France 4-3 Argentina: 5 Talking Points as Argentina crash out of World Cup 2018

#4 Moment of rare brilliance in Russia from Angel di Maria

Di Maria with the spectacular

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.