5 reasons why France will beat Argentina

Argentina were one of the teams to watch out for in this edition of FIFA World Cup 2018, but so far in terms of football, they have been nothing but disappointment. Lionel Messi hasn't been able to produce the kind of form he has for Barca and it can be easily said that Argentina are lucky to be in next round.

Though Lionel Messi has stated that the World Cup starts now for Argentina but they will have to face one of the tournament favourites France in the Round of 16 as they finished second in their group behind Croatia.

While for France Didier Deschamps hasn't been able to make the players tick together as a team, but to due to their quality and depth they have been able to nick away results. Currently, they are finding it difficult to find their rhythm in the game.

But despite their inability to find their rhythm as a team, they have more than enough players to win them games on individual quality and their first two games are a testament of that and this could help them to have a good run in the tournament.

Thus it would be an interesting tie because both of them are big heavyweights in the tournament, France have quality in all departments, whereas for Argentina even substitutions are made by asking Leo Messi.

Based on current form it will be safe to say that France are clear favourites to win the tie and advance to the next round and here are 5 reasons as to why they will do so.

#1 You got Messi, we have Kante and many others

Kante and Messi are key players for their teams.

This is what the French fans must be saying because on individual basis France don't have any player in the attacking department as good as Messi. But in Kante, they do have the best defensive midfielder in the world.

Even in world football right now, Kante seems to be the only player who is capable of limiting the influence Lionel Messi can have in a game of football.

Messi will also not enjoy the advantage of having a low centre of gravity as he does against big opponents as like him Kante is also small in size and he has endless stamina. It would be a difficult battle for both the players.

And even if Messi manages to get the better of Kante he will have another wall of Umtiti and Varane to beat Hugo Lloris for the goal.

#2 Weak Defense of Argentina

Argentina's

defense

has been very poor this World Cup

Football is a team game and a common feature of all successful teams is a strong defence, which is why teams are built from the back. WIth a strong defence, there are fewer chances of conceding and that helps the team to stay in the game.

While Argentina have failed to keep clean sheets in all three games in the group stage and conceded 5 goals in 3 matches.

This current French team is filled with players who won't need the second invitation to score and considering how open Argentina have been at the back could prove to be a shortcoming for the La Albiceleste.

The likes of Mbaape, Giroud and Grezimann could exploit Argentina's weak defence and their case can be further strengthened due to Argentina's weak defending so far in the tournament.

#3 Heavy reliance on Messi

What would Argentina do if Leo Messi is not at his best?

With all his qualities and the amount of joy Lionel Messi has given to the world of football, some could argue that he is not human, but the truth is despite all his success and quality he still human and he could have an off day.

This current Argentina team if filled with good attacking options like Higuain, Aguero, Dybala and Di Maria but the brilliance of Lionel Messi is clearly overshadowing them as a result of which they are heavily reliant on him.

And too much of anything is not good, if Leo Messi has an off day against France or if Kante makes him less influential what will Argentina do and to whom will they look up to?

Messi is one of their biggest strengths and makes Argentina one of the most feared teams in the tournaments but so far with him, they have failed to become a balanced team and his presence has also denied the rise of another talismanic player on the pitch for Argentina.

#4 France can dominate the midfield

French midfield looks more solid when compared to Argentina.

If we look at the midfield of the past two teams that have won the World Cup in 2010 and 2014 we can conclude that not only a good defense but both Spain and Germany had a midfield as well.

This helped them dominate the game for them and provided them with an extra man both in attack as well as defense.

The French midfield right now looks very solid with Kante, Pogba, Matuidi and Tolisso. While for Argentina only Banega has turned up in the midfield and based on current form and individual ability it looks like France have an upper hand.

Their domination in the midfield would definitely give them an advantage in the game and it would help them open up Argentina's defense and at the same time frustrate them when they are attacking.

#5 France have game changers

France have players who can change the game for them off the bench

The quality and depth in this current French team is simply unrealistic and this is what many have claimed to be their strength which makes them one of the favourites for the tournament

France are likely to start with Mbappe, Grezimann and Dembele and if Argentina forces them to go out wide they will have either have midfielders their midfielders make a run and create a new passing line or they have to swing balls inside the box.

It's likely that France, if they start the above three, swing in crosses. Rather they would prefer to tire the opposition out with constant possession and passes. And if that is not good enough they can bring in their trump card that is Oliver Giroud.

The Chelsea striker was a super sub for Arsenal and he knows how to win games by coming off the bench. Not only him, if things are not going their way they have the likes of Fekir and Lemar as well to change the game for them.