The world's two greatest players roar into the knockout stage of the World Cup on Saturday, with Lionel Messi's Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal targeting a place in the quarter-finals.
Argentina, the beaten finalists four years ago, escaped by the skin of their teeth after a ragged group phase and will rely heavily on Messi when their ageing team face France in Kazan at 1400 GMT.
⚡️CHARGING⚡️
— Team Messi (@TeamMessi) June 29, 2018
The world waits for Leo Messi tomorrow. #HereToCreate #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/4r2AR0wlj3
The French, armed with Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and wonder kid Kylian Mbappe have failed to fire the imagination so far and must sharpen up fast to keep alive their hopes of adding a second World Cup to the title they won on home soil two decades ago.
Before the tournament, France were widely tipped for a run to the final but they have failed to click so far, scoring just three times in three matches.
"Our group games left a mixed impression," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "From tomorrow it's a new start for us.
Is there NO escape for Messi??
— Richard Conway (@richard_conway) June 30, 2018
This is what he and the Argentina team look onto from their hotel rooms in Kazan.
Ronaldo goading him: “I scored 4 goals. Can you beat that Leo?”#FRAARG #worldcup pic.twitter.com/C6CpJaLHyq
"It's make or break. We don't have any choice. We have to do everything possible to make sure it goes well for us."
Messi has spent the tournament trying to hold his unbalanced and labouring squad together, even apparently bypassing coach Jorge Sampaoli to give coaching instructions in the 2-1 win against Nigeria that saved the South Americans from a humiliating group-stage exit.
He has scored only once and Argentina's campaign so far has been defined as much by Diego Maradona's increasingly erratic and emotional outbursts as by any signs the two-time winners can reach the final again.
Lionel Messi is not dictating Argentina’s team selection and tactics, according to the side’s manager.
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 30, 2018
Read?https://t.co/9g5UgcUYaU#bbcworldcup pic.twitter.com/jTaidMHJS7
Sampaoli warned his players that Messi cannot do it on his own.
"Leo has such clear vision when it comes to football that he allows us to see things that, sometimes, only a true genius sees," Sampaoli said.
"It's often difficult to be at the level of such a great player. He's a shining light for us all, and we have to do our very best to all try to be at his level."
The #WorldCup last 1️⃣6️⃣ begins today - good luck to @samumtiti, @Dembouz, Leo #Messi and @LuisSuarez9!
— FC Barcelona ?? (@FCBarcelona) June 30, 2018
?? #BarçaWorldCup pic.twitter.com/yfQovSh9E1
Ronaldo tore out of the blocks in Russia, smashing a hat-trick in his first game against Spain and he added another goal in the 1-0 win against Morocco.
But Portugal's problem against a Uruguay team with the meanest defence of the tournament could be their over-reliance on the 33-year-old five-time world player of the year.
"We have to play as a team. If Ronaldo plays alone we will lose," Portugal coach Fernando Santos said.
Tonight, @Cristiano returns to the scene of his hat-trick vs #ESP @LuisSuarez9 and @Uruguay will be aiming to knock #POR out!
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2018
Who goes through? ?#URUPOR
Uruguay won the last of their two World Cups in 1950 but they have high hopes thanks to their stingy defence and two of the world's most prolific strikers, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez.
The World Cup featured 122 goals in a frequently thrilling first phase and, following Argentina's near-collapse and the stunning failure of holders Germany to advance past the opening stage for the first time in 80 years, the draw is lopsided.
France, Argentina, Portugal, Brazil and Uruguay are all gathered in one section of the competition, with only Spain among recent winners in the other half.
Can Uruguay stop Cristiano Ronaldo? Manager Oscar Tabarez knows it won't be easy. pic.twitter.com/wG9avuJfNm
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 30, 2018
It means that if, for example, England can beat Colombia on Tuesday, they will fancy their chances of reaching a potential semi-final against 2010 winners Spain.
FIFA have declared the video assistant referee system, introduced to the World Cup finals for the first time in Russia, a success.
Missing football today? ⚽️
— FIFA World Cup ? (@FIFAWorldCup) June 29, 2018
Well, for the die-hards among you, Pierluigi Collina, Massimo Busacca and Roberto Rosetti discussed refereeing and VAR at the #WorldCup so far.
You're almost certain to learn something!?https://t.co/iZwFVgoiaK pic.twitter.com/HLVJuDz1bC
Pierluigi Collina, the chairman of FIFA's referees committee, said he was pleased with the impact of VAR but that it did not mean all decisions would be perfect.
FIFA said VAR crews conducted checks on 335 incidents during the group stage, helping achieve a 99.3 percent rate of correct decisions.
"VAR doesn't mean perfection," Collina said. "There could still be some wrong interpretation or even mistakes, so it's not a perfection that can be reached having implemented VAR."
The VAR system at the #worldcup has been 'fine-tuned' following criticism
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) June 30, 2018
Here's what you need to know ? https://t.co/ibM1zMa5hQ#bbcworldcup pic.twitter.com/GD2KRsN5Jl
