Day 17 update – Lazy journos in mourning after Messi and Ronaldo head home

Leo Messi after full time begins to process Argentina’s defeat
Photo: Getty courtesy of FIFA.com

Lazy journalists of the football world are in mourning after Day 17.

Both Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will take no further part in the tournament after both Argentina and Portugal were eliminated in the knock out rounds. The two players are the most click baitable and headline grabbing names in world football but many fans in the USA objected to journalists’ including some of the early Fox Soccer coverage’s infatuation with them.

Their sides were eliminate by some fantastic football, especially by France. An incredible day of World Cup football began with a seven goal thriller in which France eliminated Argentina 4-3. Kylian Mbappe scored twice after France had temporarily trailed 2-1 and needed a long range effort from an unlikely source  Benjamin Pavard to level.

Kylian MbAppe and Edson Cavani stole their respective shows with two goals. France will now play Uruguay.in the last eight.

France 4 : 3 Argentina
Kylian Mbappe became the second youngest player to score twice in a World Cup game, after Pele, as his brace pulled France from 2-2 to 4-2, a lead that proved unassailable. Antoine Griezmann put France ahead with a penalty but Angel Di Maria equalised with a long range effort before half time.

Three minutes after halftime, Seville’s Gabriel Mercado deflected a Messi shot goalward and in. France leveled it at 2-2 in 58′ when VfB Stuttgart’s Benjamin Pavard hit a shot first time with amazing pace and accuracy. Then Mbappe took over and delivered France a win with two goals in four minutes, the second the result of an incredible passing move that started with the keeper Hugo Lloris. Segio Aguero’s late goal was no more than a consolation.

Uruguay 2 : 1 Portugal
Two moments of brilliance from Edison Cavani put paid to Portugal’s attempt to add the World Cup to their European Championship. Portugal had monumental possession especially in the second half but Cavani’s 62nd minute effort was the only goal of the second half. Although Uruguay shipped their first goal of the Finals, they retain the 100% record. Pepe scored for Portugal in the 55th minute.

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