France vs Argentina Live Updates: Messi battles for survival again

Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates who narrowly escaped being ousted from the first round of the World Cup against Nigeria are set for a fresh crunch battle.

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

While Argentina scraped through to the knockout stages finishing as runners-up to Croatia, Les Bleus, came top of Group C after two wins and a draw.

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.

Stay with Newsflash247 for the Live Updates….

Kickoff is 3pm

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

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

France get the game underway

Argentina dominating early proceedings… Ball possession: France: 39%, Argentina: 61%.

Free kick for France in a dangerous position from 25 yards

Pogba… Griezman plan for the kick

CHANCE!! A magnificent strike from Griezmann rattles the cross bar… France almost getting the lead

A penalty for France… The Iranian referee points to the spot

Kylian Mbappe wins the spot-kick after a dashing run into the Argentina box

Marcos Rojo gets a yellow card

GOAL!!!! Griezmann gives France the lead in the 13th minute from the spot

Two goals now for Griezmann at Russia 2018 both coming from the penalty spot

Interestingly, France has never lost once Griezmann scores for them

Argentina win a corner kick at the left flank as they seek to get back into the game

Mbappe brought down again just outside the box this time

The pace of the 19-year old causing lot of problems for the ageing Argentina defenders

Argentina quite lucky as the free kick is just six inches outside the penalty box

Pogba blasts the ball over the wall and the bar… Goal kick to Argentina

SAVE.. Hugo Lloris stops a chance by Argentina

Argentina have enjoyed 69% of the ball possession so far compared to France’s 31%

Mercardo appeals for handball against France Umtiti but referee waves that aside

Giroud fails with his ball control and Argentina makes a quick clearance from their box

So far Lionel Messi has been quiet… too early to say it is over for the Barcelona man

Mbappe unable to dribble past his marker after receiving a good pass from Pogba

FREE KICK .. Mascherano brings down Pogba…

France have never lost in the Round of 16 .. at the last World Cup in Brazil, they beat Nigeria

Giroud and Otamendi in a clash of studs

Messi goes down in the penalty box but no penalty for Argentina

Almost… Giroud jumps high but fails to get the connecting header

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