Argentina head coach Jorge Sampaoli denied reports of unrest earlier this week
Wednesday 27 June 2018 18:50, UK
France are favourites to beat Argentina in the last 16 and progress to the World Cup quarter-finals, according to former Argentina international Hernan Crespo.
A late winner from defender Marcos Rojo helped Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 in their final Group D match to scrape into the knockout stage.
Crespo, who played at three World Cups for Argentina, does not expect an easy ride for his country when they come up against Didier Deschamps' France.
"It's a fantastic result after a lot of suffering," he said. "We hope so much that next Saturday we will have the chance of beating France. It won't be easy because they are the favourites to win in this situation.
"They arrive [here] better than us and they have a project behind them. For us it's totally different. We try to improve step by step. But you never know. I think it's a big problem for France to meet Argentina."
The South American side drew their opener against Iceland and lost to Croatia, but after the poor start, reports of unrest in the Argentina camp circulated.
Crespo, however, says the win over Nigeria will help to relieve the pressure on the players.
"What happened yesterday isn't normal," he said. "To see many of the players crying at the end of a game, when all that was at stake was making it to last 16, explains the huge pressure they were feeling on their shoulders."
"I hope that in a way what happened yesterday will serve as relief. So they can find the best version of themselves facing the next match."
