Didier Deschamps appeared entirely unsure of his best system ahead of the opening game of this tournament, but recent World Cup winners have tended to suddenly find their optimum formation midway through the tournament.

In 2002 Brazil clicked into gear once introducing a second holding midfielder, in 2006 Italy’s switch from 4-3-1-2 to 4-2-3-1 worked wonders, in 2010 Spain thrived once they added more directness and width to their attack, and Germany’s 2014 side changed considerably from their opening game to the final.

Here, France learned their lesson after their opening fixture against Australia, an underwhelming performance that eventually resulted in a 2-1 victory, largely thanks to Deschamps introducing Olivier Giroud, who provided his customary knock-downs and flick-ons to bring the best from France’s attacking midfielders. Giroud started the next game, a win over Peru, which necessitated Deschamps switching from 4-3-3 to 4-4-1-1, moving Kylian Mbappe into a wider position, and bringing in Blaise Matuidi on the left. Matuidi is an unfashionable player, about mobility and discipline rather than invention, but he makes this system work, tucking inside and supporting Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante, while allowing Mbappe to play a more attacking role on the opposite flank.

France vs Argentina: Player ratings Show all 24 1 /24 France vs Argentina: Player ratings France vs Argentina: Player ratings France (BACK L to R) France's midfielder Paul Pogba, France's defender Samuel Umtiti, France's defender Lucas Hernandez, France's defender Raphael Varane, France's forward Olivier Giroud, France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, (FRONT L to R) France's forward Antoine Griezmann, France's midfielder Blaise Matuidi, France's midfielder N'Golo Kante, France's defender Benjamin Pavard and France's forward Kylian Mbappe pose before the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between France and Argentina at the Kazan Arena in Kazan on June 30, 2018. (Photo by Luis Acosta / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS (Photo credit should read LUIS ACOSTA/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Hugo Lloris - 6 out of 10 Could do nothing for Di Maria’s wonder goal, and a cruel deflection on Messi’s strike. Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Benjamin Pavard - 8 At just 22, he showed plenty of experience and kept Di Maria quiet, for the goal Di Maria went into the middle, getting no joy from Pavard down the left. Scored a screamer to equalise, and brought France back into the match. FIFA via Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Raphael Varane - 7 Could do little for Di Maria’s individual goal, and played out well from the back. FIFA via Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Samuel Umtiti - 7 With only Messi to contend with in a false nine role in the first half, had little to do, with the only goal coming from range. Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Lucas Hernandez - 6 Dealt well with most he encountered, but against an inform player could be a weakness in the quarter finals. Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Paul Pogba - 8 After a slow start, he grew into the game and sprayed some wonderful passes out to Griezmann and Mbappe. Finally showed his massive potential. AFP/Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Ngolo Kante - 7 Calm and composed in possession, looks to have time on the ball even in a crowded midfield. Corbis via Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Blaise Matuidi - 8 His experience and reading of the game prevented Banega and Messi combining as they did against Nigeria, and he’ll be a big miss in the quarters after picking up his second yellow of the tournament. Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Kylian Mbappe - 9 The star of the first half show, his pace and power earnt the penalty, and left Otamendi and Rojo in his wake, before adding two goals of his own. AFP/Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Olivier Giroud - 7 A quiet showing from the frontman. Struggled to connect with Griezmann, and inches away from connecting with a Pavard cross. Fought to the end and gave everything. Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Antoine Griezmann - 8 Calm from the penalty spot for the opener and caused problems with his pace. Struggled to combine with Giroud with his final ball, but performed well overall. AFP/Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Argentina Getty France vs Argentina: Player ratings Franco Armani - 4 Committed too early for Griezmann’s penalty, rooted to the spot for his free kick that hit the bar, should’ve done better for Mbappe’s second. Adjudged to be the best of a poor three Argentinian goalkeepers – not on this showing. Sergei Savostyanov/TASS France vs Argentina: Player ratings Gabriel Mercado - 5 Lucky to escape a yellow card for a challenge on Kante, and one of many to look uncomfortable against French pace in attack, lost his discipline towards the end. Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Nicolas Otamendi - 6 Dealt well with Giroud, but looked vulnerable with the pace and power of Mbappe and trickery of Griezmann. Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Marcos Rojo - 4 From hero to villain, at fault for the French penalty, and looked out of his depth against the flying Frenchman Mbappe withdrawn at half-time. Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Nicolas Tagliafico - 6 One of the better Argentinian defenders despite his inexperience, also tried to get forward wherever he could. Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Cristian Pavon - 6 One of the players that shouldered the burden of trying to support Messi, but the combination of a French defence and Kante sitting in front left little space for him. Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Javier Mascherano - 6 A yard short of the pace, and his midfield passes that once looked genius, now just take too much time and go backwards. AFP/Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Enzo Perez - 5 A quiet first half, and replaced by Aguero early in the second half. AFP/Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Angel Di Maria - 7 Everything he has been for quite a while now, inconsistent but has the talent to change a game, and his strike will be up there for goal of the tournament. AFP/Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Ever Banega - 6 Struggled to link up with Messi as he did against Nigeria, but worked hard and tried to help in defence too. Getty Images France vs Argentina: Player ratings Lionel Messi - 6 A quiet first half in a false nine position with team mates that left him to dig deeper and deeper for the ball, needed a striker to work with and Aguero’s introduction was too late for him. Yegor Aleyev/TASS

Matuidi can perform almost any tactical role. Against Peru he was important because he defended against Luis Advincula, the dangerous attacking right-back. Here against Argentina, he played a crucial role in minimising the space afforded to Leo Messi. Jorge Sampaoli’s latest formation was a 4-3-3 with Messi deployed as a false nine, recalling his role for Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. It didn’t work well: wingers Angel Di Maria and Carlos Pavon made the wrong runs, failing to offer a threat in behind. Messi, as always, dropped into deep, right-of-centre positions, aiming to receive passes and drift inside onto his left foot. Matuidi, though, was constantly positioned well to deny Argentina space down that flank, making a couple of excellent interceptions.

Matuidi's discipline on the left freed up Mbappe on the right (www.sharemytactics.com)

With a tactically disciplined player on the left, Deschamps can afford to field an outright attacker on the right, and Mbappe produced the performance of the World Cup so far, to the extent that the Paris Saint-Germain attacker is the new favourite to win the Golden Ball award. Allowed the freedom of the right flank, and constantly surging forward on the break, this was an astonishing demonstration of speed and close control.

Argentina simply couldn’t live with Mbappe’s pace. He was clumsily fouled by Javier Mascherano in a central position in the opening stages, with Antoine Griezmann slamming the resulting free-kick against the crossbar. That was the warning sign, and shortly afterwards something similar happened: Mbappe again countered with astonishing speed and this time it was Marcos Rojo who hauled him to the ground. Griezmann made no mistake from the penalty.

Blaise Matuidi gave France a disciplined option that freed up Kylian Mbappe (Getty)

At 1-0 up, France continued to look for Mbappe on the run. 20 minutes in, Paul Pogba’s glorious straight pass over the top found him running through on goal, and this time it was Argentina’s left-back Nicolas Tagliafico who tripped him, just outside the box. Tagliafico was booked, and was subsequently forced to play 70 minutes against the incredible Mbappe too scared of making a tackle. Argentina needed to offer him some protection – a solid left-midfielder like Matuidi would have been handy. At half-time, Sampaoli had clearly instructed Argentina’s midfielders to push across and offer Tagliafico some support. It took only five minutes for Ever Banega to be booked for a completely unnecessary, dangerous challenge on the danger man. He wasn’t the only midfielder to be booked in the second half – Matuidi’s yellow card, seemingly for dissent, rules him out of France’s quarter-final against Uruguay.

Argentina somehow found themselves ahead thanks to Angel Di Maria’s stunning long-range strike and Gabriel Mercado’s fortunate goal. But, after Benjamin Pavard’s truly outstanding swerved equaliser, it became the Mbappe show once again. Having previously demonstrated his speed over 50 yards, it was his acceleration over five yards which allowed him space to fire home and put France 3-2 ahead.

France will be without Blaise Matuidi after he was booked for dissent (Getty)

It was France’s fourth and final goal, however, that demonstrated their combination play and the understanding between their front four. Kante dropped into defence to help France play out from the back, drawing Argentina up the pitch before cutting through their lines. Kante played a forward pass into Griezmann, who knocked the ball left to Matuidi, typically surging forward. He found Giroud, who played his role to perfection, slipping in a runner with a first-time pass, and Mbappe sidefooted coolly into the far corner.