Jean-Laurent Kierffer scored a brace as France stunned European champions Belgium 5-4 in a nail-biting quarterfinal match, while Malaysia beat Korea 2-1 in another last-eight match to register their place in the semifinals of the mega-event after a hiatus of 28 years.
Earlier in the day, The Netherlands eked out a hard-fought 3-2 win over New Zealand to progress to the last-four stage, and holders Germany edged past Australia 4-3 in the final quarterfinal.
Belgium's first goal was an own goal in 29th minute, while Maxime Plennevaux (37th, 47th) and Dorian Thiery (42nd) were the other goal-getters.
It was exciting clash between Belgium, widely expected to do well in this Junior World Cup, and a French team that had only lost to them on an overtime golden goal in semi-finals of the European Cup.
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Belgium earned a penalty-corner via a video-referral in the second minute, only to shot wide.
Belgium immediately turned on the heat and equalised in the 29th minute through an own goal as both the teams went into the breather locked at 1-1.
After the crossover, it rained goals as both France and Belgium were in no mood to give an inch to each other.
Plennevaux gave Belgium the lead in the 37th minute, but Genestet brought France back on par three minutes later with a well-executed penalty-corner conversion.