Argentina player ratings vs France: How they rated in a World Cup thriller
Left midfielder: Ever Banega – 6/10
Another useful shift from Banega who has been impressive over the course of the tournament.
Couldn’t quite find the passing range so incisive against Nigeria, and didn’t have the same effect out wide. Looked far more comfortable in the centre.
Grabbed the assist for a neat ball to Angel di Maria before he produced a moment of magic.
Centre midfielder: Javier Mascherano – 3.5/10
In what will almost probably prove his last ever World Cup game, Javier Mascherano stood out as a weak link in this Argentina side.
His work ethic is tireless, but his age and stamina was alarmingly scant compared to the athletic Paul Pogba and Blaise Matuidi.
Completely overrun in the centre towards the end, Mascherano’s deterioration opened the door for France to press home their superiority.
Being up against Kante and Pogba was always going to expose an ageing Mascherano.
Right midfielder: Enzo Perez – 5/10
Ineffectual.
Should never have been in the side, and was the product of Sampaoli’s dreadful tactics.
It sounds harsh, but Perez has failed to make an impact in every game he has played in this tournament.
Against quality opposition, he struggled to get involved even in the slightest.
Left winger: Angel di Maria – 6.5/10
Argentina’s burst of momentum, in which they turned the game around either side of half time, stemmed from a rejuvenated di Maria.
His frustrating start evaporated in a single moment. He dispatched a strike worthy of winning several awards, and it fuelled La Albiceleste to get back into the contest.
His injection of pace and positivity lasted the best part of fifteen minutes, and France eventually regained control of the match.
Di Maria represented one of the best chances Argentina had of getting anything out of the game. He can be credited for that at least.
Right winger: Cristian Pavon – 6.5/10
Pavon is a bright spark for Argentina’s future. That doesn’t mean to say he should have even got near the starting eleven.
Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala were all sat on the bench. Mauro Icardi was at home.
Pavon at only 22 years of age had a huge responsibility, and here his best highlights were slashing wild crosses into the area.
He is a hard-working player with endeavour, making him an auspicious prospect.
False nine: Lionel Messi – 6.5/10
Poor Messi.
Mostly isolated, especially in the first half, the Barcelona star couldn’t make the earth-shattering impact on the game he would have hoped.
A sumptuous cross late on for Aguero was as good as it got.
Almost completely down to Sampaoli’s strategy, Messi was snuffed out of the game, and would have been more influential in a different position.
Was this his last World Cup?
Substitute: Federico Fazio – 4/10
Roma defender, ripped apart against Liverpool in the Champions League, came on at half time to try and shore things up.
The exact opposite happened.
France scored three of their four goals in the second half, and you can’t help but feel Fazio had something to do with that.
A near miss, where he nearly left goalkeeper Armani in a humiliating situation, was only the beginning.
Mbappe tore him to shreds and it is no surprise he didn’t start any other game.
Substitute: Sergio Aguero – 6/10
Didn’t get a touch for at least 20 minutes after he came on.
Should have started from the beginning, proven when he glanced a header home to fray France nerves late on.
Always a magnificent striker.
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