France 1-0 Belgium
It was a nearly night for Belgium.
In the end, the Euro 2016 runners-up had just too much know-how and discipline for their ‘Golden Generation’.
It’s the 1998 World Champions and 2000 European Champions who are poised to claim the world crown.
Les Blues are one win from World Cup 2018 glory.
Highlights of the game
Tactically intriguing, technically gifted, this was an engrossing contest from start to finish.
The World Cup 2018 odds suggested the winner of this semi-final would be favourites to lift the glorious gold globe.
And for many this was the final before the final and a match which evoked memories of Belgium’s only other semi-final when they were beaten by an inspirational footballer considered by many the best of all time.
Some of the best of the current day were on show in the Krestovsky Stadium and Eden Hazard looked the best player on the pitch for the first hour.
He came closest to scoring in the early stages, firing a low shot narrowly wide of Hugo Lloris’ goal and then drilling in a shot which was heading towards goal until Raphael Varane managed to head it just clear of his own crossbar.
Then the Belgian skipper saw Toby Alderwerield swivel in the box only for Lloris, his Spurs team-mate, to superbly claw the ball round the post when it looked like the deadlock would be broken.
Hazard often bamboozled his opponents and when he released Kevin de Bruyne – fresh from his quarter-final winner against Brazil – his cross was about to be converted by RomeluLukaku before a last-gasp clearance from Samuel Umtiti.
Boss Roberto Martinez had urged Belgium to ‘play without fear’ and they were impressing once more with their bold approach, although they didn’t have it their own way, Olivier Giroud guiding a header narrowly wide of the alert Thibaut Courtois’ goal in another club team-mate scenario.
Antoine Griezmann also curled a ball into the lightning quick KylianMbappe who cushioned the ball perfectly for Giroud who then went to ground at the crucial moment and failed to make a proper connection.
Belgium may have started the half stronger but France were in the ascendancy by the end – Courtois, who was superb against Brazil, diverting Benjamin Pavard’s shot away when the opening goal seemed likely.
It was the best chance of the half and Pavard, who could be set for a big club move after a fine tournament, knew it.
SBOBET odds remained too close to call but they finally swung towards France five minutes after the restart when Griezmann delivered an inviting corner and Umtiti got to the ball just ahead of Marouane Fellaini and it had too much power at the near post for Courtois.
France may have gained winning World Cup 2018 results to date but there had only been glimpses in burst of French fluency, while Belgium produced arguably the single most impressive display of tournament against Brazil.
Yet this goal flattened Martinez’s men and inspired the men in blue as Didier Deschamps aims to emulate Mario Zagallo (Brazil) and Franz Beckenbauer(Germany) by winning the World Cup as both a player and manager.
A crucial block by Mousa Dembele prevented Giroud from scoring after a cheeky backheel from Mbappe in what was the Chelsea frontman’s first shot on target at this World Cup.
Belgium came back. De Bruyne miscued from 16 yards, Fellaini beat Umtiti to the ball and headed just wide, Axel Witsel drove the ball straight at Lloris, but France were compact and were restricting Belgium for creating clear cut opportunities.
Yet for all their superb play this tournament, when the top scorers in the tournament needed a goal, they could not find one.
Viva la France!
Key statistics
There’s now been 26 goals from corners at this World Cup, the most since 1966.
This was also the 69th goal from a set piece at the tournament out of 158 in total.
This was the Belgians’ first defeat in 25 matches (won 19, drawn five) and ended a run of seven straight victories.
France have now won all four of the previous meetings with Belgium at major tournaments, including three World Cup encounters.
France’s last World Cup semi-final was against Portugal in 2006.
Les Blues triumphed 1-0 with a penalty from Zinedine Zidane, won by Thierry Henry, now Belgium assistant manager.
What’s next?
The World Cup Final now awaits France on Sunday (July 15) in Moscow against either England or Croatia.
Belgium will play the defeated side in that semi-final in the same stadium as this tie in St Petersburg.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE WORLD CUP 2018 STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
