Our football match prediction:
France
Match Time & Date:
30/06/2018
15:00 GMT
Prediction: 1-1
Argentina
All eyes will be on Kazan Arena when France and Argentina face each other in the last 16 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals. Les Tricolores have been struggling to find their best form at the showpiece tournament, whereas la Albiceleste were more than fortunate to book their place in the knockout stages. Leo Messi opened his goal-scoring account and the Barcelona striker will be looking to give Argentina fans yet another reason for celebration when Jorge Sampaoli’s men face France in Kazan. Kylian Mbappe, who has been producing fine performances at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals, will be the man to watch in Didier Deschamps’ team. Anyhow, both teams are likely to adopt a defence-minded approach in Saturday’s football match and we predict that the game will go into extra-time. In their last meeting at the World Cup finals Argentina recorded a 2-1 win over France.
Highlighted Player (Blaise Matuidi):
Often described as fierce and strong tackler, Blaise Matuidi is one of the PSG’s engines in the centre of the park. Having begun his career at amateur and semi-professional clubs, the 29-year-old midfielder broke onto the big stage in 2004 when he signed for Troyes. After a three-season spell he was transferred to Saint-Etienne where he played 132 league appearances in four years before signing with PSG. Although a midfielder tasked with ruining rivals’ play and providing support to his team mates from the back, Blaise Matuidi has a knack for scoring important goals. In 2015 Blaise Matuidi scored in a 2-1 win over Montpeiller to confirm a third consecutive French League title for his club after which he was named in the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year for the second time in his career. The 29-year-old is a national team regular who took part in France’s Euro 2016 campaign giving his contribution to the team’s road to the final of the competition.
Highlighted Team (Argentina):
Members of the CONMEBOL confederation Argentina national team are headed by coach Gerardo Martino and are considered one of the most nations in footballing world. Renowned for their attacking powers and defensive discipline Argentina have been playing their international matches since 1901 and their first ever competitive victory over Uruguay 3-2. Commonly referred to as La Seleccion, Argentina are top of the FIFA world ranking, but their most recent records have been below par with the team last winning a major trophy in 1993. Two-time World Cup winners have lost the 2014 final to Germany coming agonizingly close to the crown they last won in 1986. Javier Zanetti is the most capped player with 143 matches to his name while Javier Mascherano and Lionel Messi with 124 and 108 respectively are the current team members with most games to their name. Barcelona star Lionel Messi is six goals short behind Gabriel Batistuta who is the team’s top scorer with 56 goals he scored playing for La Seleccion from 1991 to 2002.
