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SCORE: (Griezmann(P) 13'; Pavard 57'; Mbappe 64',68') France 4-3 Argentina (di Maria 41'; Mercado 48'; Aguero 93')
France and Argentina played out a World Cup classic in a seven-goal encounter in the first Round of Sixteen fixture. Both sides have been below par so far in the competition with Argentina securing progression in the final moments of the game against Nigeria.
France, meanwhile, have struggled to get their rhythm going in Russia and struggled to put away minnows Australia and Peru with both sides pushing them all the way, and only squeezed past the group stage.
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On the night, it was the antics of a certain teenager that overshadowed the wealth of talent on the field for France and the great Lionel Messi. In a game filled with chances, goals and numerous Talking Points, we managed to pick out 5 of them:
#5 Mbappe shocks Argentina back into their shell
Kylian Mbappe is one of the most promising talents of his generation and is the second most expensive transfer in the history of the game. He will cost PSG around £166 million to get him permanently on their books after a loan season in the previous campaign.
The striker rose to prominence after a stellar season with Monaco, a couple of seasons ago, in which he breached the 30 mark with his goal tally. Not bad for someone who is still just 19 years old. An epic battle to win his signature ensued among the biggest clubs in the world but it was the Parisians who finally managed to lure the youngster to Parc des Princes.
He has been one of the brightest spots in a fairly lethargic-looking France unit in the competition so far and has used his pace and control to devastating effect for his side.
That blistering pace and competent close control were at display in the Round of Sixteen against Argentina too, as he picked up the ball deep inside his own half and rocketed past three players and before you knew it he was on the edge of the opposition penalty area.
He then poked the ball past Marcus Rojo who decided to take matters into his own hands and, rather foolishly, hauled the striker inside the 18-yard box and referee pointed to the spot.
Griezmann stepped up and slotted it calmly into the net after sending the keeper the wrong way.
#4 Moment of rare brilliance in Russia from Angel di Maria
The only offensive player apart from Lionel Messi of course, who has started each game in Russia for Argentina so far is Angel di Maria. And there is a fair argument to be made that he has been one of the least effective in the side and has looked a mere shadow of himself for his national side; in sharp contrast to his performances in Brazil, four years ago.
He was non-existent against Iceland and should've been dropped for the game against Croatia. He wasn't and somehow put in an even more pathetic performance in their 3-0 demolition at the hands of Modric's side. That ought to have been the final straw.
With reports suggesting that Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano are making the team selections for the games since Nigeria after a rift with manager Jorge Sampaoli, Di Maria kept his place in the starting lineup. He started in the same vein as he had the previous three fixtures and was having as ineffective a game as he had for any of the whole array of sides he's played for.
The law of averages meant that things could only pick up. And they did. And how! With Argentina struggling to charter a course back into the proceedings. He found himself on the ball, 30 yards from goal and let one fly.
The ball angled away from the helpless Hugo Lloris in goal and cannoned into the inside side-netting. A contender for the goal of the tournament from one of the most underwhelming players in the tournament so far.
#3 Argentina take the lead against the run of play and with a huge chunk of fortune
The second half got off to the most unlikely start imaginable. After dominating the entirety of the first half in which France ought to have at least doubled their lead as they carved open the Argentine defence time and again. A stunning effort by Antoine Griezmann from a dead-ball situation rattled off the crossbar, with the keeper stranded, inside the opening exchanges of the game.
Angel di Maria's leveller came out of nowhere and most expected France to resume dictating proceedings after the restart. However, Argentina found themselves deep inside the opposition territory in the opening moments of the second period and were awarded a free-kick close to the corner flag. The ball whipped in made its way to Lionel Messi who looked to get a shot away with a hopeful effort. Mercado was in the line of the shot and in an attempt to get out of the way managed to inadvertently find the back of the net.
A huge chunk of luck was needed to put the South Americans in the lead but it seemed to trigger the French side as they upped the ante in search of an equalizer.
#2 Kylian Mbappe garbs his moment and the game by the scruff of its neck
After becoming the youngest French player to score in the World Cup against Peru, Kylian Mbappe went on to cement his position as one of the best in the game at the moment against Argentina in the Round of Sixteen.
His blistering pace was the reason why France won the penalty for the opening goal of the night and he was the man who put them back into the lead after Paved had levelled things up for France thanks to one of the most astonishing goals in the competition so far.
Mbappe showed quick feet, and even quicker presence of mind, inside a crowded opposition penalty area to create a couple of yards of space and then rifled the ball past the keeper and France were back on course to qualify for the quarterfinals.
He made it certain with a second; gave his side a two-goal buffer and knocked the wind out of Argentina's sails. Olivier Giroud found himself on the ball on the edge of the box and was charged by the Argentine defender. Giroud knicked it past the defence with a clever ball and it had the perfect weight on it for the teenager to complete his brace on the night.
#1 Lionel Messi's last World Cup game?
Despite a moment of brilliance by Lionel Messi to find Aguero for the consolation goal for Argentina, the maestro wasn't able to drag his side over the line in the first round of knockout fixtures.
Argentina bow out of the World Cup and it is France who go through at their expense. With all the speculation over the future of Messi's international career, we can't help but wonder if we have seen the last of, possibly, the greatest of all time on the biggest stage in the world.
Messi had announced he would be stepping down from the national side after the loss in the Copa America final to Chile but was convinced to come out of retirement for the World Cup in Russia and there will be plenty of speculation regarding that happening again.
We can only hope, as football fans, that Messi decides to stick around a little longer with Argentina.
