World Cup LIVE: France vs Argentina latest score and goals; Angel Di Maria screamer levels

The World Cup knockout stages get underway as heavyweights France and Argentina go head-to-head at the Kazan Arena.

Argentina scraped through to the knockout stages following a dramatic victory over Nigeria in their last group match, finishing as runners-up to Croatia.

Les Bleus, meanwhile, came top of Group C after two wins and a draw.

Today could be the final time we see Lionel Messi on the World Cup stage, unless the maestro can mastermind a win against one of the pre-tournament favourites.

The winner of today’s bout will play either Uruguay or Portugal in the quarter-finals on Friday July 6 at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium.

FRANCE 1-1 ARGENTINA – GRIEZMANN (13), DI MARIA (41)

France XI: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez, Kante, Pogba; Mbappe, Griezmann, Matuidi, Giroud.

Argentina XI: Armani, Mercado, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico, Mascherano, Enzo Perez, Banega, Pavon, Messi, Di Maria.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Thomas: Amazing that Argentina are still in it and still have three world class strikers to call on in the second half.

Trevor: Just goes to show – France have dominated most of the half, and yet one moment of brilliance and its level at HT. It’s goals that count and all that…

Bob: Supporting France would drive me nuts, they could beat any team in the world, but as soon as they score they go to sleep and let their opponents back in the game.

JP: Olivier Giroud up front in this France team is like having a bag of pickled onion Monster Munch with your fine red wine.

That’s unfair, JP. Let’s say he’s a pack of Quavers…

FRANCE 1-1 ARGENTINA

HT: Don’t ask me how, but Argentina and France are level at the break.

Didier Deschamps side have been excellent and could have scored two or three but one moment of sheer brilliance from Angel Di Maria has pulled Argentina back from the brink.

47: Both of Angel Di Maria’s World Cup goals have come in round of 16 matches (vs Switzerland in 2014 and vs France today).

45: Two minutes of added time.

FRANCE 1-1 ARGENTINA

43: France look shocked. They’ve bossed this match and somehow find themselves level. Angel Di Maria’s strike came from nowhere.

FRANCE 1-1 ARGENTINA – DI MARIA

41: Wow! Just wow…

Angel Di Maria has scored an absolute thunderbolt. No goalkeeper on earth is getting anywhere near that.

Ever Banega shifts it across to PSG star Di Maria, who BANGS it from 25-yards into the top right-hand corner. This is a contender for goal of the tournament.

40: Five minutes until tiebreak and Argentina have themselves a corner. I think it’s their third of the afternoon. Lionel Messi swings it in but Benjamin Pavard clears.

39: Lionel Messi goes down in the box. It was just a tangling of legs and referee Alireza Faghani waves play on.

38: There’s a pause in play as Olivier Giroud receives treatment after a collision with Otamendi. The Chelsea star wants a penalty but he actually committed the foul.

35: Nicolas Tagliafico finally wins a one-on-one with Kylian Mbappe, who looked to dance his way through. It just takes one good ball from Paul Pogba to leave Rojo and Co stumped.

33: Lionel Messi is supposedly playing up front but nearly all of his touches have come wide right. Angel Di Maria keeps getting the ball and going backwards.

France could really do with a second to kill off any potential comeback. I doubt Argentina will be this bad in the second half.

30: So Jorge Sampaoli’s decision to bench Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero isn’t bearing any fruit. Surprising that, eh?

The plan is for Lionel Messi to drop deep and Cristian Pavon to play off him and stretch the defence. I don’t think I’ve seen that happen once.

27: Kylian Mbappe fouled again! His pace is unbelievable. Every time he receives the ball an Argentine player looks to cynically drag him down. Electric.

24: A couple of corners come and go for Argentina. They really aren’t causing the French defence any real problems.

21: Paul Pogba sends it into orbit with a dreadful effort. The cameras pan to his brothers looking astonished with how poorly he struck that.

20: Goodness me. What’s going on here? Paul Pogba plays a tremendous ball over to Kylian Mbappe, who leaves the Argentine defence at sixes and sevens.

Tagliafico brings him down JUST outside the area and collects booking for his troubles. Pogba looks like he’s going to strike this one…

18: Right, what’s Plan B? Argentina are stroking the ball around in midfield to try and gather themselves. Lionel Messi is dropping deeper and deeper to get involved, but playing as a ‘False 9’ there’s nobody spearheading the attack!

15: I can’t stress enough how scintillating that Kylian Mbappe run was. He collected the ball deep in his own half and ghosted past at least three Argentine defenders. Incredible and terrifying pace.

FRANCE 1-0 ARGENTINA – GRIEZMANN (PEN)

13: Cool as you like. France have taken the lead thanks to Antoine Griezmann, who slots his penalty straight down the middle.

It’s advantage France in the last 16 of the World Cup.

PENALTY TO FRANCE!

11: Now that is the most stonewall penalty you’re ever likely to see. Kylian Mbappe strides the length of the field and Marcos Rojo rugby tackles him inside the area. Ridiculous.

10: OOOOF! Mascherano wipes out Mbappe, who was far too quick for him and France have a free-kick just outside the penalty area.

Antoine Griezmann steps up… woodwork! An exquisite strike cannons off the bar and away to safety.

8: Ever Banega pulled the strings against Nigeria midweek and he’s started in the same fashion here. He sends Di Maria through on the left, but the PSG playmaker sends a hopeless cross to nobody. Poor.

5: We’ve got a good old fashioned game of “hot potato” here at the Kazan Arena. Nobody is capable of keeping possession for more than a few seconds.

Matuidi introduces himself to Lionel Messi by ploughing straight through the Barcelona star. He escapes a booking but it’s looking like an inevitability that he’ll be booked at some point.

3: Well we’ve played three minutes and there’s no sign of Diego Maradona. I wonder if the BBC are scared to show him before the watershed?

Anyway, It’s been quite a cagey start with neither side will to take too many chances.

FRANCE 0-0 ARGENTINA

1: And we’re underway! Lionel Messi to inspire a nation to the quarter-finals, or will France find their form and dispatch Argentina? We’re about to find out!

TWO-MINUTE WARNING…

14:58: Oh goody, Danny Murphy is commentating… Two minutes until we’re off.

Quite nice to see a smile on Lionel Messi’s face when Argentina ousting France during the national anthems. The South Americans have packed the Kazan Arena today.

THE ARRIVAL…

14:55: The enormous flags have been unfurled at either end of the pitch. That can only mean one thing – the players have arrived for the national anthems.

Noise in the Kazan Arena is unreal.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Alastair: Really looking forward to seeing how these two teams match up, particularly with Messi as a false nine. Arguably the best of all time, but matching up against N’Golo Kante is like trying to fight a swarm of furious ants.

Tony: Battle of possibly the two most dysfunctional teams at the World Cup neither Argentina or France seem to consistently be able to work effectively as a normal team and get the best out of their talented individuals. Argentina to win this due to the genius of the Messi.

Geoff: Looking at the teams only Lionel Messi would get in the France line-up. Should be an easy win therefore… but might prove to be more difficult.

LIONEL MESSI RETIREMENT?

14:45: Now, Lionel Messi will be 34 by the time next World Cup comes around and he has already retired from international football once.

But will defeat against France mark the end of his international career?

If he does, it wouldn’t be the first time.

Messi quit at the age of just 29 after Argentina’s Copa America final defeat by Chile in June 2016.

This time he’s suggested he will retire from international football in March if Argentina don’t win in Russia.

“We feel that, if we won’t win the World Cup in Russia, the only way will be to give up the national team,” Messi told La Cornisa. “I dream of winning the trophy in Russia. My wish is to live something similar to Brazil 2014. You can do everything OK and fail, like Argentina in Brazil.”

WHO’S IN CHARGE?!

14:40: Jorge Sampaoli says he was informing rather consulting Lionel Messi in an exchange during the Nigeria clash.

Much has been made of the footage of the discussion before Sampaoli brought on striker Sergio Aguero as a substitute.

“I remember that point in time but everything I say to my players is personal and I will not divulge what was said,” he said. “But it’s not how you characterised it, we had several options in attack and I was just communicating to him that we’d be using one of the strategies that we’d rehearsed.”

The video is above. How’s your Spanish?

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Archie: Who would have thought that Chelsea could buy the starting striker of one of the World Cup favourites for only £18m?

Andrew: Sergio Aguero on the bench is like putting ketchup on your breakfast, when you have a full bottle of brown sauce on the shelf.

Pay: This match is going to be a great test of Lionel Messi’s tactical nous. Perhaps the beginning of his managerial career.

I’m afraid we disagree on that one, Andrew. Ketchup is the Rolls Royce of kitchen condiments.

NAUGHTY MARADONA

14:25: It comes to something when even Diego Maradona can’t escape a slap on the wrist.

The 57-year-old made an obscene/hilarious gesture at other spectators after Argentina snatched a late win on Wednesday.

And asked about Maradona’s gesture, FIFA’s World Cup chief executive Colin Smith said: “We would expect all players, former players, staff, fans, everyone to behave in a respectful manner.”

Yep, I can see that happening…

HIGHLIGHTS…

14:20: I was originally thinking that this section was up for discussion, but having looked around I think it’s quite clear what the best and worst games of the group stages have been.

Best game: Portugal 3 Spain 3

The tournament got off to a flyer with Portugal and Spain serving up a classic. Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed the headlines by completing a hat-trick and equalising with a stunning late free-kick.

Worst game: France 0 Denmark 0

After 13 days, this World Cup got its first goalless draw as France, already through, and Denmark, who needed a point to join them, went through the motions in Moscow.

I’ve posted the Spain vs Portugal highlights above. I think the France vs Denmark highlights last 12 seconds…

RECORD

14:15: Congratulations are in order. Didier Deschamps will take charge of his 80th game as France manager; a new record as he overtakes Raymond Domenech.

ODE TO MESSI

14:10: I may have underestimated how much Angel Di Maria loves Lionel Messi.

The Paris St-Germain star affectionally described Messi, 31, as a bird capable of seeing things most human beings can’t.

“The 2008 Olympics gave me the opportunity to play with Leo Messi, the extraterrestrial, the genius. It was the most fun I’ve ever had playing football,” he said. “All I had to do was run into space. I would start running, and the ball would arrive at my feet. Like magic.

“Leo’s eyes don’t work like your eyes and my eyes work. They look side to side, like a human. But he’s also able to see the world from above, like a bird. I don’t understand how it’s possible.”

TEAM NEWS – ARGENTINA

14:05: Argentina have started without Paulo Dybala, Sergio Aguero or Gonzalo Higuain for their World Cup last-16 clash with France.

I know, it looks like madness.

Forward Cristian Pavon replaces the Juventus talisman Higuain in the only change from their vital group win against Nigeria.

This, of course, means that Lionel Messi could be playing through the middle as a false nine.

Once again, madness…

TEAM NEWS – FRANCE

14:00: France boss Didier Deschamps has reverted to the side that started against Peru in their second group game, having rested the likes of Hugo Lloris, Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe against Denmark.

Olivier Giroud leads the line with Antoine Griezmann, Mbappe and Blaise Matuidi in support. Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante assume the holding role.

Steve Mandanda, Djibril Sidibe, Presnel Kimpembe, Steven Nzonzi, Ousmane Dembele and Thomas Lemar all drop to the bench.

‘COMPLETE FAITH’

13:50: Well what else was Jorge Sampaoli going to say?!

The South Americans looked in real danger of crashing out at the group stage before a dramatic victory over Nigeria saw them through to the last 16 as runners-up behind Croatia.

But Sampaoli has “complete faith” in the ability of his side to get past France.

“We have complete faith in our abilities. Argentina is very strong psychologically and this will allow us to face the match with complete commitment. You will see a team which will have a lot of motivation to win,” Sampaoli said.

THE LINE-UPS

13:45: Am I seeing that Argentina starting XI correctly? No Sergio Aguero, Paulo Dybala or Gonzalo Higuain…

France XI: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Lucas, Kante, Pogba, Mbappe-Lottin, Griezmann, Matuidi, Giroud.

Subs: Mandanda, Kimpembe, Lemar, Dembele, Tolisso, Nzonzi, Rami, Fekir, Sidibe, Thauvin, Mendy, Areola.

Argentina XI: Armani, Mercado, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico, Perez, Mascherano, Banega, Pavon, Messi, Di Maria.

Subs: Guzman, Ansaldi, Biglia, Fazio, Acuna, Higuain, Meza, Salvio, Aguero, Lo Celso, Dybala, Caballero.

Referee: Alireza Faghani.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Axel: A lot of people already assuming France has this one in the pocket, but remember this Argentina squad is based on the ones playing in Europe, several familiar faces there. 2-1 for Messi’s Team.

Rosh: After a day’s rest I’m in full energy and ready to watch Uruguay vs Portugal and France vs Argentina. It could be one of the best days of this World Cup. It’s a super Saturday!

Adam: France to edge this one I reckon, strength in depth and look the more confident team so far.

HAVE YOUR SAY

13:35: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

WELCOME

13:30: Hello everyone, welcome to our LIVE coverage of the World Cup.

I hope you’re all doing well this afternoon. I’ve just taken three hours to complete a one hour journey. It’s safe to say that I’m not in the best of moods.

But hopefully a ridiculously exciting day of World Cup action will make amends.

We’ve navigated our way through a pretty epic group stage and now it’s business time as the last 16 gets underway.

There’s no malarky in the knockout stages, folks. I repeat, no malarky!

Anyway, France have never beaten Argentina at a World Cup or in any competitive game. Today might be a nice time to start…