Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates who narrowly escaped being ousted from the first round of the World Cup against Nigeria are set for a fresh crunch battle.
The World Cup knockout stages get underway as heavyweights France and Argentina go head-to-head at the Kazan Arena.
While Argentina scraped through to the knockout stages finishing as runners-up to Croatia, Les Bleus, came top of Group C after two wins and a draw.
The winner of today’s bout will play either Uruguay or Portugal in the quarter-finals on Friday, July 6 at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.
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Kickoff is 3pm
France Starting XI : Lloris, Hernandez, Umtiti, Varane, Pavard, Kante, Pogba, Matuidi, Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud
Argentina Starting XI: Armani, Mercado, Tagliafico, Mascherano, Rojo, Otamendi, Banega, Di Maria, Perez, Pavon, Messi
France get the game underway
Argentina dominating early proceedings… Ball possession: France: 39%, Argentina: 61%.
Free kick for France in a dangerous position from 25 yards
Pogba… Griezman plan for the kick
CHANCE!! A magnificent strike from Griezmann rattles the cross bar… France almost getting the lead
A penalty for France… The Iranian referee points to the spot
Kylian Mbappe wins the spot-kick after a dashing run into the Argentina box
Marcos Rojo gets a yellow card
GOAL!!!! Griezmann gives France the lead in the 13th minute from the spot
Two goals now for Griezmann at Russia 2018 both coming from the penalty spot
Interestingly, France has never lost once Griezmann scores for them
Argentina win a corner kick at the left flank as they seek to get back into the game
Mbappe brought down again just outside the box this time
The pace of the 19-year old causing lot of problems for the ageing Argentina defenders
Argentina quite lucky as the free kick is just six inches outside the penalty box
Pogba blasts the ball over the wall and the bar… Goal kick to Argentina
SAVE.. Hugo Lloris stops a chance by Argentina
Argentina have enjoyed 69% of the ball possession so far compared to France’s 31%
Mercardo appeals for handball against France Umtiti but referee waves that aside
Giroud fails with his ball control and Argentina makes a quick clearance from their box
So far Lionel Messi has been quiet… too early to say it is over for the Barcelona man
Mbappe unable to dribble past his marker after receiving a good pass from Pogba
FREE KICK .. Mascherano brings down Pogba…
France have never lost in the Round of 16 .. at the last World Cup in Brazil, they beat Nigeria
Giroud and Otamendi in a clash of studs
Messi goes down in the penalty box but no penalty for Argentina
Almost… Giroud jumps high but fails to get the connecting header
