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Paul Pogba has done what very few players can say they have achieved during their career – score a goal in a World Cup final and lift the trophy! The Manchester United midfielder netted a stunning third goal for France in the second half of their pulsating 4-2 victory over Croatia in Sunday’s final in Moscow, following up his initial blocked shot with a rasping effort from the edge of the box which flew past Croatia keeper Danijel Subašić. It was our no.6’s first goal of the tournament and he left it for the biggest occasion. Paul also became the first United player to score in a World Cup final and the first Premier League player to net in the showpiece event since Emmanuel Petit, once of Arsenal, when France were last crowned world champions as the host nation in 1998. Earlier in the game, Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic headed Antoine Griezmann’s free-kick into his own net, but Ivan Perisic’s fine finish levelled matters for Croatia 10 minutes later. However, Griezmann’s c...

Lionel Messi was understandably distraught following Argentina's defeat by France in the last-16 of the World Cup on Saturday. The Barcelona legend notched an assist on the day, but was unable to inspire a victory, as Les Bleus ran out 4-3 winners over the two-time champions of the tournament. Antoine Griezmann opened the scoring from the penalty spot for France, after man of the match Kylian Mbappe was pulled down in the box by Marcos Rojo. Angel Di Maria leveled the scores with a wonder strike before Gabriel Mercado latched onto a Messi shot to beat Hugo Lloris in the France goal, and put Argentina in front. Benjamin Pavard then netted a wondergoal of his own to level the scores once more before an Mbappe double won the match for France. Sergio Aguero bagged a late consolation, reducing the deficit to a single goal, but it was too little too late for Argentina. After the match a number of Argentina players burst into tears on the pitch. Paul Pogba was then see...

The 1998 champions won 4-3 and looked a totally different side from the one that struggled to find their cutting edge in the group stage, pouring forward with pace and purpose to stretch the ageing Argentine defence in Kazan. Antoine Griezmann gave France the lead from the penalty spot but the South Americans levelled with a sweet hit from Angel Di Maria and edged ahead shortly after half-time through Gabriel Mercado. But defender Benjamin Pavard equalised with a thunderous strike to pull France level and once more change the complexion of the game. That set the scene for 19-year-old Mbappe, who netted two goals in four second-half minutes to become the first teenager to score at least twice in a World Cup match since Pele in 1958. Sergio Aguero gave Argentina late hope but they ran out of time and head home after a rollercoaster ride in Russia that ultimately ends in bitter disappointment for the two-time former champions. "I'm very happy, and it's flatt...

The World Cup knockout stages get underway as heavyweights France and Argentina go head-to-head at the Kazan Arena. Argentina scraped through to the knockout stages following a dramatic victory over Nigeria in their last group match, finishing as runners-up to Croatia. Les Bleus, meanwhile, came top of Group C after two wins and a draw. Today could be the final time we see Lionel Messi on the World Cup stage, unless the maestro can mastermind a win against one of the pre-tournament favourites. The winner of today’s bout will play either Uruguay or Portugal in the quarter-finals on Friday July 6 at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. LATEST FRANCE 4 - 3 ARGENTINA - GRIEZMANN (13) DI MARIA(41) G. MERCADO (48) PAVARD (57) MBAPPE (64',68') AGUERO (90+3) France XI: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez, Kante, Pogba; Mbappe, Griezmann, Matuidi, Giroud. Argentina XI: Armani, Mercado, Otamendi, Rojo, Tagliafico, Mascherano, Enzo Perez, Banega, Pavon, Messi, Di Ma...

"Leo has such clear vision when it comes to football that he allows us to see things that, sometimes, only a true genius sees," said Sampaoli. "It's often difficult to be at the level of such a great player. He's a shining light for us all and we have to do our very best to all try to be at his level." Messi’s campaign has been as bipolar as the rest of the Argentina team. He missed a penalty in the 1-1 draw with Iceland in the opening Group D game. He was as absent as the rest of the side during the 3-0 loss to Croatia in the second game in Nizhny Novgorod but was menace incarnate during the 2-1 defeat of Nigeria which led to qualification for the last 16. Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega claimed Messi had hit his stride. "It's only normal - he wasn't relaxed. We didn't start the tournament as well as we should have. "Now, I see him a lot more comfortable now. He helped us win, and that makes a big difference." Samp...

Argentina scraped through to the knockout stage following a dramatic victory over Nigeria in their last group match, finishing as runners-up to Croatia. Les Bleus, meanwhile, came top of Group C after two wins and a draw but both countries have failed to light up the tournament so far. Already qualified, France played out arguably the worst match of the competition so far - and the only 0-0 draw - against Denmark but all three group performances led to criticism in some quarters. And Tottenham goalkeeper and French captain Lloris accepts his team will now have to raise their game in Kazan if they are to reach the quarter finals. “This is going to be a big match, and a difficult one, we are going to have to step up our level,” he said at a press conference, broadcast by FIFATV on YouTube. Pavon “This is going to be a big match, and a difficult one, we are going to have to step up our level” Hugo Loris “We should go beyond our limits, have to be full of energy, bet on ou...

Paul Pogba and Lionel Messi take centre stage as the World Cup shifts into high gear at the weekend with the start of the knockout matches in the loaded top half of the draw. Football heavyweights France, Argentina, Portugal and Brazil are all clustered in one section of the competition, with only Spain among recent winners in the other half. The unbalanced nature of the knockout phase increases the chances of an unlikely team reaching the semi-finals -- and of the big guns cancelling each other out. That scenario sparked debate ahead of Thursday's England-Belgium group match -- was it better to win and enter the tougher side of the draw or lose and face potentially easier fixtures down the line? In the event, third-ranked Belgium won 1-0, adding even more firepower to the top half, while if England can get past Colombia they will fancy their chances of reaching a potential semi-final against 2010 winners Spain. The first phase in Russia featured just one goalless draw an...