Les Bleus must forget disappointment at Euro 2016
Introduction
Argentina and France kicked off their World Cup title bids on Saturday. However, the two teams are anything but star studded with numerous players who have made a name for themselves in the last decade or so.Argentina and France kick off the World Cup title-deciders in Russia on Sunday. The two best national teams in the world will see who reigns supreme when they face off in the city of Kazan.
Lionel Messi certainly knows how to make a good first impression at the World Cup. The Barcelona star turned in two goals and an assist against Nigeria on Friday to help Argentina win their last Group D game, setting them up for a spot in the knockout round.Diego Maradona’s glory days are long gone but Lionel Messi is now stepping out of the shadows to lead Argentina in the World Cup.
Argentina get the prestigious opening
Lionel Messi is going to be the centre of attention when Argentina and France kick off the World Cup on Friday.
The Barcelona striker will be one of four players in the starting line-up for both teams, but his role in their early Group F clash will be different to the rest.
Argentina have been drawn alongside Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria in a group that offers them little hope of making it out of the group stage.
But with a chance to impress in front of football's biggest crowd in Moscow, Messi will be tasked with leading his side out as they look to inspire their nation ahead of their final group game against Nigeria on June 26.
He has scored five goals in seven appearances at Russia 2018 so far - all of which have come from open play - and will be expected to add more big numbers to his tally when he lines up on Friday night at Luzhniki Stadium.Lionel Messi and Argentina were knocked out of the World Cup on penalties by France in their final warm-up game.
But for the Barcelona star, who has not yet won a major tournament, it was a chance to show off his skills and display his power.
And he did not disappoint, with a superb overhead kick from inside the box that beat Hugo Lloris in the shootout.
It was Messi's first career World Cup goal as Argentina reached the final of the competition they last won in 1986.
France must kick-start their campaign to restore confidence
With the World Cup draw done and dusted, attention now turns to France and Argentina. Both teams can be expected to make it through the group stage but neither will have an easy task.
France must kick-start their campaign to restore confidence after a disappointing Euro 2016 campaign. They were beaten by Iceland in their final warm-up game, which left them with a sense of gloom heading into Russia.
Argentina are also under pressure after failing to reach the last 16 at the last two World Cups after qualifying for four consecutive finals from 1986 onwards. They failed to beat Croatia in their opening game so they will face intense scrutiny in Group D.Argentina delivered a masterclass in world football as they beat Nigeria 2-0 on Tuesday to seal a spot in the World Cup quarter-finals.
The Albiceleste made it 16 wins from 17 games this year, with Messi scoring two goals and providing two assists.
With the likes of Samuel Umtiti, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann in their ranks, France are expected to be one of the main challengers for the title at Russia 2018.
But they must kick-start their campaign to restore confidence from a disappointing showing at Euro 2016.
Les Bleus must forget disappointment at Euro 2016
France and Argentina are the two most successful nations in World Cup history and both have been drawn together in Group D. France’s path to the final will be tough, but they have a chance of reaching it.
Argentina, meanwhile, must forget disappointment at Euro 2016 if they are to win their third World Cup trophy.
The Albiceleste were eliminated by France in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 and will want revenge on Les Bleus when the two teams meet at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.The Euros left a bitter taste in the mouth for Les Bleus and coach Didier Deschamps. The team failed to win a game at the tournament and finished third in the final standings, behind Portugal and Germany. It was a wake-up call for France's stars, who had been too reliant on Brazil's Neymar and Germany's Toni Kroos for goalscorers.
France will face Lionel Messi and Argentina in the World Cup quarterfinals on Monday at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow. If Les Bleus are going to win their first World Cup since 1998, it will be because they have found new ways to score goals — and Messi has played a major role in that development.
The France squad was so closely linked with the European Championship that it took until the final game to win a trophy. A lot of credit for the success of Les Bleus' World Cup campaign will go to those who were there in Russia.
Conclusion
The FIFA World Cup has started, and with that the excitement of international football. Fans all over the world are watching with bated breath as some of the world's greatest international teams compete to advance to the next round. From the defensive strength of Germany to the intrigue around whether or not Neymar will play well enough to hold Brazil together in their attempts at victory, there is plenty of competition among teams still competing.
For fans in Argentina, France and Brazil, this is a special moment—the three countries have won two of the last three World Cups. However, for Argentina, it is a special moment due to a combination of Lionel Messi's play and the unfortunate history associated with their team. There is a lot on both these teams' minds as they try to win this World Cup for their countrymen.Argentina and France both have a wealth of attacking talent at their disposal, but it will really come down to just how well the quality of the individual players is complemented by their teammates. Both teams are a threat to win the World Cup, but it will be fascinating to see how they do so.
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