Kazan: Lionel Messi is out of the World Cup. Even a beard couldn't help him this time. He stood near the centre circle after the game, rooted to the spot for a solid five minutes. He didn't have the best of games. Not even close. But the 30,000-odd Argentina fans at the Kazan Arena would have given anything to know what was going through El Capitan's mind.
France had just run ragged all over the Argentina side to eliminate the Latin Americans in the round of 16. In what could be Messi's last World Cup match (we can never really tell, can we?), he was outclassed and outshone by a 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe and a French outfit that has finally hit peak form with the stars in this side. France clearly had a spring in their step and the fluidity that their opponents lacked.
One moment summed up the game. In the 31st minute, it looked like Ever Banega and Lionel Messi would recreate the magic that culminated in the goal against Nigeria. Only for a split second though. Banega looked up and sent a floating pass across the field to Messi, who was in a slightly more advanced position than the passer.
Just as the ball was about to be thigh-ed by Messi, a leaping Blaise Matuidi sprung out of nowhere and quickly intercepted the pass with his feet high in the air. France won back position and it sparked an attack.
Matuidi and his teammates were faster, sharper and stronger than the Argentines, almost as if Didier Deschamps gave them a round of a certain malted milk drink before the game started. In the end, it turned out to be just as expected: the young French side were dismantling the slow, pensive Argentines. And Kylian Mbappe was destroyer in chief.
The PSG stalwart pulled away from his Argentine markers with relative ease, as his teammates faced no difficulty in spotting his darting runs. And the opposition defence kept fouling him. First Marcos Rojo, then Nicolas Tagliafico in the first 20 minutes. One resulted in a penalty, which Antoine Greizmann converted, and the other a free kick that was sent into the crowds by Paul Pogba.
Both, coach Didier Deschamps and the young Mbappe, were quizzed about the significance of the boy's year of birth, after the game. Mbappe was born in 1998, the year Deschamps captained France to their last World Cup title. Both of them shrugged it off. They weren't interested in such insignificant comparisons. They had a job on their hand.
When Argentina came from behind to equalise via a glorious strike from Angel di Maria and then take the lead from a scrappy Gabriel Mercado goal, it felt almost undeserved, and cruel to the free-flowing French that dominated most of the game. Argentina had 60 per cent possession, more shots and a far superior pass success rate. Suddenly, France forgot their Messi duties and pushed forward.
Both teams came into the game on the back of rather unimpressive group stages. While Argentina made it out battered and bruised, France looked dull and unenthusiastic. But within the span of 11 minutes in the second half, France went from panic mode to cruise control. A stunning volley from Benjamin Pavard and a quickfire brace from Mbappe had them running away with the win.
Even Sergio Aguero's header off a beautiful ball from Messi couldn't lift the Argentines, coming in the final moments of the game. It was one of those moments when Argentina fans were reminded of Aguero's class, a rare sight when he puts on the Argentina jersey.
Similar to Germany's collapse against Mexico, Argentina played a high defense line and looked frail and incapable of dealing with counter attacks. Nicolas Otamendi continued to be a shadow of his Manchester City form. The rest of the defense unit were no better.
Javier Mascherano, who in all fairness should get a role named after him, was all over the place, it was hard to say whether he was a centre back or a central midfielder. His opposite number, the omnipresent N'golo Kante combined beautifully with Paul Pogba to not only keep Messi under their thumb, but also to ignite well-oiled counter attacks.
The ill-tempered game saw tackles flying both ways and the number of yellow cards (8) only just exceeded the number of goals. It probably happened to be on one of referee Alireza Faghani's good days, because with the number of squabbles and clashes, the number of bookings would have easily doubled on another day.
It should be said that even if Argentina did manage to beat the French, they would have found it very difficult in the next stage. Both Mascherano and Banega received their second yellow cards of the tournament, which results in a one-game suspension. Without the two who really make Argentina tick, the Uruguay side that advanced would have ripped them to shreds.
Jorge Sampaoli paced about on the touchline, it almost looked like he was calculating his steps. A false coach, they call him, for it is said that Messi calls the shots in the team. But even if he is completely in charge, there is only so much the captain and coach can do, for an imbalanced side such as this.
In front of a packed Argentina crowd, the team failed to reflect the vocal might of their supporters. Argentina's struggling campaign is a product of the country's failure to produce exciting young talent. They came up against a country that is excelling in that very department. The battle was lost off the field before the one on it began.
At halftime, Argentine fans were enthusiastic as the team was level on score, against all odds. Diego Maradona stood in his VIP spot and waved his hands around as if he was conducting the orchestra of the chanting Latin American fans. They were singing his name. And, they were singing Messi's name.
But, where was Messi? Forlorn, scratching the back of his head, looking dejected... It has been a recurring image of the superstar in losing situations and it is a miracle that the team manages to chug on, when their captain looks so demotivated. He had his moments of brilliance, but fleeting ones.
On a day when both Messi and Ronaldo made tame exits from football's grandest stage, the message is clear: The World Cup is no place for one-man armies. Not anymore, at least.