French fry Belgian waffle with Umtiti goal in 1-0 win, book place in final

Umtiti scored in the 51st minute with a header to take France into the finals of Fifa World Cup 2018. Belgium will play either Croatia or England for the third spot.

Although the Tour de France cycle race would normally be the focus of French and Belgian sports fans at this time of year, it's a fair bet that Tuesday's World Cup semi-final will beat the viewing figures of the annual cycle race in the two nations in question.

Full-time report: "Attack wins you games, defence wins you titles." That is, if you quote Sir Alex Ferguson. In a match where chances came thick and fast, it was the defence and a defender that separated France and Belgium at the St. Petersburg stadium today. Samuel Umtiti's header goal from a set-piece was the only goal in the match that saw a combined 21 shot attempts. With this win, France enter their third World Cup final in 20 years, and will face either Croatia or England for their second-ever title. For the magnificient Belgium, the World Cup journey hasn't ended just yet. They still have to play for the third spot and as their coach Roberto Martinez said "would love to end on a high". 

The first half of the semi-final match had everything you'd want from a football match, except goals. France and Belgium both went at each other's throat, attacking at every available chance but still ended the half goal-less after some close misses and a couple of stunning saves from both the goalkeepers.

Belgium's chance of glory came in the 21st minute when they got a corner which was cleared terribly by France. Alderweireld got the ball, turned and slapped a fierce shot towards the goal only for Hugo Lloris to make a diving save.

France had a similar chance of their own in the 39th minute when Pavard was slipped a clever pass into the inside right of the box. The right-back wanted to slip in at the near post but Courtois made himself big and the shot flew off his dangling left foot for a corner.

Both the teams had several other chances but either the players were profligate, especially the French players, or they were denied by the brilliance of the ooposition team's goalkeepers. For France, their creative outlets were Hazard and De Bruyne while France threatened on the counter with Mbappe outrunning the Belgian defence time and again.

The tempo though had shifted towards France by the end of the first half. Belgium survived a scare in the 50th minute when Olivier Giroud received a ball in the box, turned and let out a shot only for Vincent Kompany to put a foot out to deflect it for corner. Antoine Griezmann took the corner and floated it inside the box where Umtiti rose above a rather tall Marouane Fellaini to head it in at the near post to score France's opener.

Minutes later, the French had a series of chances to double their lead. It all started witih a counter-attack. Mbappe found Matuidi in an acre of space but Matuidi's shot was blocked. But the French came back again and Mbappe pulled out a back-flick to put Giroud in a goalscoring position but Mousa Dembele blocked the striker's shot.

The Belgians built attacks well and moved the ball forward quite efficiently but in the final third, they kept on putting crosses inside the box, hoping that either Fellaini or Lukaku get at the end of it. None of them did. Axel Witsel made a superb effort in the 80th minute. Hazard made a series of give-and-take passes before going down outside the box under a challenge. The balls fell to Witsel who hit a first-time swirling shot that Lloris managed to keep out.

Belgium continued with their crossing game and a glorious chance came in the 88th minute when De Bryune put in a fantastic cross into Lukaku's path which Umtiti, trying to intercept, missed but so did Lukaku. The Belgian striker, who had otherwise been prolific throughout the tournament, was wasteful in front of the goal in this game. The French didn't score very high either in terms of accuray but Umtiti's header meant they could book a place for the final at the Luzhniki Stadium.

Belgium performed admirably and had their fair share of chances. But in most cases, they failed to take those opportunities and in others Hugo Lloris was a wall. Kylian Mbappe ran circles around the Belgians while Blaise Matuidi drew fouls until he couldn't anymore and had to be susbtituted while Raphael Varane kept cutting out the final supply or heading the close-ones out. As the scoreline would suggest, the semi-final match was a close-affair and contrary to the number of goals scored, was a highly attack-minded with both the teams carving chances after chances.

Martinez's highly-talented Belgium squad had not lost their last 21 games but now when they do, they lose the chance to win the World Cup trophy, but they can take a lot of heart from their performance in this match. This squad has shown that these talented individuals can, in fact, be brought together and trained to conquer the world. And for that, they have time on their side. For now, they must focus on their match for the third place.

Here are the live updates:

Minute 90 -- Substitution for Belgium: Batshuayi comes on for Chadli.

Minute 88 -- Where's Lukaku and where's his head? Kevin De Bruyne puts ina fantastic cross into Lukaku's path which Umtiti misses but so does Lukaku!

Minute 87 -- Kante gets a yellow card for bundling down Hazard just outside the box. De Bruyne stands at the free-kick from 30 yards out but it comes to nothing.

Minute 85 -- France substitution: Toliso replaces Matuidi who has been challenged mercileslly today.

Minute 84 -- Substitution for France: N'Zonzi comes on for Giroud

Minute 81 -- Both Matuidi and Hazard go down as they collide into each other and both need medication.

Minute 80 -- A fantastic effort by Belgium. Hazard gives and takes the passes before he goes down outside the box. The balls falls to Witsel who hits a first-time swirling shot that Lloris keeps out!

Minute 75 -- Hazard is roaming around the defensive areas to get the ball. He does get it and starts a move that ends with De Bruyne receiving the ball outside the defence nad sending it into the row Z.

Yellow card for Alderweireld for a foul on Matuidi.

Minutes 69 -- Mertens with another gorgeous looking cross into the dangerous looking cross into the box but Lloris punches it away. Belgium try another cross. That's what the plan is it seems, sometimes like it's the only plan. Cross to Kukaku or Fellaini inside the box!

Minute 64 -- Lovely ball in by Mertens from the right and Lukaku targets the near post with his header but Lloris punches it back. Minutes later, Fellaini gets a chance at header in front of the goal but his downward header is slightly off target!

Minute 62 -- Hazard takes one for the team. The Belgium captain brings down Matuidi who was looking to break away and pose a threat. The referee shows Hazard the yellow card.

Minute 60 -- Mertens is slipped down the inside right by Lukaku and the substitute puts in a cross inside the box which isn't cleared too well. De Bruyne tries a half-volley but he didn't connect it well enough and Lloris collects it comfortably.

Minute 59 -- Substitution for Belgium: Dembele out for Mertens

Minute 55 -- It's a French comedy out here!! France start a counter attack. Mbappe finds Matuidi in an acre of space but Matuidi's shot is blocked. But French come back again and Mbappe pulls out a back-flick to put Giroud in a goalscoring position but Dembele blocks the striker's shot.

Minute 51 (GOAL!!)-- Umtiti scores!! France get a corner and Umtiti gets at the end of it to head it in at the near post to open the scoring!! He outjumped Fellaini for that goal!

Minute 47 -- Belgium knock the ball around for a couple minutes or so before the ball changes flank from where Witsel curls a ball in the box with Lukaku getting at the end of it but it's not on target.

Second half begins!

Half-time math report: The first semi-final match in the St. Petersburg stadium had everything you'd want from a football match, except goals. France and Belgium both went at each other's throat, attacking at every available chance but still ended the half goal-less after some close misses and a couple of stunning saves from both the goalkeepers.

Belgium's chance of glory came in the 21st minute when they got a corner which was cleared terribly by France. Alderweireld got the ball, ,turned and slapped a fierce shot towards the goal only for Hugo Lloris to make a diving save! It's absolutely end-to-end stuff here!

France had a similar chance of their own in the 39th minute when Pavard was slipped a clever pass into the inside right of the box. The right-back wanted to slip in at the near post but Courtois made himself big and the shot flew off his dangling left foot for a corner.

Both the teams had several other chances but either the players were wasteful, especially the French players, or they were denied by the brilliance of the goalkeepers.

For France, their creative outlets have been Hazard and De Bruyne while France have threatened on the counter with Mbappe outrunning the Belgian defence time and again.

The temp has shifted towards the two teams from Belgium to France but it's anybody's game to win.

Minute 45+1 -- Umtiti misses a cross while defending and so does Lukaku while attacking!! De Bruyne runs down the right and floats a cross into the Belgian box that should have been dealt comfortably by Umtiti who compelety messes it up only for Lukaku to miss it too as he is taken compeletely by surprise!!

Minute 43 -- France get a free-kick just outside the box after Pogba is brought down. Griezmann steps up to take it and hits straight at the wall.

Minute 39 -- Courtois to the rescue!!! Pavard nearly hits the opener at the near post after he is slipped a pass into the inside right of the box but the dangling left foot of tall tall tall Courtois means it's off for corner.

Minute 33 -- Griezmann sights Mbappe and plays him with a looping cross. The PSG winger cuts it inside the box for Giroud at the far post but he is slightly late before the Belgian defender who cuts the supply.

Minute 30 -- France get a free-kick in the Belgian half. Griezmann takes it short and passes it to Pavard who curls in a cross into the box and Giroud heads the ball but it's off-target.

Minute 27 -- De Bruyne skips down the left and puts a low cross into the box with Lukaku lurking but Umtiti clears it in time.

Minute 22 -- Umtiti, from half-line, picks Giroud's run into the box and loops a cross for the striker but Courtois is quick enough.

Minute 21 -- Lloris makes a stunning save!! The French defence make a terrible clearance and  Alderweireld turns and slaps a fierce shot towards the goal only for Lloris to make a diving save! It's absolutely end-to-end stuff here!

Minute 19 -- De Bruyne floats a delicious cross into the box and agaiin Fellaini is there but Lloris gets it first.

Minute 18 -- Now Belgium go close again!! Hazard delivers a swift, flat cross inside the box where Fellaini is waiting with his tall figure but Varane heads the ball away in time for a corner.

Minute 17 -- Matuidi fires a powerful shot but it's straight at Courtois who parries it softly before bringing it under control.

Minute 15 -- Belgium go close!! Kevin De Bruyne gets the possession of the ball near the French box after a sloppy play from the French defence, and flicks the ball to Hazard who runs into the box and drives a low shot across the goal but it narrowly misses the target!! Close!

Minute 12 -- The turbo-charge speed of Mbappe!! Pogba slips in a beautiful pass for Mbappe between two defenders and the 19-year-old easily out-sprints the two Belgian defenders following him, but Courtois comes off his line in time to smother the ball before Mbappe can do any more damage.

Minute 12 -- Pogba drops a nice chipped pass over the Belgian defence and into the path of Mbappé, who tries to flick it first-time to Giroud. It’s a good idea but Alderweireld does will to beat the striker to it.

Minute 9 -- France do get a possesion of the ball as Pavard intercepts a ball but the Belgians quickly recover the ball and attempt a counter attack of their own. De Bruyne threads a slick long ball to Hazard who is overrun by a French player to the ball.

Minute 7 -- France are having hard time having a sniff of the ball as the Belgians continue to pass the among themselves.

Minute 6 -- Belgium get a corner. Hazard darts at the French defence down the left wing and pings in a good cross that's cleared in time by Umtiti who concedes a corner. The resulting corner is poor though and it's out of the play.

Minute 3 -- Belgium have quickly taken the control of the game, dominating possession and have made a few tries at creating chances but none too threatening. 

Minute 1 -- France make a bright start from the word go and it's Kylian Mbappe providing the spark. He runs down the right wing and skips past a few Belgium players before putting in a cross but it's cleared.

Peeeeeeeeeeppp!! And.. we're off!!

On a sidenote, Real Madrid has agreed to sell Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus! Read the report here: https://mybs.in/2VoP0Mk

Line-ups out:

France: Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez; Kanté, Pogba, Matuidi; Mbapé, Giroud, Griezmann

Subs: Mandanda, Areola, Kimpembe, Rami, Tolisso, Sidibé, Mendy, Lemar, Nzonzi, Thauvain, Dembélé, Fekir

Belgium: Courtois; Chadli, Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen; Witsel, Dembélé, Fellaini; Hazard, Lukaku, De Bruyne

Subs: Migonlet, Casteels, Vermaelen, Boyata, Carrasco, Mertens, T Hazard, Tielemans, Januzaj, Dendocnker, Batshuayi

Referee: Cunha Andres (Uruguay)
 

France vs Belgium line-up

France look to return to the final of the World Cup for the first time since 2006, while the Belgians look to confirm the promise of their 'golden generation' and reach the final for the first time.

The Belgians have won all five of their matches in Russia, scoring 14 goals and leaving Brazil and Japan by the wayside. In the quarter-final against Brazil, they showed their adaptability and in the last 16, they showed their resilience by fighting back from 0-2 down against the Japanese.

Trivia:

-- France and Belgium have faced each other at international level a whopping 73 times, and no team has won more matches against Les Bleus, or scored more goals, than the Red Devils. (Source: Fifa.com)

-- Benjamin Pavard has yet to lose a match representing his country, whatever the age category (U-19s, U-21s and seniors - 29 games in total) (Source: Fifa.com)

Coach Deschamps says France can get even better

France head coach Didier Deschamps views Tuesday's FIFA World Cup semi-final against Belgium as an opportunity for his footballers to take another step towards fulfilling their full potential.

Two years ago France lost the 2016 European Championship final to Portugal. Now they have the chance to book another final appearance although Deschamps prefers to look on the game as another opportunity for success, rather than atonement for the past, reports Xinhua news agency.

"All I am going to say now is that we are in the semi-final and we have the chance to play in the final of the World Cup, so let's try to do everything. Tomorrow we have to give everything to get there," said Deschamps at the pre-match press conference.

France has a young team with players like Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann and the coach believes that despite recent success, they can continue to improve.

"The potential is there, the individual quality is there, this side is younger than the side that was in the final of Euro 2016 but they have a lot of club experience at (a) high level," he explained.

"We will be more competitive. In two and four years, we have a lot of players who will still be here with us. There is potential for progression and this experience here should help them," said the French tactician who captained his country to the 1998 World Cup glory.

Deschamps said France rested four players in training as a "precaution" but that he had a full squad for Tuesday.

"Maybe I am in the right place at the right time and we all work hard, but the game belongs to the players, the manager has his role, but it is different," he said.

Roberto Martinez

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez has shown that he can make changes to his system, using a 4-3-2-1 for most of the tournament, but adapting to a 4-3-3 to exploit Brazil's weaknesses down the flanks.

Martinez has succeeded where his predecessors failed by making the team greater than the sum of its parts. The Spaniard has shown great tactical pragmatism by setting up his side to suit the characteristics of his best players and exploit the weakness of opponents. This was exemplified in the team's 2-1 quarter-final victory over Brazil, when Kevin de Bruyne was deployed as a false nine while Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard were pulled wide.

It remains to be seen what system he will use against a French side that is rock-solid in midfield. One change forced on Martinez is at right-back where he will have to find a replacement for the suspended Thomas Meunier. The most likely candidate is Celtic's Dedryck Boyata.

Martinez dropped forward Dries Mertens against Brazil and fielded Nacer Chadli, who had scored the injury-time winning goal against Japan. Other midfield options include Marouane Fellaini, Axel Witsel and Yannick Carrasco.

The French drew one group game (against Denmark), but their World Cup has been one of constant progression built around goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, central defenders Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti, and midfielders, N'golo Kante and Paul Pogba.

Olivier Giroud provides a focal point in attack. Add to that the pace of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann, who will also drop back to help in the middle and Didier Deschamps has a team without any apparent weaknesses.

If Belgium persists with three central defenders, Deschamps will look to full-backs Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard to push forward and look to exploit spaces between the Belgian defensive trio of Vincent Kompany, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen.

France will have to be wary of Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne's pace on the break. Martinez and his players have already shown they can change their formation depending on their rivals and Tuesday promises to be an absorbing tactical battle.

France captain Hugo Lloris speaks:

"Belgium are the most complete team of this competition, in all aspects of the game: they defend, attack, counter-attack, they're strong in the air and on the ground. To beat them, we'll have to play a great game".

Royal presence in the semi-final game:

French President Emmanuel Macron and King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium will come to St. Petersburg stadium to support their national football team during the game.

"King Philippe and Queen (Mathilde), as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders, will arrive in St. Petersburg to support the national team," an employee of the Belgian Consulate General in Russia's second-largest city said on Monday, Sputnik news agency reported.

Key match facts: Belgium vs France

France have won all three of the previous meetings at major tournaments, including two World Cup encounters.

The French won 3-1 in the first round of the 1938 World Cup, which they hosted, and 4-2 after extra time in the third-place play-off in 1986. The latter game in Puebla, Mexico, is the most recent competitive match between the sides.

France also beat Belgium 5-0 in the group stage of the European Championship in 1984, with Michel Platini scoring a hat-trick in Nantes.

Belgium are unbeaten in the last three friendly games (W1, D2), winning the most recent encounter 4-3 in June 2015. Marouane 

Fellaini scored twice in that game as the Belgians raced into a three-goal lead inside 50 minutes.

This will be the 74th match between the sides. Belgium have claimed 30 wins, with 24 victories for France and 19 draws.

Tactical analysis: Belgium vs France

The first world cup semi-final pitches Didier Deschamp's France against the Belgium of Roberto Martinez. France have stuck largely with their 4-2-3-1, though this has an asymmetrical quality, with either Blaise Matuidi or Corentin Tolisso playing on the left-hand side of the attacking midfield three. Kylian Mbappe is the danger man, while France's full backs push high, especially Benjamin Pavard on the right in the space left by Mbappe, While n'Golo Kante covers and Paul Pogba drives forwards from a deep midfield role. Against them, Belgium have used a 3-4-2-1 and, against Brazil, a 4-3-3 in defence which moved to a 3-4-3 in possession. 

Normally, the back three is flanked by wing-backs Thomas Meunier and Yannick Carrasco, while Romelu Lukaku leads the line ahead of Dries Mehrtens and Eden Hazard. Kevin De Bruyne pulls the strings from a deep midfield position, but against Brazil, de Bruyne played as a false nine, flanked by Lukaku and Hazard, ahead of a midfield three - this allowed Belgium to target Brazil's left flank and set up one on ones when countering. Because Lucas Hernandez is less of an attacking outlet than Marcelo, Lukaku is unlikely to play on the right again - de Bruyne might play higher, though, with Hazard. While France's team and shape and selection are unlikely to spring a surprise, Belgium's still could. Both teams have decisions and areas they can target. 

Romely Lukaku has been superb so far this tournament. As well as scoring four goals, his all-round contribution has been immense, aware and intelligent in his link-up play. He may fancy his chances against Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti. Varane is a quick and elegant defender, but Lukaku can push him physically. 

Umtiti can a little rash, pushing forwards, and if Belgium can drop players into space in front of him, Lukaku could exploit any gaps that appear. He is unlikely to start on the right again but could drift out there, again to target the space between Hernandez and Umtiti. Marouane Fellaini started against Brazil on the right of a midfield three in defence, tucking inside when Belgium pushed forwards in possession to allow Thomas Meunier to overlap. 

His aerial ability is well known and, indeed, Fellaini often looks best, as against England in the groups, as a kind of an attacking midfielder. From here he can push up late, unsettle the build-up from deep by man-marking the defensive midfielder, and act as an out ball for long passes. Against Kante especially, this could work well. 

France does have other means of transitioning, but Fellaini pushed high would be a handful. It also allows Belgium a second target for long passes against the French press, which could be vital in relieving the defence. Belgium have has issues down the left-hand side. 

Yannick Carrasco is not a natural wing back and this has meant that either Jan Vertonghen is caught trying to mark a huge swathe of space out wide, or the opposition gets a free run down in behind Carrasco. This was solved, in part, by Martinez when he switched to a back four against Brazil, but Vertonghen is not a natural left back either and tucked in when Belgium had the ball.

Two sides who have looked exceptional at times in the attack, but who have also offered chances to their opponents - this semi-final will come down to who can exploit those weaknesses more clinically. (Source - Tifo Football)