France 12 Argentina 17

Host nation France will face World Cup elimination if they lose to Ireland in a fortnight's time after Argentina recorded a stunning opening night upset.

The French suffered a chronic case of stage fright as the Pumas blew Pool D wide open by ruining Les Bleus' planned Stade de France party through a performance built on quality, bravery and discipline.

Full-back Ignacio Corleto, who plays his club rugby in Paris with Stade Francais, scored a spectacular first-half interception try.

And former Bristol fly-half Felipe Contepomi, playing in the centre alongside his brother Manuel, kicked four penalties as Argentina built a 17-9 interval lead.

France managed four David Skrela penalties in reply, but Ireland can effectively knock France out if they topple them at the same stadium on September 21.

It was the greatest victory in Argentina's Test history, and their prolonged celebrations after English referee Tony Spreadbury blew the final whistle reflected an unforgettable result.

While France coach Bernard Laporte and his players trooped away for a prolonged post-mortem, the Pumas slowly took in the full magnitude of their achievement.

A visibly stunned French skipper Raphael Ibanez said: "It is a massive disappointment.

"The Argentinian defence was fantastic, and they were able to slow down the ball.

"We still have three games to go in this group, and we will have to work even harder.

"The expectation on us for this first game was enormous, and we weren't tough enough to deal with that."

And Laporte added: "The pressure was a big thing in the game.

"We didn't play like we had done in the three World Cup preparation games (against England, twice, and Wales). We didn't play well against a good team."

Argentina failed to score after the 34th minute, and although France were guilty of some dreadful handling and kicking errors, the Pumas thoroughly deserved the victory in a game when they made 110 tackles, compared to France's 60.

Skipper Agustin Pichot, a club colleague of Corleto's, led from the front, while Argentina's revered forwards ensured France could never establish momentum up-front.

Pichot said: "For myself, coach Marcelo Loffreda and the rest of the team this result is very important.

"We are not the best technicians, we are not even the most physical, but we play with heart.

"This won't sink in for a while. We won't know what we have done, because you never know the context, but this team has a hunger to write history.

"As a team, we just want to make history for Argentina rugby."

Centre Damien Traille and wing Aurelien Rougerie proved France's biggest attacking threats, yet nerves gripped the French performance as Argentina kept their shape and composure after Corleto's try - created when wing Horacio Agulla intercepted a Remy Martin pass - hoisted them 14-3 in front.

A capacity crowd at the Stade de France did its utmost to lift their heroes out of the doldrums, but not even the 60th-minute arrival of impact substitute Sebastien Chabal could make a difference.

France's performance during the first 40 minutes failed to match a white-hot atmosphere inside the stadium as Argentina dominated key contact areas.

Contepomi's majestic goalkicking was punctuated by a superb Corleto try, and it proved a damaging psychological blow for the French.

Although three Skrela penalties kept them in touch - Skrela and substitute Frederic Michalak both missed easy chances later in the action - Argentina were good value for an eight-point interval lead that set the platform for a spectacular win.

And when Spreadbury sounded the final whistle, France - somewhat inevitably - trooped off to a cacophony of boos.