WATCH: France and Argentina trade golazos in World Cup
Angel Di Maria and Benjamin Pavard scored a pair of all-timers in the World Cup round of 16 match between France and Argentina on Saturday.
France and Argentina met on Saturday in the first match of the round of 16 at the World Cup and they did not disappoint, as they combined to score a pair of fantastic goals that are among the best from this tournament.
After France took a 1-0 lead on a seventh-minute penalty from Antoine Griezmann, Argentina found a response with a 30-yard scorcher bent into the top right corner off the foot of struggling midfielder Angel Di Maria.
ANGEL DI MARIA! 😱😱😱
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018
The Argentinian unleashes a rocket from outside of the box to pull them level just before the half. pic.twitter.com/pWbSsYR1eN
Argentina would score again early in the second half off of a Gabriel Mercado deflection in the 48th minute to take a 2-1 lead, but the French responded with what might be the goal of the tournament as defender Benjamin Pavard bent one back into the top corner on a rope with the outside of his foot from outside the box.
Pavard to Di Maria: Anything you can do I can do better! 🚀😱 pic.twitter.com/ugnBrIyp0i
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 30, 2018
Seriously, watch this again.
This is poetry. pic.twitter.com/Yb2prwV1er
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) June 30, 2018
That goal proved the catalyst for the French attack, as Kylian Mbappe scored a pair of second-half goals to put the match away and see off Argentina. France advance to the quarterfinals, where they will play the winner of the round of 16 match between Uruguay and Portugal, which kicks off at 2:00 ET on Saturday on FOX.
Next: Breaking down the Germany-less knockout stage
Catch all of the World Cup group stage action on FOX and FS1 from Saturday until Tuesday. Full schedule and breakdown of each matchup.