France was the first team to reach knockout stage after Lionel Messi saved his country from embarrassment at the World Cup.
Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Mexico was won by Messi. Substitute Enzo Fernandez settled a fracas at the Lusail Stadium, Qatar.
Argentina was aware that a second defeat would have thrown them out of the World Cup. They lost to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in one of the most shocking World Cup shocks.
The pressure was increased by the fact that Poland had previously beaten Saudi Arabia by 2-0.
Messi, who is 35 and playing in his fifth World Cup, scored a long-range goal 19 minutes into the second period to get his team on the right track.
Fernandez made the final with a curling shot, three minutes after the normal time expired.
To ensure their passage, Argentina must win Wednesday’s final group match against Poland in order to be certain.
Kylian Mbappe (Messi’s Paris St Germain partner), scored both goals for France in their 2-1 win over Denmark.
Mbappe scored both strikes within a short time, and his winner came four minutes later.
After 61 minutes, Denmark lost to France, which it beat twice in the Nations League, but was able to draw level through Andreas Christensen.
Mbappe’s brace makes him the second-ranked player to have scored seven or more World Cup goals in a single season before his 25th birthday.
France, the current champions, has extended their World Cup winning streak of six games to date.
reply
retweet
favourite
