Match Report - Argentina V France: Mbappe steals Messi’s headlines to blast France into the Quarter-finals

The knockout stages kicked off in style on Friday afternoon when France met Argentina in Kazan. The game delivered exactly what any football fan would have asked of a World Cup knockout match with; Seven goals, two stunning strikes, a penalty, the lead changing hands more than often of yellow cards given and even a fortnite celebration to top it all off. 

Both teams went into the match knowing that they hadn’t reached their potential as of yet in this tournament, but as always in the World Cup, the knockout stages brings the best out of everyone, especially Monoco graduate Kylian Mbappe who used this game to steal Messi's headlines and send the Argentineans home. 

This might have had all the ingredients to become one of the games of the tournaments but all the headlines in the morning papers will have one man on the back of them. Kylian Mbappe. The 19-year old wonder kid who has already changed hands for 200m euros and has now fired France into the quarterfinals. 

In the opening minutes he showed how dangerous his pace could be when he dribbled past one, then two defenders to only be brought down by the third which awarded France a free-kick. Mbappe’s compatriot, Antione Griezmann blasted it onto the bar, which set the tone and tempo for the rest of the match. 

Just like Argentina’s two opening group games, it was never to be for Lionel Messi as his team was outshone by a teenager who was not even born when France won their last World Cup in 1998. The Barcelona forward struggled to make an impact throughout the game as he was let down by Argentina’s poor midfield and headless defense which struggled against Iceland’s part-time dentist and a Nigerian bench warmer at Leicester. 

Despite scoring three goals, Argentina lacked a clear identity and defensive clarity. Their goals either came from a moment of individual quality, like Di Maria’s wonder strike and Aguero’s header or sheer luck like Mercado’s deflection. 

Jorge Sampaoli’s decision to bring on Maximiliano Meza instead of  Palo Dybala, who has more goals (26) for Juventus than he has minutes at the World Cup (22),  in the 75^thminute epitomised Sampaoli's World Cup as it like he was throwing his resignation letter onto the pitch rather than a lifeline to try and get his side back into the match. 

Argentina started the on the front foot as all front six players all did what all Sampaoli’s sides are bred to do, press. This was only to be a glimpse of what this Argentina side could achieve as it was undone by another of Kylian Mbappe’s 77-yard runs from his own half that led to the penalty that put France ahead. The run was reminiscent of Michael Owen's goal against Argentina in 1998, as Mbappe mimicked Owen's direct run that made the Argentinean defenders look like cones. 

After Griezzman converted the penalty he ran over to the corner flag, pressed the down arrow on his controller, flicked his left toggle up and did the ‘Taking the L’ fortnite emote, which would become the forecast of Argentina’s game. 

In a blink of an eye, Angel Di Maria’s sensational strike and Mercado’s deflection put Argentina ahead. French full-back, Pavard then went on to score his first goal for France by bettering Di Maria’s strike with a slice volley which found the top corner and made the game 2-2. 

The match looked destined to go extra-time and penalties as for a moment as both teams looked like they had run out of ideas. Then Mbappe stepped in to use the occasion to showcase his own idea that this game would become the changing of the guard, which will see Messi step down from his pedestal and Mbappe state his claim that he will be next to stand there. 

Within four minutes the PSG forward scored two goals that put the game to bed and Messi on the plane home. His first saw him gain control of the ball inside the box and in a heartbeat, flick it into a tight space before putting it through Franco Armani’s legs. The second was a first touch finish that was rolled into the bottom corner with pace. The goals make Mbappe the first teenager to score two or more goals in a World Cup since Pele. 

In Messi and Mbappe you see two men (or a man and boy) who portray what football can do to individuals at different times in their careers. In Mbappe, you see a young boy playing with the freedom and hunger that Messi once had, that allowed him to take the stage last night in Kazan. With Messi, you see a world-class player who is bowing out of what will most certainly be his last world cup with bruises from trying to carry a poor national team to greatness. Mbappe will be hoping that he can follow the footsteps of Lionel Messi, but end his international career in better circumstances.