surprise," Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok said through a spokeswoman, referring to Moscow's expulsion of two of the country's diplomats.
Blok called upon Russia to cooperate with the ongoing investigation into the attack by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
The Russian foreign ministry also gave Britain a month to cut the number of diplomatic staff in Russia to the same number Russia has in Britain.
In Britain, the government called the latest developments "regrettable" but remained adamant that Russia was in the wrong.
"This doesn't change the facts of the matter: the attempted assassination of two people on British soil, for which there is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian State was culpable," a spokeswoman for Britain's Foreign Office said.
Russia also said it reserved the right to respond to the recent expulsion of Russian diplomats by Belgium, Hungary, Georgia and Montenegro.
In the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin presided over a meeting of the country's Security Council which discussed the most recent retaliatory steps against Britain and its allies.
The Kremlin insisted it was not Russia that had started the diplomatic war with the West.
"Russia did not unleash any diplomatic war," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "Russia never initiated any exchange of sanctions."
Yesterday, Moscow had announced that it would expel 60 US diplomats and close the US consulate in Saint Petersburg after the expulsion of its own diplomats and the closure of one of its US consulates.
In all, more than 150 Russian diplomats have been ordered out of the US, EU members, NATO countries and other nations which are accusing Russia of being involved in the Skripal poisoning.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said Moscow would respond with "tit-for-tat" measures, but they might "not only" be symmetrical.
On the streets in Saint Petersburg, passersby said they welcomed the decision to shut down the US consulate general in the city.
"This is great news," said Viktor Glushko, 60.
"It is about time. Relations will not get worse because they were never good and we will get by without them." Another man shouted: "Get out of here!" as he passed by the US consulate where staff were seen loading plastic sacks into vehicles today.
In Washington, the State Department said yesterday there was no justification for the Russian move and that the United States "reserves the right to respond".
"It's clear from the list provided to us that the Russian Federation is not interested in a dialogue on issues that matter to our two countries," spokeswoman Heather Nauert said of the expelled diplomats.
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Russia's expulsion of US diplomats marked a "further deterioration" in relations.
The hospital where Skripal and his daughter are being treated said yesterday that Yulia, 33, was "improving rapidly and is no longer in a critical condition", while 66-year-old Sergei remained in a critical but stable condition.
Britain has said it is "highly likely" that Russia was responsible for the attack using the Novichok nerve agent developed in the Soviet Union, but Russia has angrily denied any involvement.
Russia said 58 diplomats from the US embassy in Moscow and two from the consulate in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg have to leave Russia by next Thursday.
The US consulate general in Saint Petersburg will have to be vacated by Saturday.
Moscow warned that it could take further measures in response if Washington "continued hostile actions" against the Russian embassy and consulates.
After the poisoning, Britain reacted by announcing it would expel 23 Russian diplomats, suspend high-level diplomatic contact with Moscow and not send any members of the royal family to the 2018 football World Cup hosted by Russia.
Russia then responded by closing a British consulate in Saint Petersburg and the British Council educational and cultural organisation.