France set up a potentially explosive quarter-final showdown with Argentina in the men's Olympic football tournament after beating New Zealand 3-0 in their final group game on Tuesday.

Watching Sunday's World Cup final, Ahmed al-Salem was more emotional than most football fans when Qatar's emir placed a black and gold cloak over the shoulders of Argentina's victorious captain Lionel Messi.

Several members of the France team that lost to Argentina in the World Cup final were subjected to "hateful" racist abuse on social media, the French Football Federation (FFF) said on Tuesday, adding it intended to file a legal complaint.

Lionel Messi scored his second goal in the second half of extra-time to give Argentina the lead against France in the final of the FIFA World Cup 2022 at the Lusail Stadium In Qatar.

Argentina led France 2-0 at halftime in the World Cup final on Sunday after Lionel Messi netted his sixth goal of the tournament and Angel Di Maria doubled the advantage from a thrilling counter-attack.

Didier Deschamps said Saturday that France were taking "as many precautions as possible" to stop the spread of a virus that is threatening preparations for their World Cup final showdown with Argentina.

A superstar in the making sent a superstar out of the World Cup as France prevailed over Argentina 4-3 in the first blockbuster World Cup round of 16 game at the Kazan Arena yesterday.