The Sunday News
TEENAGE star Kylian Mbappe struck twice and earned another goal as France finally found their attacking edge to beat Lionel Messi’s Argentina 4-3 and move into the quarter-finals of the Soccer World Cup yesterday.
Billed as Messi’s chance to reignite stuttering Argentina’s hopes, the thrilling last 16 clash in Kazan instead saw 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.
Antoine Griezmann coolly converted the 13th minute penalty.
But Mbappe’s PSG team-mate 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. The last time France lost a World Cup game after taking the lead was in 1982, against Poland.
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 he 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 underperforming 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.
Despite a late consolation for Argentinan when Sergio Aguero headed Messi’s superb long cross past Lloris in stoppage time, Mbappe had already well and truly stolen the show.
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 on a France counter to drive it low past Armani and spark mass celebrations on the French bench.
Edinson Cavani scored twice to secure Uruguay’s path to the World Cup last eight as Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal crashed out of the tournament in a 2-1 defeat.
Cavani gave Uruguay a seventh-minute lead before Pepe equalised 10 minutes after half-time, but a 67th-minute winner secured Uruguay’s place in the quarter-finals where they will face France on Friday.
Uruguay welcomed back the central defender Jose Giménez for their World Cup last‑16 clash in Sochi. The Atlético Madrid star missed the 3-0 victory against Russia but he replaced Sebastian Coates in the only change to a Uruguay side which again saw Cavani and Luis Suárez spearhead the attack.
Portugal made three changes from the XI which drew 1-1 with Iran on Monday to secure second spot in Group B.
Ronaldo wore the armband as the European champions brought in Ricardo, Goncalo Guedes and Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva, with Cédric Soares, Ricardo Quaresma and André Silva dropping out.
Uruguay took a seventh-minute lead through Cavani’s close-range header. He sprayed a wonderful diagonal ball to Suárez before breaking into the area and finishing his fellow forward’s cross at the far post.
Portugal had started brightly with Fernando Muslera holding Ronaldo’s 20-yard attempt.
Cavani’s goal was the difference at half-time. Uruguay had not conceded in their previous six games and it showed as a well-organised defence frustrated Ronaldo and company. Portugal improved after the restart and they were rewarded when Pepe headed an equaliser on 55 minutes. Uruguay were caught napping from a short corner and Raphael Guerreiro’s cross cleared the head of Ronaldo before the centre-back Pepe gave Muslera no chance. But Uruguay were back in front seven minutes later when Rodrigo Betancur freed Cavani and the Paris Saint‑Germain striker curled home his second of the night. — AFP/Guardian
