Argentina player ratings vs France: How they rated in a World Cup thriller
Wow. The World Cup knockouts have well and truly arrived.
Who could have asked for much more? Two breathtaking goals, thrill-a-minute action and the emergence of a potential world star.
Argentina and France met to produce everything the neutral wanted. It ended in agony for La Albiceleste, and Lionel Messi, who may have bowed out of the World Cup for the final time.
Argentine frustrations rose towards the end, and their toils in qualifying and the group stages finally caught up with them against an imperious France.
Here is how each of Jorge Sampaoli’s men got on, in a game that will leave a lasting, yet heartbreaking, memory.
Goalkeeper: Franco Armani – 4.5/10
31-year-old Armani impressed in his debut against Nigeria, and rightfully kept his place.
It all went a bit wrong here.
The River Plate stopper was at fault for Kylian Mbappe’s first goal, letting the ball squirm under his body.
He dived too early for Antoine Griezmann’s spot kick, too, and left the striker with an easy job of rolling home.
And even without those errors, conceding four goals in one World Cup match is never going to earn a high goalkeeper rating.
Left back: Nicolas Tagliafico – 5.5/10
A part of an unfortunately dreadful Argentine defence.
The line was always far too high, which allowed the electric Kylian Mbappe to breach on too many occasions.
Tagliafico never got the opportunity to get forward. Mercado had more license to roam in an attacking sense, and he was completely overrun down the flank by Benjamin Pavard.
A forgettable display.
Right back: Gabriel Mercado – 6/10
Argentina’s most optimistic defender, and a few of his deliveries gave the French defence some problems.
Got a little frustrated towards the end – a common theme – and should really have been sent off for a nasty tackle on Paul Pogba.
Proved one of La Albiceleste’s better players on a day there were few.
Centre half: Marcos Rojo – 4/10
Went from hero to villain in the space of 45 minutes.
Rojo was the man to get Argentina to the knockout phase, however he also started a defensive cataclysm.
He hauled Antoine Griezmann to the ground as early as the 13th minute to set France on their way. The Manchester United man never recovered as he picked up a booking, and Sampaoli brought him off at half time.
A shame to see his elation from a few days’ ago reduced to exasperation.
Centre half: Nicolas Otamendi – 5/10
Roamed out from the back on a couple of occasions but to no avail.
Otamendi tried to add to Argentina’s wilting attacking ranks, however looked a rabbit caught in headlights when he charged past the halfway line.
Defensively he was inept, this time around, and a red-hot Mbappe terrorised throughout.
Not the commanding, steadfast exhibition Otamendi would have hoped for. He desperately needs the guidance of Pep Guardiola to succeed.