One of the four quarterfinals at the 2018 World Cup is set, with Uruguay and France advancing over Portugal and Argentina.
A pair of strikers experienced differing fortunes in those round-of-16 matchups, while serious questions must be asked about the Argentines.
Here are three winners and three losers from Day 16 of the World Cup.
WINNERS
Edinson Cavani
Constantly overshadowed by Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez, it was Edinson Cavani’s time to shine on Saturday.
Did he ever.
Cavani’s brace ultimately guided Uruguay into the World Cup quarterfinals, and both goals were absolutely magnificent.
The cross-field pass to Suarez, the subsequent run towards the back post and header into the corner was breathtaking to watch. The winning strike, hit first-time without any hesitation, wrapped a bow on a majestic showing from Cavani.
Unfortunately, Cavani had to limp off shortly thereafter with an injured hamstring. With only six days left until the quarterfinal against France, the 30-year-old is racing against time.
Hopefully Cavani is fit enough and will play a role on Friday.
The Pogba-Mbappe partnership
Kylian Mbappe was the obvious man of the match with his two-goal performance, but the chemistry between Mbappe and Paul Pogba was incredible to watch.
Almost every pass from Pogba to Mbappe led to a dangerous chance. As soon as the former received the ball, Mbappe was off to the races. All he needed was Pogba to execute the perfect assist. He got exactly that.
Mbappe’s pace, quick touch and incisive movements caused fits for Argentina’s defence all game long. However, Pogba’s defensive duties were most notable. No one completed more ball recoveries than Pogba (10). Not even N’Golo Kante.
10 – Paul Pogba has made 10 recoveries v Argentina today, twice more than any other France player. Rebellion. #FRAARG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/TeQncmxGJz
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) June 30, 2018
Pogba’s lack of work rate, specifically defensively, has been criticized throughout his career, yet he continues to thrive in a midfield duo next to Kante.
As for Mbappe, becoming the first teenager to score at least two goals at a World Cup since Pele is quite the accomplishment, to say the least.
French full-backs
It’s time for Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard to receive some recognition for their strong performances.
Hernandez, who hadn’t started a competitive match for France prior to the World Cup, has been a defensive stalwart on the left. That was no different on Saturday. He had a game-high five tackles to help nullify Cristian Pavon, Lionel Messi, Gabriel Mercado and Enzo Perez, who all tried to overload that side of the pitch.
Hernandez even assisted Pavard’s goal. An unlikely full-back-to-full-back combination.
Normally a centre-back, Pavard has looked more than comfortable at right-back for France so far. Neither defender is very involved in the attack, and that is fine, because with the threat of Mbappe, Pogba and others, there is no need to push up.
LOSERS
Cristiano Ronaldo
After a hat-trick performance against France, Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup ended on a sour note individually and for his country.
Portugal as a whole struggled to break past Uruguay’s stingy defence. Despite mustering 20 shots, only five hit the target and the Portuguese midfield wasn’t incisive enough with their passing.
Ronaldo himself had little luck, too. Most of his touches were on the left side of the pitch and he seldom forayed into the box, mainly because Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez were gobbling up passes in the penalty area.
At 33 years old, most players would likely retire from international duty. However, given Ronaldo’s impeccable fitness, it’s likely that he could have one final shot at the 2022 World Cup.
Jorge Sampaoli
Even though Argentina only lost 4-3 to France, the formation and the players selected did not match up well, and that is on coach Jorge Sampaoli.
Cristian Pavon should’ve started every match to provide more directness, pace, dribbling and verticality on the wings. His only start was on Saturday against France. Enzo Perez was on vacation until June 9 when he was called in as an injury replacement for Manuel Lanzini, yet the out-of-form Perez was in the lineup in three of Argentina’s four matches.
Those are just two examples.
Sampaoli opted to play it safe with his squad selection before the World Cup and deviated from the fast-paced, fluid 3-4-3 system that he deployed with Chile and Universidad de Chile. It was too intense for this group of players and the 60-year-old tactician had little time to call in new players and plan for the World Cup.
When a defence is positionally undisciplined and the attack keeps firing aimless crosses into the box or just hands off the ball to Messi, that proves there is no clear plan implemented by the coach.
That is what Argentina lacked, and it showed with Sampaoli’s 15 different lineups in his 15 matches as Argentina’s coach.
France’s centre forwards
Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud combined for two passes in the entire match versus Argentina. Apart from Griezmann’s penalty and a free kick off the bar, he was largely invisible, as was Giroud.
As mentioned before the tournament, coach Didier Deschamps has a dilemma with Griezmann and Paul Pogba. When one thrives, the other struggles. We’re witnessing this right now at the World Cup.
It hasn’t hindered France as of yet, but facing a strong Uruguayan defence will be a stern test for this more cautious French side.
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