With Lionel Messi aiming to win his first World Cup title for Argentina in the World Cup final against defending champions France, it will be a tough task for the South American team to win the title in Qatar. While Argentina’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez drew on Kylan Mbappé’s earlier comments about South American soccer teams, the fact remains that France have gone undefeated in their last 10 matches against South American soccer teams in World Cup history. Here’s a look at France’s unbeaten run against South American teams
France vs Brazil at the 1986 World Cup
In the quarter-final played at the Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara, Brazil took the lead early on with a goal from Careca in the 17th minute. France would score the equalizer through a goal from Michel Platini in the 40th minute, with the match ending 1–1 before going on penalties. Socrates and Julio Cesar would miss the penalties against French goalkeeper Joel Bats, while only Platini missed his penalty for France in the team’s 4–3 penalty shootout victory against the South American powerhouse.
France vs Paraguay at the 1998 World Cup
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PremiumIt wasn’t until 1998 that France faced a South American team in a World Cup encounter. Playing in front of a home crowd at the Stade Felix Bollaert stadium, the French team faced stiff resistance from Paraguay, a team that had reached the round of 16 for the first time since 1986. France had chances in the game, but their efforts were thwarted by Paraguayan goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert. With the match going into extra time, it was a nervous time for both teams as the Golden Goal rule was followed for the first time in World Cup history. Laurent Blanc scored the winning goal for France with six minutes remaining to celebrate for France.
France vs Brazil in 1998 World Cup Final
It was only the third time in World Cup history that France and Brazil had faced each other. Prior to the 1998 World Cup final, played at Stade de France, both teams faced each other twice, with Brazil winning in 1958 and France winning in 1986. Brazilian coach Mario Zagallo mentioned Ronaldo, who reportedly had an epileptic fit every day had had prior to the match hours before the final. France took the lead through a Zinedine Zidane header against Brazilian goalkeeper Claudio Taffarel before Zidane identically scored the second goal in stoppage time in the first half. Emmanuel Petit scored France’s third goal in stoppage time in the second half to ensure a famous 3–0 win for France. It was also the first time Brazil had lost a World Cup match by a goal difference of three goals.
France vs Uruguay World Cup 2002
Defending champions France needed to win against Uruguay in their second Group A meeting in Busan. With French forward Thierry Henry sent off after a challenge on Uruguayan midfielder Marcelo Romero, the French team battled constant attacks from the Uruguayan forwards, including a late save from French goalkeeper Fabien Barthez on a shot from Alvaro Recoba in injury time in the game. second half. The 0–0 draw would mean the defending champions’ chances of staying in the tournament were hanging by a thin thread before finishing last in the group after a 2–0 defeat to Denmark and Senegal and Uruguay drawing.
France vs Brazil at the 2006 World Cup
It was the fourth time the two teams had faced each other in World Cup history, with France winning twice and Brazil winning once. In the quarter-final played in Frankfurt, France dominated the first half before an unmarked Thierry Henry scored from Zinedine Zidane’s free-kick in the 57th minute of the game. The score remained the same until the end and France advanced to the semi-finals.
France vs Uruguay at the 2010 World Cup
Prior to the group stage match, both France and Uruguay had twice scored goalless draws in their last two encounters. In the last five games between the two teams, France had only won once and lost twice, and at the 2010 World Cup meeting, both teams failed to break the deadlock. The match ended in a 0–0 draw with Uruguay failing to win any of their 13 World Cup matches against a European side.
France vs Ecuador at the 2014 World Cup
France would face another South American opponent in the form of Ecuador in their Group E encounter. France only needed a draw to top the group and as the match ended in a 0-0 draw, the French team advanced through to the eighth finals.
France vs Peru at the 2018 World Cup
French striker Kylain Mbappe was playing in his first World Cup and the youngster would become the first teenager to score for France in a World Cup or Euro match against Peru in Ekaterinburg. Mbappe scored the only goal of the game in the 34th minute after a rebound from an Oliver Giroud shot by Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
France vs Argentina World Cup 2018
With France facing Argentina in the round of 16 in Kazan, all the focus was on French striker Kylan Mbappé and Argentina’s Lionel Messi. Antoine Griezmann scored the opening goal of the game from a penalty kick in the 13th minute after a foul on Mbappé. Angel Di Maria and Gabriel Mercado’s goals in the 41st minute and 48th minute would see Argentina lead 2–1 in the match. Benjamin Pavard scored France’s equalizer in the 57th minute before Mbappé’s double hits within five minutes put France ahead 4–2 in the match. Sergio Aguero scored Argentina’s third goal in stoppage time to revive Argentina’s hopes before France won the match 4–3.
France vs Uruguay World Cup 2018
With a place in the semi-finals at stake, France and Uruguay faced each other for the third time since 1986 at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Russia. France dominated possession in the match with 62 per cent possession and goals from Raphael Varane and Antione Griezmann saw the 1998 world champions progress to the semi-finals.