Kazan: Teenage star Kylian Mbappe struck twice and created another goal as France finally found their attacking edge to beat Lionel Messi’s Argentina 4-3 and move into the quarterfinals of the World Cup here, Saturday.
Billed as Messi’s chance to reignite stuttering Argentina’s hopes, the thrilling last 16 clash here instead saw the 19-year-old Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe grab the limelight as he became the youngest player since Pele in 1958 to score two goals in a World Cup match.
Embattled Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli had promised an ‘aggressive, attacking’ approach from his side. But his fears over the superior speed of the French strikers were quickly proven right when Mbappe sprinted from his own half until he was hauled down by Marcos Rojo. Up stepped Antoine Griezmann and coolly converted the 13th minute penalty.
But Mbappe’s PSG teammate Angel di Maria levelled with a 41st minute long-range stunner and the South Americans were back in what was proving a superb match.
Argentina took a 2-1 lead, minutes after the restart when Gabriel Mercado clipped Messi’s low curling shot past Hugo Lloris, but that was Messi’s only real contribution in the match.
Defender Benjamin Pavard’s stunning half-volley levelled for France on 57 minutes and as Argentina lost hope, Mbappe struck in the 64th and 68th minute to seal France’s place in the last eight.
Argentine had calls for first half penalties too when the ball skimmed Samuel Umtiti’s arm, then when Messi tumbled as he was played into the area, were waved away.
France had looked in control, but the stakes changed dramatically minutes before the interval. Cristian Pavon, on the left flank, found Di Maria unmarked 25 yards out from goal and the latter unleashed a thunderbolt that flew past a diving Lloris and into the top right-hand corner.
Di Maria, one of several Albiceleste players criticised for under-perfoming in their group games, made amends by setting up Argentina’s second.
He twisted and turned on the left side of the area to win a free-kick, after Pavard’s tug, and when Banega’s free kick was cleared by Pogba it fell to Messi. His curled shot looked innocuous, but Mercado stuck a foot out to wrong-footed Lloris.
Minutes later, Les Bleus were level, Pavard matching Di Maria’s effort with a superbly-struck half-volley with the outside of his right boot that spun past Argentina ‘keeper Franco Armani after Blaise Matuidi’s wayward cross found the Stuttgart defender.
And then came the Mbappe moments. When Matuidi’s shot was blocked just after the hour, Mbappe was on hand to restore France’s lead with a low shot past Armani. Four minutes later the teenager ran on to Olivier Giroud’s perfect pass to beat Armani and put the final nail on the Argentine coffin.
