Argentina vs France : Round Of 16 – Match Preview
After a dramatic last-match qualification for Argentina against Ecuador, the South American giants and potential winners of the tournament found themselves in a rather ugly situation in Group D to head into the round of 16 where they first drew with the fearless Iceland team before losing to Croatia in their second group game. Desperately needing a win in their final match against the unpredictable Nigerian unit, it was Messi’s opener and Marcos Rojo’s 87th minute winner to give them a memorable 2-1 victory which takes the Argentines through to the next round where they meet Group C leaders France.
The European side, under Didier Deschamps are yet to lose in Russia but their inability to score in loads given their explosive strike-force may haunt them if things do not go according to plans in the knockout stages. After securing victories against Australia and Peru, France were held by Denmark in their last group match which saw them top the group with 7 points. Given they will be up against a spirited Argentina side spearheaded with the likes of Messi, Aguero and Di Maria; Deschamps’ men need to be at their best in order to qualify for the quarters.
Team News:
France-
Les Bleus are oozing with talent all around their squad with a handful of world class young talents in 19-year old Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona frontman Ousmane Dembele. And along with proven hitmen Griezmann and Giroud up there to do the finishing job, France fans would be hoping their team clicks on the big occasion. The match will eventually be Deschamps’ 80th in-charge, a new record as he surpasses the great Raymond Domenech.
Umtiti is set to start for France along with Varane at the back with Pogba and Kante in the middle of the park controlling most of the forward attacks. Olivier Giroud has failed to find the back of the net in the last 357 minutes, his personal worst at major tournaments and will probably start on the bench for the crucial knockout match with Griezmann ready to take the striking position. He will most likely be flanked by Mbappe and Fekir on the wings, with the latter impressing on his given chances in the previous matches.
Argentina-
Jorge Sampaoli has a rather ageing squad at his dispose and the main man will once again be Lionel Messi as their search for the route to quarters faces a stiff competition against the talented France side. Sergio Aguero may start the match at the Kazan Arena, having already scored his team’s opening goal at the tournament against Iceland and Juventus forward Gonzalo Higuain may have to sit out.
Cristian Pavon had pretty decent games previously and may start the crucial encounter with Di Maria most likely to begin on the left side. Sampaoli may start the same midfield combination which he used against Nigeria with Mascherano and Banega starting behind Leo Messi. The defence line is most likely to stay intact with Otamendi and Rojo taking the central defensive duties with Franco Armani, who made his debut in the last match is set to take charge between the sticks yet again.
Date: 30th June, 2018
Time: 3 PM BST
Venue: Kazan Arena
Recent Form: France- DWWDWW
Argentina- WLDWLW
Probable lineups:
France- Lloris, Sidibe, Umtiti, Varane, Hernandez, Kante, Pogba, Matuidi, Fekir, Griezmann, Mbappe.
Argentina- Armani, Mercado, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico, Mascherano, Banega, Pavon, Di Maria, Messi, Aguero.
Telecast Details
Afghanistan Ariana TV
Albania RTSH 1
Algeria beIN 4K Arabia, beIN MAX 3, beIN MAX 2, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN MAX 1
American Samoa SportsMax App, SportsMax WC
Andorra beIN Sports 1
Angola SuperSport Live, SS13, SuperSport 14, SLGO, SuperSport 3 Africa
Argentina Canal 7 TV Publica, Canal de las Estrellas, TyC Sports Play, DIRECTV Sports Argentina, TyC Sports Argentina, DIRECTV Play Deportes
Armenia Armenia TV
Aruba SportsMax App, DIRECTV Sports Caribbean, SportsMax WC
Australia SBS Radio 1, Optus Sport, SBS
Austria ORF 2, ORF TV Live, SRF zwei, ORF eins, OE24, Sky Go Deutschland, Sky Sport UHD Germany, ARD Das Erste
Azerbaijan Idman TV, Ictimai TV
Bahamas SportsMax WC, SportsMax App, DIRECTV Sports Caribbean
Bahrain beIN MAX 2, beIN 4K Arabia, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN MAX 3, beIN MAX 1
Bangladesh Sony ESPN, SONY TEN 3 HD, SONY TEN 2, SONY TEN 2 HD, Sony ESPN HD, PTV Sports, Sony LIV, SONY TEN 3
Barbados SportsMax WC, SportsMax App, DIRECTV Sports Caribbean
Belarus Belarus 5
Belgium La Deux, RTBF Auvio Direct, Sporza Live, Één
Benin SuperSport 14, SuperSport 3 Africa, SLGO, SuperSport Live, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SS13
Bermuda SportsMax WC, SportsMax App
Bhutan Sony LIV, Sony ESPN HD, SONY TEN 3 HD, Sony ESPN, SONY TEN 2 HD
Bolivia COTAS Televisión, Tigo Sports Bolivia, Red Uno, Red Uno En Vivo, Unitel
Bonaire, Saint Eustatius and Saba SportsMax App, SportsMax WC
Bosnia and Herzegovina HRT 2, BHT 1
Botswana SuperSport Live, Kwesé Live, SLGO, SuperSport 3 Africa, SS13, Kwesé FIFA World Cup, SuperSport 14
Brazil FOX Sports 1 Brasil, SporTV, SporTV Play, FOX Play Brasil, Globo
British Virgin Islands SportsMax WC, SportsMax App
Brunei Astro Go
Bulgaria BNT HD, BNT 1
Burkina Faso SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport 14, SuperSport Live, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SS13, SLGO
Burundi SS13, Startimes Sports Premium, SLGO, Startimes World Football, SuperSport 3 Africa, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SuperSport 14, SuperSport Live
Cambodia CTN, CNC Cambodia, MyTV Channel
Cameroon Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SS13, SuperSport 14, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Live, SLGO, StarTimes App
Canada CTV GO, TSN GO, RDS GO, CTV, TSN1, TSN Radio 1040 – 1410, TSN4, RDS, TSN3, TSN5
Cape Verde Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SuperSport Live, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport 14, SLGO, SS13
Cayman Islands SportsMax App, SportsMax WC
Central African Republic SLGO, SS13, SuperSport 14, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Live, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique
Chad SuperSport Live, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, SS13, beIN MAX 3, beIN MAX 2, beIN MAX 1, SLGO, SuperSport 14, beIN 4K Arabia, SuperSport 3 Africa
Chile DIRECTV Play Deportes, Movistar Play Chile, Canal 13, TVN, DIRECTV Sports Chile
China Guangdong Sports Channel, Tianjin Sports Channel, CCTV-5, CCTV 5+ VIP
Colombia DIRECTV Sports Colombia, DIRECTV Play Deportes
Comoros SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Live, SLGO
Congo SS13, StarTimes App, SLGO, SuperSport 14, SuperSport Live, SuperSport 3 Africa, Startimes World Football, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, Startimes Sports Premium
Congo DR SLGO, SS13, SuperSport Live, SuperSport 14, StarTimes App, SuperSport 3 Africa
Cook Islands Sky Sport 4 NZ
Costa Rica Movistar Play Costa Rica, Teletica Radio, Sky HD, TD Mas, TD +
Cote D’Ivoire SLGO, SS13, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SuperSport 14, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Live
Croatia HRT 2
Curacao SportsMax App, SportsMax WC, DIRECTV Sports Caribbean
Cyprus RIK 2, CYBC Live
Czech Republic ČT Sport
Denmark DR TV Live Streaming, C More Sport HD, DR1
Djibouti SLGO, beIN MAX 2, SuperSport 14, beIN MAX 3, SS13, SuperSport Live, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, beIN 4K Arabia, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, SuperSport 3 Africa, beIN MAX 1
Dominica SportsMax App, SportsMax WC
Dominican Republic Sky HD, SportsMax App, SportsMax WC
Ecuador RTS Ecuador , DIRECTV Play Deportes, DIRECTV Sports Ecuador
Egypt beIN 4K Arabia, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN MAX 3, beIN MAX 2, beIN MAX 1
El Salvador TCS GO, Canal 4 El Salvador, Sky HD
Equatorial Guinea SuperSport 3 Africa, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SLGO, SuperSport Live, SuperSport 14, SS13
Eritrea SuperSport 14, SuperSport Live, SS13, SuperSport 3 Africa, SLGO
Estonia ETV 1
Ethiopia SLGO, SuperSport 14, SuperSport 3 Africa, Kwesé Live, SuperSport Live, SS13, Kwesé FIFA World Cup
Faroe Islands DR TV Live Streaming, DR1
Fiji FBC TV, Sky Sport 4 NZ, Fiji One
Finland YLE Live, YLE TV2, C More Sport HD
France beIN Sports 1, beIN Sports 2, TF1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, TF1 Live
French Guiana SportsMax WC, SportsMax App
Gabon Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport 14, SuperSport Live, SS13, SLGO
Gambia SS13, SuperSport Live, SuperSport 3 Africa, SLGO, SuperSport 14, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique
Georgia 1TV
Germany ORF TV Live, ORF eins, ORF 2, Sky Sport UHD Germany, Sky Go Deutschland, Sportschau Live, SRF zwei, ARD Das Erste
Ghana Startimes Sports Premium, StarTimes App, SuperSport Live, Startimes World Football, SS13, Kwesé FIFA World Cup, GTV Sports+, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SLGO, Kwesé Live, SuperSport 14, SuperSport 3 Africa
Greece ERT 1
Greenland DR1, DR TV Live Streaming
Grenada SportsMax WC, SportsMax App
Guam SportsMax WC, SportsMax App
Guatemala Sky HD, Azteca Guatemala, Tigo Sports Guatemala
Guinea SuperSport 14, SS13, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, Startimes Sports Premium, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Live, SLGO, StarTimes App, Startimes World Football
Guinea-Bissau SuperSport 14, SS13, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Live, SLGO
Guyana SportsMax WC, SportsMax App
Haiti SportsMax App, SportsMax WC
Honduras Televicentro En Vivo, Tigo Sports Honduras, Canal 7 Televicentro, Sky HD
Hong Kong Now TV, Now World Cup 1
Hungary M4 Sports
Iceland RUV, RUV Radio
India Sony ESPN, SONY TEN 3 HD, SONY TEN 2, Sony ESPN HD, Sony LIV, SONY TEN 2 HD, SONY TEN 3
Indonesia UseeTV, Trans TV
Iran beIN MAX 3, beIN MAX 1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN 4K Arabia, beIN MAX 2
Iraq beIN 4K Arabia, beIN MAX 3, beIN MAX 2, beIN MAX 1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT
Ireland BBC iPlayer, TalkSport Radio UK, BBC Radio 5 Live, RTE Player, RTE 2, BBC One, BBC Sport Live
Israel Makan 33, KAN 11
Italy RSI La 2, Mediaset Italia Live, Radio 105 Network, Canale 5
Jamaica SportsMax WC, TVJ Sports Network, SportsMax App
Japan TBS
Jordan beIN 4K Arabia, beIN MAX 3, beIN MAX 1, beIN MAX 2, beIN SPORTS CONNECT
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan TV, KAZsport
Kenya SuperSport 14, SuperSport 3 Africa, Kwesé FIFA World Cup, Startimes Sports Premium, Startimes World Football, SLGO, SS13, SuperSport Live, Kwesé Live, StarTimes App
Kiribati Sky Sport 4 NZ
Korea Republic KBS2 Korea
Kosovo RTK1
Kuwait beIN MAX 3, beIN MAX 1, beIN MAX 2, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN 4K Arabia
Latvia LTV7 Latvia
Lebanon beIN 4K Arabia, beIN MAX 1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN MAX 3, beIN MAX 2
Lesotho SuperSport Live, SLGO, SuperSport 14, Kwesé FIFA World Cup, Kwesé Live, SuperSport 3 Africa, SS13
Liberia SS13, SuperSport 14, SuperSport Live, SLGO, SuperSport 3 Africa
Libya beIN MAX 2, beIN 4K Arabia, beIN MAX 1, beIN MAX 3, beIN SPORTS CONNECT
Lithuania LRT Live Streaming, LRT
Macau TDM Desporto
Macedonia MRT1
Madagascar SLGO, SuperSport Live, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport 14, SS13, StarTimes App
Malawi SuperSport 3 Africa, StarTimes App, SuperSport 14, Kwesé FIFA World Cup, Kwesé Live, SLGO, SS13, SuperSport Live
Malaysia Astro Go, Astro FIFA World Cup 1 HD
Maldives SONY TEN 3, Sony ESPN HD, Sony ESPN, SONY TEN 2, SONY TEN 3 HD, SONY TEN 2 HD, Sony LIV
Mali SuperSport 3 Africa, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SuperSport Live, SS13, SLGO, SuperSport 14
Marshall Islands Sky Sport 4 NZ
Martinique SportsMax WC, SportsMax App
Mauritania beIN MAX 3, SS13, SuperSport 14, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, beIN MAX 2, beIN MAX 1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN 4K Arabia
Mauritius SuperSport Live, SuperSport 3 Africa, SLGO, SuperSport 14
Mexico Canal de las Estrellas, Sky HD, Azteca 7, Azteca Deportes En Vivo, Blue To Go Video Everywhere, Televisa Deportes En Vivo
Moldova Moldova 1
Monaco beIN Sports 1
Mongolia NTV, MNB Sports
Montenegro TVCG 1, HRT 2
Montserrat SportsMax App, SportsMax WC
Morocco beIN MAX 2, beIN MAX 1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN MAX 3, beIN 4K Arabia
Mozambique SS13, SuperSport 14, SuperSport Live, StarTimes App, SuperSport 3 Africa, Startimes World Football, Startimes Sports Premium, SLGO
Myanmar Skynet Sports 6
Namibia SLGO, SS13, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Live, Kwesé Live, SuperSport 14
Nauru Sky Sport 4 NZ
Nepal Sony ESPN, Sony LIV, Sony ESPN HD, SONY TEN 3 HD, SONY TEN 3, SONY TEN 2 HD, SONY TEN 2
Netherlands NOS Live, Één, NPO 1
New Zealand Sky Sport 4 NZ, SKY Go NZ
Nicaragua Movistar Play Nicaragua, Canal 10 Nicaragua, Sky HD
Niger SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport 14, SS13, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SLGO, SuperSport Live
Nigeria SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport 3 Nigeria, SLGO, Kwesé Live, Startimes Sports Premium, Startimes World Football, SuperSport 14, Kwesé FIFA World Cup, SuperSport Live, StarTimes App, SS13, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique
Niue Sky Sport 4 NZ
Norway NRK Live, C More Sport HD, NRK1
Oman beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN MAX 1, beIN MAX 2, beIN 4K Arabia, beIN MAX 3
Pakistan Sony LIV, SONY TEN 2, SONY TEN 3, Sony ESPN, SONY TEN 2 HD, SONY TEN 3 HD, Sony ESPN HD, PTV Sports
Palau Sky Sport 4 NZ
Palestinian Territory beIN MAX 3, beIN 4K Arabia, beIN MAX 2, beIN MAX 1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT
Panama TVN Radio 96.5, Sky HD, Movistar Play Panama, TVMax 9, RPC Canal 4
Papua New Guinea EM TV, Fiji One
Paraguay SNT Paraguay, Telefuturo, Tigo Sports Paraguay
Peru Latina Televisión, DIRECTV Sports Peru, DIRECTV Play Deportes
Philippines ABS-CBN LIGA, ABS-CBN Sports Action
Poland TVP Sport Live Streaming, TVP2
Portugal Sport TV1, RTP Play, Sport TV LIVE, RTP 1
Puerto Rico SportsMax App, SportsMax WC
Qatar beIN MAX 2, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN MAX 3, beIN 4K Arabia, beIN MAX 1
Romania TVR HD, TVR 1, TVR+ Live
Russia Channel One Russia, Rossiya 24, Sportbox.ru, Channel One Russia Live
Rwanda SuperSport Live, SLGO, SuperSport 14, SS13, Startimes World Football, Kwesé FIFA World Cup, Kwesé Live, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, Startimes Sports Premium, SuperSport 3 Africa, StarTimes App
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines SportsMax App, SportsMax WC
Samoa Sky Sport 4 NZ
Sao Tome And Principe SS13, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport 14, SuperSport Live, SLGO
Saudi Arabia beIN MAX 3, beIN MAX 1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN MAX 2, beIN 4K Arabia
Senegal SLGO, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SS13, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Live, SuperSport 14
Serbia RTS 1, HRT 2
Seychelles SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Live, SS13, SLGO, SuperSport 14
Sierra Leone SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport Live, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SuperSport 14, SS13, SLGO
Singapore ABS-CBN Sports Action, Singtel FIFA World Cup 141, StarHub Go, Singtel TV GO, Toggle
Slovakia RTVS Live, ČT Sport, Dvojka
Slovenia TV Slovenija 2, HRT 2
Solomon Islands Sky Sport 4 NZ
Somalia beIN 4K Arabia, beIN MAX 1, beIN MAX 3, SuperSport 14, SS13, beIN MAX 2, beIN SPORTS CONNECT
South Africa SS13, SuperSport 3, SuperSport Maximo, StarTimes App, Maximo 360, SuperSport Live, SuperSport 14, SABC 1, Startimes Sports Premium, SLGO, SuperSport 3 Africa, Startimes World Football
South Sudan beIN MAX 1, beIN MAX 2, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, SS13, beIN 4K Arabia, SuperSport 14, SuperSport 3 Africa, beIN MAX 3, SLGO, SuperSport Live
Spain Cuatro, Mediaset Sport App
Sri Lanka Sony ESPN, SONY TEN 3 HD, SONY TEN 3, SONY TEN 2 HD, Sony LIV, SONY TEN 2, Sony ESPN HD
Sudan beIN MAX 1, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, SuperSport 14, beIN MAX 2, beIN 4K Arabia, beIN MAX 3, SS13
Swaziland SLGO, SuperSport Live, Kwesé Live, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport 14, Kwesé FIFA World Cup, SS13
Sweden C More Sport HD, C More Play, TV4 Sweden
Switzerland ORF eins, RTS Deux, SRF zwei, RSI La 2, RTS Sport
Syria beIN 4K Arabia, beIN SPORTS CONNECT
Taiwan ELTA Sports 3
Tanzania SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport 14, Startimes Sports Premium, SLGO, Kwesé FIFA World Cup, StarTimes App, SuperSport Live, SS13, Startimes World Football, Kwesé Live
Thailand True Sport HD 3, Truevisions Live
Togo SLGO, SuperSport 3 Africa, Canal+ Sport 1 Afrique, SuperSport Live, SuperSport 14, SS13
Tonga Sky Sport 4 NZ
Trinidad and Tobago SportsMax WC, SportsMax App, CNC3, DIRECTV Sports Caribbean
Tunisia beIN MAX 2, beIN MAX 1, beIN 4K Arabia, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN MAX 3
Turkey TRT Spor Web TV, Idman TV, TRT 4K, TRT 1
Turks and Caicos Islands SportsMax WC, SportsMax App
Tuvalu Sky Sport 4 NZ
U.S. Virgin Islands SportsMax WC, SportsMax App
Uganda SS13, SuperSport 14, StarTimes App, Startimes World Football, SuperSport 3 Africa, SLGO, SuperSport Live, Kwesé FIFA World Cup, Startimes Sports Premium
Ukraine Inter
United Arab Emirates beIN 4K Arabia, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN MAX 1, beIN MAX 2, beIN MAX 3
United Kingdom BBC Sport Live, BBC One, BBC iPlayer, TalkSport Radio UK, BBC Radio 5 Live
United States Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Telemundo, SiriusXM FC, Sling World Cup, Futbol de Primera Radio, FOX Network
Uruguay DIRECTV Sports Uruguay, Canal 10 Uruguay, Monte Carlo TV Canal 4, TeleDoce Uruguay, DIRECTV Play Deportes
Vanuatu Sky Sport 4 NZ
Venezuela DIRECTV Play Deportes, Venevision, TVes, DIRECTV Sports Venezuela, Meridiano Television
Vietnam VTV6, VTV Go
Western Sahara beIN MAX 1
Yemen beIN MAX 3, beIN MAX 2, beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN 4K Arabia, beIN MAX 1
Zambia SLGO, SuperSport Live, SuperSport 3 Africa, StarTimes App, Kwesé Live, SuperSport 14, SS13, Kwesé FIFA World Cup
Zimbabwe SLGO, SS13, SuperSport 3 Africa, SuperSport 14, SuperSport Live