Match Previews
World Cup 2018
Round 1/4 Final
France
Last updated: Fri 06 July 2018 18:02France were too strong for Argentina. Have won three of their four games in Russia. Unbeaten in eight. Mendy again a doubt. Matuidi is banned.
France saw off the challenge of Argentina to progress through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. They beat the South Americans 4-3 in a thrilling encounter, in which Kylian Mbappe starred as he scored twice and won a penalty. Antoine Griezmann converted from the spot while Benjamin Pavard scored spectacularly as France had a brief moment of doubt.
Didier Deschamps’ side have won three of their four matches at Russia 2018 thus far, with the exception being when they were held 0-0 by Denmark in a match they dramatically changed their starting XI in.
France have lost only one of their last 15 matches, while they are undefeated in all of their last eight.
There were doubts over the fitness of Benjamin Mendy, who has largely been on the bench but who was not available for Saturday’s victory due to injury. Assistant coach Guy Stephane said earlier in the week he would be fit, but after he missed training on Wednesday and Thursday, that seems doubtful.
Midfielder Blaise Matuidi is suspended, which means that Corentin Tolisso is liable to start and the team is set to reshuffle into a 4-3-3 system.
Deschamps has been tipped to retain the 4-2-3-1 shape but field Tolisso at left midfield, which would be an unusual move given that Tolisso is more typically a central player. He does have wing options, such as Ousmane Dembele.
Uruguay
Last updated: Fri 06 July 2018 18:02Uruguay with a perfect record at Russia 2018 thus far. Have won their last seven. Cavani a fresh injury doubt.
Uruguay moved into the quarter-finals of the World Cup by defeating European champions Portugal 2-1 in the last 16. Edinson Cavani scored twice for Oscar Tabarez’s side, heading home a Luis Suarez cross in the first half before snatching the winner with a fine finish in the second.
Thus far, the South Americans have a perfect record in the competition, having played four matches and won them all. Indeed, they have won all of their last seven international outings.
Defensively, they are very strong. They have conceded only once so far in the tournament, a goal from a set piece scored by Portugal’s Pepe in their last match. That was the first time they had conceded in six games.
Edinson Cavani limped off injured towards the end of the Portugal game and already serious doubts have been cast over his fitness for the quarter-final. There is no tear, but he is "in pain", according to reports on Monday. By Thursday, he was on the field training but looks unlikely to start. Uruguay do have strong replacements available in the form of Cristhian Stuani and Maxi Gomez.
Jose Gimenez came through the previous match unscathed, despite doubts over the centre-back’s ability to feature after missing the 3-0 win over Russia.
Tabarez is unlikely to dramatically alter his side for this encounter, though his team are capable of shuffling into a 3-5-2 system very effectively.
Four of the last five meetings between France and Uruguay have finished 0-0; the other was a 1-0 win for the South Americans in a 2013 friendly.
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4-2-3-1 Previous Line Ups
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| H. Lloris | |||
| B. Pavard | |||
| R. Varane | |||
| S. Umtiti | |||
| L. F. B. Hernandez | |||
| P. Pogba | |||
| N. Kante | |||
| K. Mbappe | |||
| A. Griezmann | |||
| O. Dembele | |||
| O. Giroud |
4-4-2 Previous Line Ups
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| F. Muslera | |||
| M. Caceres | |||
| J. M. Gimenez | |||
| D Godin | |||
| D. Laxalt | |||
| N. Nandez | |||
| L. Torreira | |||
| R. Bentancur | |||
| M. Vecino | |||
| L. Suarez | |||
| C. Stuani |
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. Mandanda | |||
| A. Areola | |||
| D. Sidibe | |||
| P. Kimpembe | |||
| A. Rami | |||
| B. Mendy | |||
| T. Lemar | |||
| S. N'Zonzi | |||
| C. Tolisso | |||
| N. Fekir | |||
| F. Thauvin |
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. Campana | |||
| M. Silva | |||
| G. Silva | |||
| M. Pereira | |||
| G. Varela | |||
| S. Coates | |||
| G. De Arrascaeta | |||
| C. Rodriguez | |||
| C. Sanchez | |||
| E. Cavani | |||
| M. G. Gomez | |||
| J. Urretaviscaya |
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| H. Lloris | |||
| B. Pavard | |||
| R. Varane | |||
| S. Umtiti | |||
| L. F. B. Hernandez | |||
| P. Pogba | |||
| N. Kante | |||
| K. Mbappe | |||
| A. Griezmann | |||
| O. Dembele | |||
| O. Giroud |
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. Mandanda | |||
| A. Areola | |||
| D. Sidibe | |||
| P. Kimpembe | |||
| A. Rami | |||
| B. Mendy | |||
| T. Lemar | |||
| S. N'Zonzi | |||
| C. Tolisso | |||
| N. Fekir | |||
| F. Thauvin |
Uruguay
Last updated: Fri 06 July 2018 18:02Uruguay with a perfect record at Russia 2018 thus far. Have won their last seven. Cavani a fresh injury doubt.
Uruguay moved into the quarter-finals of the World Cup by defeating European champions Portugal 2-1 in the last 16. Edinson Cavani scored twice for Oscar Tabarez’s side, heading home a Luis Suarez cross in the first half before snatching the winner with a fine finish in the second.
Thus far, the South Americans have a perfect record in the competition, having played four matches and won them all. Indeed, they have won all of their last seven international outings.
Defensively, they are very strong. They have conceded only once so far in the tournament, a goal from a set piece scored by Portugal’s Pepe in their last match. That was the first time they had conceded in six games.
Edinson Cavani limped off injured towards the end of the Portugal game and already serious doubts have been cast over his fitness for the quarter-final. There is no tear, but he is "in pain", according to reports on Monday. By Thursday, he was on the field training but looks unlikely to start. Uruguay do have strong replacements available in the form of Cristhian Stuani and Maxi Gomez.
Jose Gimenez came through the previous match unscathed, despite doubts over the centre-back’s ability to feature after missing the 3-0 win over Russia.
Tabarez is unlikely to dramatically alter his side for this encounter, though his team are capable of shuffling into a 3-5-2 system very effectively.
Four of the last five meetings between France and Uruguay have finished 0-0; the other was a 1-0 win for the South Americans in a 2013 friendly.
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- ---
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| F. Muslera | |||
| M. Caceres | |||
| J. M. Gimenez | |||
| D Godin | |||
| D. Laxalt | |||
| N. Nandez | |||
| L. Torreira | |||
| R. Bentancur | |||
| M. Vecino | |||
| L. Suarez | |||
| C. Stuani |
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| M. Campana | |||
| M. Silva | |||
| G. Silva | |||
| M. Pereira | |||
| G. Varela | |||
| S. Coates | |||
| G. De Arrascaeta | |||
| C. Rodriguez | |||
| C. Sanchez | |||
| E. Cavani | |||
| M. G. Gomez | |||
| J. Urretaviscaya |