Timeline of Matches Between Argentina and France National Football Teams

Introduction

The Argentina national football team and the France national football team are two of the most successful national teams in world football, with a combined 5 FIFA World Cup titles between them. Argentina and France have faced each other in some classic matches over the years, developing an intense rivalry on the pitch.

Early Meetings

The first official match between Argentina and France took place on July 2, 1930 in the first ever FIFA World Cup in Uruguay. The match ended 1-0 to Argentina, with Luis Monti scoring the only goal. Not much happened between the two sides over the next several decades, with only friendlies taking place.

1958 World Cup

Argentina and France met for the second time in the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden. The group stage match ended 3-1 to France, who went on to finish third while Argentina were eliminated in the group stage.

1978 World Cup

20 years later, Argentina hosted the 1978 World Cup. Argentina won the tournament for the first time, but did not meet France. However, Argentina won the final 3-1 against the Netherlands, featuring goles from Mario Kempes (2) and Daniel Bertoni.

1986 World Cup

In the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, Argentina and France were drawn in the same group. Their match ended 1-1, with Diego Maradona scoring for Argentina. This was the match where Maradona scored his famous "Hand of God" goal against England.

Argentina went on to win their second World Cup, defeating West Germany 3-2 in the final. Maradona was the star of the tournament.

Friendlies in the 1990s

Argentina and France continued to play occasional friendlies in the 1990s. In 1991, France won 1-0 at the Parc des Princes in Paris. In 1992, Argentina won 1-0 at the Monumental in Buenos Aires.

1998 World Cup

In 1998, Argentina and France met in the Round of 16 at the World Cup in France. The match ended in a dramatic 2-1 win for France, who went on to win their first World Cup title on home soil. Argentina were left disappointed as the match featured Maradona's last ever appearance for the national team.

Recent Meetings

Friendlies in the 2000s

The two sides met in friendlies in 2003 and 2007, with France winning 2-0 and Argentina winning 1-0 respectively. Players like Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet, Juan Roman Riquelme and Lionel Messi started to become key players for their national teams.

2010 World Cup

Argentina and France were again drawn in the same group in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Argentina won the match 4-1, exposing France's weaknesses. Argentina reached the quarter-finals, while France were eliminated in the group stage.

2018 World Cup

Most recently, Argentina and France met in the Round of 16 at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. France emerged victorious in a seven-goal thriller, winning 4-3 thanks to a late winner from Kylian Mbappe. France went on to win the World Cup, defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final.

Conclusion

The matches between the Argentina and France national teams have produced some classic moments in World Cup history. While Argentina dominated in the early years, France have had the edge in recent decades. With superstars like Messi and Mbappe leading their national teams, the next Argentina vs France match promises to be another thrilling encounter.

FAQs

When did Argentina and France first play each other?

Argentina and France first met at the 1930 FIFA World Cup in Uruguay. Argentina won 1-0 in their group stage encounter.

Which match is famous for Maradona's "Hand of God" goal?

The famous match where Maradona scored his "Hand of God" goal was at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, when Argentina played England. Argentina did not play France at the 1986 tournament.

What was the score when France knocked out Argentina in 2018?

When France and Argentina met in the Round of 16 at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, France won 4-3 with a late goal from Kylian Mbappe.