World Cup

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Attendance: 42,873

World Cup | Round of 16

Jun 30, 2018 at 3pm UK

France
4-3
Argentina

Griezmann (13' pen.), Pavard (57'), Mbappe (64', 68')

FT(HT: 1-1)

Di Maria (41'), Mercado (48'), Aguero (90+3')

Benjamin Pavard explains wonder strike against Argentina

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 01 July 2018

France defender Benjamin Pavard reveals his delight after scoring a wonder goal in his nation's 4-3 win over Argentina in the round of 16.

France defender Benjamin Pavard has revealed his delight after scoring a wonder goal in his nation's 4-3 win over Argentina in the last-16 stage of the 2018 World Cup.

Kylian Mbappe stole the show for France with two goals in an impressive performance, but Pavard also made the headlines with a long-range effort just before the hour mark in Kazan.

The right-back has said that he 'did not even think about it' before finding the top corner to register his first international goal.

"The ball bounced up as it came to me. I didn't even think about it," Pavard told FIFA.com. "I just tried to get over it and keep it down. I was trying to hit it in the direction it came from, which is what the strikers always tell me.

"I didn't think it over, and when it went in I just felt so happy. In German, we say 'Tor'. To hit a shot like that – I can't describe it. I'm still feeling emotional!"

Pavard entered the World Cup off the back of an impressive 2017-18 campaign with Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart.