France end Messi’s Cup dream in seven-goal thriller
ON the eve of this blockbuster last-16 match, full of storylines, France captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris was asked to compare his compatriot Kylian Mbappe with Lionel Messi. Lloris noted that it was difficult to compare the teen sensation to the Argentina great but said Mbappe’s ‘explosive pace’ was his greatest asset. So it proved.
In an absolutely enthralling first knockout round match of this FIFA World Cup, Argentina had no answer to Mbappe’s searing speed and acceleration. The 4-3 scoreline here at the Kazan Arena on Saturday wasn’t a reflection how Mbappe and France blew them away in an utterly dominant performance in which Argentina only had a few moments.
The defeat potentially means Argentina talisman Lionel Messi will end his career without a World Cup. At 31, this tournament in Russia seemed his last crack at world glory.
After the match, as France players celebrated, Messi stood at the centre of the pitch, surrounded by his team-mates. There were tears from Argentina goalkeeper Franco Armani and Messi headed back into the dressing room with a stunned look on his face. Driving this Argentina team, with such a soft centre, to the World Cup was a task too much for him.
At least, their journey at the World Cup ended with a game that will be remembered for ages. This, the pick of the ties of the last-16 round, had everything: spectacular goals, end-to-end action, riveting drama and emotion. It was an action-packed game that swung from one side to the other, the momentum shifting with the brilliance of those on the pitch. Mbappe entered the pitch with a grin on his face, all others seemed to be having stage-fright and in a goal-fest, it was he who stood out.
After Antoine Griezmann’s penalty had given France the lead in the 13th minute, Argentina levelled courtesy a sublime strike from Angel Di Maria and took the lead in the early stages of the second-half after Gabriel Mercado deflected in Messi’s goalbound effort.