In my pre match evaluation I had mentioned that on paper, France looks a better team, though Argentina may tip the scales through one mesmerising Messi. However, despite the Messi magic, raising hopes briefly, the Albiceleste defence leaked goals like rains in monsoon, allowing a deserving France to runaway with a victory.
The match started with the Argentinians looking to dominate, but the nippy French forwards were outracing the wobbly Latin Americans on swift counter attacks. Within the first 10 minutes, Greizmann rattled the crossbar with a stunning free kick from just outside the box, & almost immediately thereafter, Kylian Mbappe making a solo run into the Argentinian box, was brought down heavily by Rojo, as the referee pointed to the dreaded spot. Greizmann coolly converted the penalty to take France up 1-0. Argentina, desperate for an equaliser, kept pressing hard, & just before the end of the first half, in one of the rare defensive lapses by France, Di Maria, received the ball from Banega, & unleashed a stunning left footer, from almost 30 yards, that curled to arc away from the French goalkeeper, Lloris into the net. The stadium erupted into frenzy, as the score levelled at 1-1. Almost immediately after the half time break, Argentina went ahead, as Mercado stuck his toe to a Leo Messi shot inside the box & deflected the ball into the net past a hapless Lloris, 2-1.
At this stage, one expected Argentina to hold possession & control the game, but their celebrations were cruelly cut to pieces, as the frail & wobbly defence simply catapulted to the waves of marauding French attacks. Within a space of 10 -12 minutes, three goals were conceded, as Messi & co looked bulldozed into submission. First, Pavard, capitalising on a sleepy defence, equalised with a fantastic curling shot past a diving Armani & then Mbappe tore the Argentinian defence to shreds, scoring two goals in quick succession. Suddenly, France was leading 4-2 in an astonishing change of events, & were looking good to add more to the tally. In the stoppage time, Messi managed to conjure a brilliant cross into the box for a rising substitute Aguero, to head in, 4-3, but it was too late for any further magic, as France sent Argentina packing home. Man of the match, 19 year old Kylian Mbappe became only the second teenager after Brazil's legendary Pele in 1958, to score two goals in a World Cup match. Surely a star in the making for future.
A forlorn Messi, goes back empty handed from yet another World Cup, as Argentina's stuttering campaign comes to an end - they had their chances today, but defensive frailties cost them dear.
A fantastic match, that saw seven goals scored, all of them a treat to watch, & in the end, the better team won.
The match started with the Argentinians looking to dominate, but the nippy French forwards were outracing the wobbly Latin Americans on swift counter attacks. Within the first 10 minutes, Greizmann rattled the crossbar with a stunning free kick from just outside the box, & almost immediately thereafter, Kylian Mbappe making a solo run into the Argentinian box, was brought down heavily by Rojo, as the referee pointed to the dreaded spot. Greizmann coolly converted the penalty to take France up 1-0. Argentina, desperate for an equaliser, kept pressing hard, & just before the end of the first half, in one of the rare defensive lapses by France, Di Maria, received the ball from Banega, & unleashed a stunning left footer, from almost 30 yards, that curled to arc away from the French goalkeeper, Lloris into the net. The stadium erupted into frenzy, as the score levelled at 1-1. Almost immediately after the half time break, Argentina went ahead, as Mercado stuck his toe to a Leo Messi shot inside the box & deflected the ball into the net past a hapless Lloris, 2-1.
At this stage, one expected Argentina to hold possession & control the game, but their celebrations were cruelly cut to pieces, as the frail & wobbly defence simply catapulted to the waves of marauding French attacks. Within a space of 10 -12 minutes, three goals were conceded, as Messi & co looked bulldozed into submission. First, Pavard, capitalising on a sleepy defence, equalised with a fantastic curling shot past a diving Armani & then Mbappe tore the Argentinian defence to shreds, scoring two goals in quick succession. Suddenly, France was leading 4-2 in an astonishing change of events, & were looking good to add more to the tally. In the stoppage time, Messi managed to conjure a brilliant cross into the box for a rising substitute Aguero, to head in, 4-3, but it was too late for any further magic, as France sent Argentina packing home. Man of the match, 19 year old Kylian Mbappe became only the second teenager after Brazil's legendary Pele in 1958, to score two goals in a World Cup match. Surely a star in the making for future.
A forlorn Messi, goes back empty handed from yet another World Cup, as Argentina's stuttering campaign comes to an end - they had their chances today, but defensive frailties cost them dear.
A fantastic match, that saw seven goals scored, all of them a treat to watch, & in the end, the better team won.
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