France vs Belgium LIVE World Cup 2018: France into World Cup final - latest reaction from St Petersburg

Follow all the action from the first semi-final of the 2018 World Cup

France Belgium World Cup preview

France and Belgium face off in the first semi-final of the 2018 World Cup in what promises to be one of the games of the tournament.

France are here after seeing off Argentina and Uruguay in the knockout stages with Kylian Mbappe continue to rise as one of the games ascending stars. Belgium have moved through the gears in Russia with the performance to dump Brazil out last time out one of the very best of the last three weeks.

Coaches Didier Deschamps and Roberto Martinez have their detractors but have delivered here and are now 90 - or 120 - minutes away from a shot at immortality. It should be a thriller.

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What time does it start?

The game kicks off at 7pm in St Petersburg

Where can I watch it?

The match is being shown live on BBC1. You can also watch it via the BBC Sport website.

How they got here?

France have warmed to this tournament rather than exploded into it with their group stage progression characterised by what have been rather than what did actually come to be. Australia were seen off but only via a late own goal before Peru fell to Mbappe's first goal in Russia. The less said about the Denmark snoozefest the better before Les Bleus showed what is possible with a supreme performance to see off Argentina in the last-16 with that man Mbappe coming of age on a balmy summer afternoon in Kazan. Next the quarter-final and another solid if unspectacular display as Uruguay were sent packing thanks to goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann (and a monumental howler from Fernando Muslera).

Belgium themselves have flattered to deceive at times with Panama and Tunisia negotiated without too much trouble before England were also seen off, albeit with a second team in Nizhny Novgorod. Japan threatened to end the dream in the last-16 before Nacer Chadli's last-gasp, extra-time winner saved them. The quarter-finals saw Brazil ousted in a performance to put the whole world on notice as the five-time winners were sent home thanks to vintage displays by De Bruyne and Hazard.

Head-to-head

These two have met some 73 times down the years, the first of which coming way back in 1904 (a 3-3 draw for those wondering). They haven't met competitively since the 1986 World Cup - a 4-2 win for Michel Platini's side - while the last time they faced each other was back in 2014 when the Belgian's triumphed 4-3 with Hazard scoring what proved to be the winner.

De Bruyne starred as Belgium saw off Brazil last time out (AFP/Getty Images)

Odds

France 29/20

Belgium 11/5

Prediction

France 1-3 Belgium: This is one of the match-ups of the tournament with the two, pound-for-pound best squads going toe to toe in St Petersburg. Both offer an abundance of threat going forwards and while Les Bleus possess the more sturdy defence that fearsome Red Devils front three are in the form of their lives. Expect De Bruyne to have a big game with Romelu Lukaku perhaps the difference maker.

Key Points

• Samuel Umtiti heads France into the final where they will face England or Croatia

[10 July 2018 21:05 · Molly Hudson]

  ↵What did we learn as two of Europe's footballing giants clashed horns? Here's five main points from Lawrence Ostlere: 

[10 July 2018 21:07 · Molly Hudson]

How Didier Deschamps won the battle of the coaches, despite Roberto Martinez's best efforts. By Luke Brown.

[10 July 2018 21:09 · Molly Hudson]

REPORT: France 1-0 Belgium. Miguel Delaney has his say from Russia:

"Head and shoulders above. A semi-final that didn’t soar in the manner suggested, but only because France so assertively stood up in a way that no other side has matched so far. It was so fitting that the winning goal in this 1-0 came from Samuel Umtiti rising above every Belgian, because it reflected how his side have risen above everyone in the tournament."

[10 July 2018 21:14 · Molly Hudson]

A penny for the thoughts of Theirry Henry right about now. Disappointment for Belgium, but surely excitement that his country have reached the final?

[10 July 2018 21:20 · Molly Hudson]

In a night that will be remembered as 'nearly good enough' for Belgium's golden generation, and the re-affirmation of the star of Kylian Mbappe, it may not be remembered for the performance of Paul Pogba. But, that's just the way he will want it, out of the spotlight he is thriving, Jack Watson takes a closer look at the Manchester United star:

[10 July 2018 21:24 · Molly Hudson]

Neymar and co may be back to their clubs, or on holiday scattered across the globe, but their fans are still in Russia enjoying the football...

[10 July 2018 21:28 · Molly Hudson]

Kurt Zouma may not be one of the lucky few selected in a supremely talented French squad, but it looks like he can see into the future predicting a 1-0 win for France in 90 minutes.. Perhaps we could get him to predict the England score for tomorrow too?

[10 July 2018 21:34 · Molly Hudson]

Thanks for staying with us as we watched France book their spot in the World Cup final. Now it's time to start counting down the hours until England face Croatia. As ever, we'll be here with all the build-up, team news, updates and reaction whatever the result in Moscow.