They say the World Cup begins when the knockout stages get underway and the last 16 starts on Saturday with a match which could very well have been a final in previous years as France take on Argentina for a spot in the quarter final.
France made it through to this stage coming through their group in top spot and without a defeat to their name while a Marcos Rojo goal four minutes from time took Argentina from the plane home to this mouth-watering match up.
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France
I think it is only right to acknowledge how disappointing this France team have been in this tournament so far. Maybe that is our own fault for expecting too much from them but a side that has the likes of Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele in its midst should be offering a whole lot more than they have done thus far.
Didier Deschamps, their coach, could turn around and say the cautious way in which his side have approached their three matches to date has worked because they have come through unbeaten and the only goal they have conceded in that time has been a penalty but they have still be underwhelming at best, disappointing at worst.
Argentina
It isn’t just France who have disappointed in this tournament, Argentina have too in many ways although a lot of that is down to the individual personnel they have at their disposal rather than the expectation we had for them. In truth, having seen their disappointing qualifying campaign, expectations were relatively low and to that extent we have not really been disappointed.
If Argentina are to go deep in this tournament they must find a way of getting their important players on the ball and in dangerous positions more often. They are probably going to have to find the net more regularly too because their back line has looked an abomination so far in the tournament and looks like it could collapse at any point.
Team News
Didier Deschamps is expected to recall the players he rested against Denmark in the final group match for France. That means Lucas Hernandez is expected to return. Djibril Sidibe and Nabil Fekir are pushing for starts.
Argentina have made a lot of changes to their side already in this tournament but they may be unchanged for this one which would mean Sergio Aguero again starting on the bench. Enzo Perez was considered a doubt but is now expected to be fit.
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Betting
I can’t get away from France here. I wouldn’t say that I’m massively enthused by them so far but I just can’t be having this Argentina defence at all and if this French attack has anything about them as a collective unit they should be feasting on this back line. The time has come for Deschamps to take the handbrake off his side and if he does they should be have far too much for what is an extremely average Argentina team with or without Lionel Messi.
Croatia tore this Argentina defence apart time and time again and even Iceland and Nigeria had more than their fair share of chances against it so with the quality that France have in forward areas the chances should come regularly. With that in mind I think they are a massive price to find the back of the net more than 1.5 times in this contest.
Tips
WON – Back France to beat Argentina for a 4/10 stake at 2.40 with Skybet
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WON – Back France – Over 1.5 goals for a 3/10 stake at 2.80 with Unibet
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