World Cup 2018: Lothar Matthaus on why Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will come unstuck against France and Uruguay
Germany World Cup legend believes the French will be too much for Argentina in their last-16 clash while Euro champs Portugal will be found out against Luis Suarez and Co
LOTHAR MATTHAUS is SunSport’s World Cup analyst. With Russia 2018 now at the knock-out stage, the Germany legend believes this is where the real tournament begins . . .
So far, I have enjoyed Russia 2018. There has been lots of good football.
But I was ashamed of what I saw in Poland v Japan. To see a team happy to lose, not even trying to score, was not right, not what football should be about.
The good news is, this is where the World Cup really starts. If you don’t fight from the first minute to the last, you are out.
This is where we get the real drama of the World Cup. It is what I loved as a player and still love now.
No more chance to play for a tactical result. It’s sudden death now. The time for the sort of bulls**t we saw in some of the last group games is over.
ARGENTINA v FRANCE
This is the toughest game of the second round. Two former winners, big teams with good players, huge names.
It could be a final looking at the teams and the players they have. But neither has played like finalists so far. I have not liked either of them. Argentina are lucky to still be in it and France haven’t played as well as I expected.
IN A MESSI
Argentina are not JUST Lionel Messi. They have Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero. But they are all ABOUT Messi. They depend on him.
If he plays well, they can beat anybody. They can’t beat anybody if he doesn’t.
FROM RUSSIA WITH LIVE All the latest action, news, goals and gossip from the World Cup
more from world cup 2018
FRENCH FLAIR
Yes, France were SO boring against Denmark. This is different. And France have the pace and power to hurt Argentina.
I look at Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe and think they will be crucial, particularly if Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante take a grip in midfield.
So far they haven’t shown what they are capable of doing. And I haven’t see the right spirit from them.
Argentina’s biggest problem is Javier Mascherano is simply not what he was.
He has experience, yes. But he does not have the legs any more.
France have so much pace, both wide and from the midfield and that speed will be too much for Mascherano — and then the centre of the Argentine defence.
PREDICTION: This is a game with pressure for both sides. But for me there is only one winner.
France 2 Argentina 1
URUGUAY v PORTUGAL
The last-16 clash in Sochi today is sure to be another great game.
I like what I have seen from Uruguay so far, while Portugal came here believing they could win the World Cup.
Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani are such strong offensive players for Uruguay — while we do not have to talk about Cristiano Ronaldo, just to say he is the Portugal superstar.
PASS THE PORT
PORTUGAL have not impressed me at all.
They are only still in the tournament because of Ronaldo’s four goals.
The draw with Spain was a great game — but the Spanish were far better.
Portugal got away with it because of a penalty, a bad mistake by David De Gea and a free-kick.
But even coach Fernando Santos must know they did not play well — and they were even worse against Morocco and Iran.
I know they won Euro 2016 playing this way. They got out of their group with three draws and got better — without playing aggressive, attacking football.
It’s been the same here. Ronaldo is their threat and everybody else defends — yet even then other teams get a lot of chances.
UR THE GUYS
URUGUAY are so tough, so clever, so combative — and Suarez and Cavani can score against anybody.
They are the only team who have not conceded a goal yet and that is a sign of how good they are at the back.
The midfield covers well and they know that if they do not concede, they can get a goal from one of their two strikers or from a set-piece.
GODIN THE GOD
DIEGO GODIN is a threat in the opponents’ box but more importantly he is one of the world’s best defenders.
The 32-year-old (below) has so much experience, which he shows with club Atletico Madrid and for the national team.
He is a magical player who has learned from working under Diego Simeone.
I look at Godin and see a real captain, a real leader who will fight to the last breath for his team.
He is as important to Uruguay as Sergio Ramos is for Spain.
PREDICTION: Uruguay 2 Portugal 0. Uruguay are my favourites, very much. Portugal can only win if Ronaldo has a great day.