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

#3 Argentina take the lead against the run of play and with a huge chunk of fortune

Mercado with the leveller.

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.