Dave: It's the knockout stages and I can't wait. Let's hope all 16 teams go for it

Femi: Hope we are treated to a cracker of a game and don’t get to talk about VAR, refereeing and Maradona madness!

Geoff: Looking at the teams only Messi would get in the France line-up. Should be an easy win therefore...

Between them, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have played 1090 minutes in knockout games at the World Cup without scoring a single goal.

Image source, .

It's not hard to see Lionel Messi retiring from international football today or tomorrow if Argentina lose.

Alan Shearer
Former Newcastle striker on BBC One

This is Messi's last chance. He is yet to score a goal at the knockout stage in a World Cup. He is going to have to today because they are going to have to rely on him.

Image source, Get

Jurgen Klinsmann
Former Germany head coach on BBC One

The energy and the hunger has to come from the team. The manager can inspire and create a nice environment, but at the end of the day, it is down to the players. Messi and Mascherano need to decide if they want to win this thing or not, so it’s important for them to pull everyone together.

Didier Drogba
Phoenix Rising and former Ivory Coast striker on BBC One

France are having difficulties but they are still controlling games, and they have qualified. The team is in the image of the manager [Didier Deschamps] and how he used to play. He is not one to excite the crowd but he wants to win.

Am I only one who thinks Lionel Messi's performance against Nigeria has been exaggerated a bit?

He was excellent in the first half and his goal was fantastic but basically he did nothing after the break. In fact the whole team were terrible after that little half-time team talk he did.

If it wasn't for Marcos Rojo, Messi would be back in Barcelona by now.

Argentina's Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega claims Lionel Messi has hit his stride.

"It's only normal - he wasn't relaxed, we didn't start the tournament as well as we should have.

"Now, I see him a lot more comfortable now. He helped us win, and that makes a big difference."

Image source, Getty Images

Franco Armani wins his second cap in goal today after being brought in for the Nigeria game following Willy Caballero's howler against Croatia.

Patrick Jennings
BBC Sport in Kazan

Willy (Wilfredo if you prefer) Caballero has just pulled off an absolutely incredible save in the warm-up from Lionel Messi. Top corner, tipped onto the bar and over.

The Argentina fans watching behind the goal show their appreciation for a man who has maybe been sleeping a little easier since Marcos Rojo's winner against Nigeria.

No sightings of Diego Maradona just yet but how about this for a shirt which is being waved in the crowd. Love it!

Image source, Rex Features

Olivier Giroud is 31 to be fair

BBC One

Live TV coverage has now started on this page (and on real TVs).

Lionel Messi is not dictating Argentina's team selection and tactics, manager Jorge Sampaoli said.

Sampaoli reportedly asked Messi whether he should bring on Sergio Aguero in their eventual 2-1 victory over Nigeria in the decisive group game.

Video footage showed Sampaoli and Messi in pitch-side dialogue, before substitute Aguero was introduced.

However, Sampaoli said the conversation was "not how it was characterised".

He added: "We looked at different options in an important game and had to make a decision.

"I was simply communicating this, saying we were going to use a strategy we had rehearsed to use more attacking players.

"It was a simple exchange I had with one of my players, that is all."

Pavaman: This match is going to be a great test of Messi's tactical nous. Perhaps the beginning of his managerial career.

Atholl: Who picked the Argentina team today?

Andrew: Aguero on the bench is like putting ketchup on your breakfast, when you have a full bottle of brown sauce on the shelf

Um, which is the good one in this scenario? I don't like either of those sauces

Today's game is in Kazan. Alistair Bruce-Ball and Chris Sutton have been taking a look at the culture and football in the Tatarstan city.

Click here if the option to listen does not appear below

In a thing that bugs me and probably nobody else - why is Enzo Perez the only player whose name is not in capital letters in this Fifa graphics?

Image source, .

Image source, .

BBC Sport charts the journey of France's Paul Pogba from Roissy-en-Brie to Manchester United and the 2018 World Cup.

Patrick Jennings
BBC Sport in Kazan

There was some chat before the game that Nabil Fekir or Thomas Lemar might make the France midfield. Instead Didier Deschamps has gone for what might look like a more defensive option in Blaise Matuidi.

But the Juventus midfielder should give Paul Pogba more licence to attack and there's optimism among the French journalists I've spoken to. They expect a cagey game, with many predicting a France win in extra time.

As for Argentina - there is big love among those here for the false nine role Lionel Messi is expected to fill today, while calls for 22-year-old forward Cristian Pavon to start have been answered.