France reach last 16, Messi and Argentina bounce back

The likes of Antoine Griezmann and Aurelien Tchouameni spoke of France's caller losses, and however the squad spoke up of the Saturday lucifer astir this clip being different, and it was. Kylian Mbappe scored twice, Griezmann starred successful midfield and the concern of Raphael Varane and Dayot Upamecano successful cardinal defence looked imperious. Denmark ne'er made it easy, but determination was an aerial of inevitability astir this France team.

The reward for Didier Deschamps' team? A spot successful the circular of 16, the archetypal broadside successful this variation of the World Cup to scope the knockout stage.

That's not the extremity of Denmark, though -- not yet anyway. They'll instrumentality connected Australia connected Wednesday, and assuming that France triumph oregon gully against 30th-ranked Tunisia, a triumph implicit the Socceroos volition instrumentality them done to the circular of 16.

Messi, Argentina bounce backmost vs. Mexico

Has determination been a bigger upset successful this World Cup than Saudi Arabia beating Argentina successful their Group C opener past week? It was the benignant of effect that looked ominous, casting a shadiness implicit what is the last quality successful this contention for 1 of the game's all-time greats successful Messi.

With Poland having beaten Saudi earlier Saturday, Argentina were connected the ft of the array astatine zero points. Anything abbreviated of triumph would've near the Albiceleste with a upland to ascent against Robert Lewandowski & Co. connected the group's last matchday.

And 3 points is precisely what Argentina got from El Tri. While Mexico's tactical tweak failed to genuinely stifle Lionel Scaloni's side, they did look abbreviated of ideas for overmuch of the 90 minutes, yet relying connected the idiosyncratic brilliance of Messi -- again.

It's a effect that serves arsenic a lifeline for Argentina, who are present 2nd successful Group C. Their destiny is successful their hands, with a triumph implicit Poland successful their last lucifer of the radical signifier securing them a spot successful the circular of 16 -- they'll request assistance from elsewhere if they're held to a draw, and a decision would marque the uplifting triumph Saturday meaningless arsenic a radical signifier exit would beryllium confirmed.

Today's apical reads

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Your champion bets (odds via Caesars Sportsbook)

If you're looking to stake connected the World Cup, ESPN contributors Paul Carr, Dan Thomas and Dalen Cuff are present to springiness you cardinal tips on odds, options and futures. Here's what we person for the Sunday matches.

Japan vs. Costa Rica (Japan -220, Draw +300, Costa Rica +700)

Thomas: Japan looked truthful bully successful the 2nd fractional against Germany; successful opposition Costa Rica look similar the worst squad successful the tournament. Japan volition triumph this comfortably. I'll instrumentality full squad goals implicit 2.5 +220.

Cuff: I was large connected Japan pre-tournament to get retired of this radical and they delivered against Germany. They showed their prime and athleticism portion dominating the 2nd half. I don't deliberation Costa Rica were arsenic horrific arsenic they looked against Spain, but I conflict to spot however they're going to make galore prime scoring chances. Japan to triumph to nil +115.

Carr: Agreed connected Dalen's triumph to nil pick. Japan are a legit team, with the physicality to grip immoderate CONCACAF-ness Costa Rica mightiness propulsion astatine them. Unlike the Spain game, the Ticos should get a changeable against Japan, but not overmuch else. Don't overthink this one.

Belgium vs. Morocco (Belgium -108, Draw +235, Morocco +310)

Thomas: Belgium were fortunate to get the triumph against Canada but you can't ideate them to enactment successful different lackluster performance. I don't deliberation determination volition beryllium galore goals. Belgium 1-0 +600.

Cuff: Belgium were dominated by Canada, conceded 20 shots and someway not lone won but kept a cleanable sheet. Their attacking endowment is inactive evident contempt Romelu Lukaku's injury. However that was not a deserved 3 points. Morocco person large gait connected the wings and quality to play successful modulation similar Canada volition output opportunities. Both teams to people -115.

Carr: Kevin De Bruyne said Belgium are excessively aged to triumph the World Cup, and he's right. The aging defence was connected show against Canada, which had 1.8 expected goals without counting the penalty. Morocco should beryllium capable to exploit the backmost enactment too, with the gait of Hakim Ziyech, Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui. I'll instrumentality Morocco +0.5 astatine -125.

Croatia vs. Canada (Croatia +107, Draw +235, Canada +260)

Thomas: This is pugnacious to telephone fixed with what we saw from some sides successful the opening game. I'm taking the gully present +235.

Cuff: Canada were large successful their opener, nary squad was much impressive, and came distant with thing successful the archetypal circular of games. They showed nary fearfulness and dominated Belgium. Croatia person acquisition and immoderate caller humor successful the squad but I deliberation the Canadians enactment unneurotic different show and I'm playing them to triumph outright +260.

Spain vs. Germany (Spain +135, Draw +245, Germany +190)

Thomas: Here we go, then, what a lucifer this should be. Germany person to spell for it aft that decision vs. Japan. I'm expecting goals and tons of them. Over 3.5 +190.

Cuff: Two giants of satellite shot and successful wholly antithetic positions successful the group. Spain smashed Costa Rica 7-0 portion Germany's nonaccomplishment to Japan means they've got everything to play for. A nonaccomplishment could destruct the Germans earlier the last radical game. I similar Dan's play supra with implicit 3.5 goals but I deliberation this ends successful a gully +245.

Carr: This crippled has to person goals successful it. Spain play a overmuch much unfastened benignant than the erstwhile generation's tiki-taka. Germany person plentifulness of top-class attackers and plentifulness of questions astatine the back, some of which were connected show successful the opener, erstwhile Germany had 3.1 expected goals and conceded 1.5. I'm connected implicit 3.5 (+190) too, which scares maine a bit!

News and notes

• Cristiano Ronaldo performed a changeable of "genius" to triumph a arguable penalty for Portugal successful their 3-2 triumph implicit Ghana, FIFA's adept World Cup analysts said Saturday. FIFA's Technical Study Group (TSG) held a media briefing successful Doha successful which it said this World Cup is connected way for a grounds fig of penalties and praised Ronaldo's winning of the spot kick. Former Colombia goalkeeper and TSG sheet subordinate Faryd Mondragon said: "Maybe the strikers are getting smarter? If you look astatine the punishment that Ronaldo got, radical tin accidental what they privation astir this man, but the smartness and the ingenious thought to conscionable being diligent and hold for that divided 2nd to interaction the shot archetypal earlier you, and proceed my limb truthful that your interaction volition deed my leg. That is full genius."

• Luis Enrique has said Spain midfielder Gavi can "define an era" up of their World Cup radical E clash with Germany connected Sunday. The 18-year-old Barcelona academy postgraduate scored and was named MVP successful the 7-0 triumph Wednesday implicit Costa Rica, the country's biggest-ever triumph astatine a World Cup. "The astir astonishing happening for everyone is that someone, astatine 18 years and 100 days old, has that magnitude of self-confidence," Enrique said astatine a quality league Saturday. "You person to look astatine the quality helium has successful his positioning, however helium dominates the method aspects of football, and his carnal capableness contempt being 18. We person to enactment calm, he's 18, but helium tin specify an era."

• Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic said his broadside "deserves respect" pursuing arguable comments made by Canada manager John Herdman this week. Herdman said helium told his players "go and 'eff' Croatia" successful an on-pitch huddle pursuing their constrictive decision to Belgium successful their World Cup Group F opener Wednesday. The connection ''eff'' -- wide assumed to beryllium an abbreviation for an obscenity -- sparked furore successful Croatian media. "The Croatia squad deserves respect from everyone," Dalic said Saturday, the time earlier the 2 sides conscionable successful a must-win match. "We are the runners-up, 2nd successful the world. We respect everyone arsenic truthful we expect our opposing teams to respect us. This mode of putting words unneurotic is not a motion of respect."

Matches connected pat for Sunday

- Group E: Japan vs. Costa Rica (Ahmad bin Ali Stadium; 5 a.m. ET)
Japan scored an upset triumph implicit Germany successful their tourney opener, putting them successful a comfy presumption to look Costa Rica, who were ripped to shreds 7-0 by Spain connected Wednesday. A triumph for the Samurai, with a spot of assistance from Spain successful their lucifer against Germany, volition spot Japan done to the knockout stage.

- Group F: Belgium vs. Morocco (Al Thumama Stadium; 8 a.m. ET)
Belgium were incredibly fortunate to look from their opening lucifer against Canada with a win. Morocco enactment successful a valiant effort to instrumentality a scoreless gully against Russia 2018 finalists Croatia. If the Red Devils crook successful different stale performance, a much experienced Moroccan broadside won't fto them disconnected the hook truthful easily.

- Group F: Croatia vs. Canada (Khalifa International Stadium; 11 a.m. ET)
The fuse for this crippled has already been lit, aft Canada manager John Herdman told his squad to spell "eff Croatia" successful their adjacent match. The Canadians were ascendant against Belgium, but came distant empty-handed. Taking connected Croatia was ever going to beryllium a challenge, and 1 they needed to meet, but their coach's words person made that task each the steeper.

- Group E: Spain vs. Germany (Al Bayt Stadium; 2 p.m. ET)
This is simply a must-win crippled for Germany. If they lose, they volition spell retired of the competition. Meanwhile, Spain tin determination connected to the circular of 16 with a triumph implicit Die Nationalmannschaft and Japan triumph oregon gully against Costa Rica.

What other caught our eye

Before Poland's crippled against Saudi Arabia, Lewandowski had played successful 4 World Cup matches but had failed to score. He was risking joining different greats specified arsenic Luis Figo, Pavel Nedved and Zlatan Ibrahimovic successful playing successful a World Cup for their state but ne'er scoring. That changed, successful affectional fashion, Saturday.

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Gab Marcotti and Nedum Onouha respond to Robert Lewandowski scoring his archetypal extremity successful the FIFA World Cup.