Three critical battles will decide the France v Uruguay winner

By Liam Mackey

The three battles that will decide the opening World Cup quarter-final.

Kylian Mbappe v Diego Godin

And not just Mbappe and not just Godin, because the most pronounced clash on offer in this game looks like being the blistering pace and proven goal-threat of the 19-year-old allied to the cleverness and eye for goal of Antoine Griezmann up against the superb Diego Godin and the rest of his comrades in a redoubtable Uruguayan defence which has conceded only one goal in the tournament so far.

GOAL #FRA 3-2 #ARG

France lead again, and it's that man Mbappe. Can Argentina rise from the canvas?#RTEsoccer

Live updates: https://t.co/OnJgUORzbr pic.twitter.com/qZSM0fcRBC

— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 30, 2018

Luis Suarez v Samuel Umtiti

In the expected absence of Edinson Cavani, a huge weight of responsibility falls on Luis Suarez to make the most of any goal chance that comes Uruguay’s way. He’ll be up against familiar La Liga rivals in the centre-half pairing of Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane and his own Barcelona clubmate Samuel Umtiti, with the latter’s tendency to cough up a costly mistake or two something the predatory Suarez will be only too eager to exploit.

GOAL Uruguay#URU 1-0 #RUS

11mins: Uruguay take the lead through a Luis Suarez free-kick.#RTEsoccer

Updates: https://t.co/BDmwG1BYez pic.twitter.com/4yPOHFNuqv

— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 25, 2018

Paul Pogba v Lucas Torreira

Or maybe that should be Paul Pogba v Paul Pogba because if Manchester United’s midfielder is, as they say in the game, at it from the start — as opposed to the baffling figure who can sometimes seem more observer than participant on the field of play — then there might not be a whole lot the Uruguayan midfield can do, certainly of the legal variety, to prevent the Frenchman’s power and panache exerting a key influence on the outcome. Torreira is heavily linked with a move to Arsenal.

Paul Pogba