Argentina confirm remarkable record against France

LAST EIGHT

Incredibly, for a team of such high standing now, this was only Argentina's seventh victory in 19 matches at six tournaments, but it may now help launch them into the last eight.

The momentum of an ever-improving squad could see them progress further to an unprecedented but very reachable semi-final.

Winning the pool, which should now be down to their September 30 game with Ireland in their final pool match at the Parc des Princes, should lead to a quarter-final against Scotland or Italy. The runners-up from their group will probably play New Zealand.

Coach Marcelo Loffreda won the tactical battle over his French counterpart Bernard Laporte, fielding Hernandez at flyhalf to put France's defence under pressure with his fine kicking from the hand and up-and-unders.

However, Argentina were lucky France missed two relatively easy penalty attempts and that the French were not sharp enough in their running with the ball to penetrate the Pumas defence.

That Argentina were able to hold firm right to the end, missing two penalties of their own, surely owes a good deal to something unprecedented in their World Cup preparations, a two-week fitness programme in Florida in July.