World Cup Preview: France vs Argentina

If somebody told you this match was happening at the World Cup you'd expect it to at least be a quarterfinal. 3 World Cup titles between the 2 teams makes this a clash of giants, especially with France seemingly having the best squad they've had since the era in which they won it all, and Argentina have arguably the best player of all time.

So why does this feel underwhelming? France finished with 7 points but have failed to impress in all 3 games. A penalty and a goal line technology given own goal gave them 3 points against Australia. They looked in control but unconvincing against Peru, and the 0-0 with Denmark was completely devoid of life. 

This could all be taken in stride if Deschamps at least looked like he knew what he wanted in his own team. Giroud doesn't get enough credit for how good he is, but he doesn't gel quite right with Griezmann. Right now, France are better off in a 4-3-3 with Pogba, Kante, and Matuidi in the middle and Griezmann as a false 9 with Mbappe and Dembele getting forward and going 1v1, especially considering Sampaoli's affinity for the back 3 and that Argentina have a severe lack of quality defenders.

What France do have going for them is they haven't yet looked like they were about to concede in this tournament. The bad thing is they're going up against Lionel Messi.

France aren't the only team that look like they're coming in limping. Argentina also look shaky, and while France look unconvincing, Argentina look like a raw mass of emotion and confusion. The questions have been circling for a long time, in retrospect since the 2016 Copa America. They barely qualified for the World Cup and in the first 2 matches they went from tactically unaware and uninspired to disorganized and crushingly defeated. 

Since then though, it appears as if Sampaoli has admitted his weaknesses and Messi and Mascherano have stepped up to carry and guide the team, respectively. The performance against Nigeria wasn't particularly convincing, but it was defiant, and it makes you wonder: can a team who collapsed on an emotional whim after a penalty miss be emotionally volatile enough to swing back the other way after a last gasp winner? 

Somebody is going out: a tournament favorite stacked with talent or the best player alive. 

Either way, there will be no lack of drama.