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
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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).
Uruguay vs France: Player ratings
Show all 25Belgium 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.
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.
Lloris anticipates 'big, big fight'
Aside from waxing lyrical about the number of Tottenham players remaining in the World Cup, seven at the last count, France captain Hugo Lloris is confident France can lift the World Cup but acknowledges they "need to play at a better level than we did against Uruguay."
Deschamps takes swipe at Martinez's luck
Belgium are in their second World Cup semi-final and France manager Didier Deschamps says that is largely down to the quality of players at their disposal and Marc Wilmots' foundations, not Roberto Martinez's work.
"I don't want to offend Martinez but he, of course, benefited from Wilmots' work, despite the fact that Wales eliminate the team," Deschamps said.
"He changed things a bit, put his own stamp on the team, but he had great potential with this group of players. I don't know if he's going to do it, but I congratulate him on being in a semi-final even though he's going to face us."
"Belgium didn't arrive here by chance. They played a great game against Brazil with a specific game plan," the 49-year-old Deschamps told a news conference on Monday. "Will they do something similar for us? Probably.
"Their team is geared forward. They keep that particular quality, but against Brazil, Martinez intensified the midfield... and the Brazilians couldn't use those corridors.
"They attack very fast. So I've made sure that my players are prepared for any scenarios from the beginning of the match and during the match as well if it changes."
Deschamps shocked by Russia journalist
France coach Didier Deschamps was bemused by a question during a news conference on the eve of the World Cup semifinal match against Belgium.
A Russian journalist asked Deschamps for his thoughts on the performance on the Russia team, which reached the quarterfinals against most expectations. But Deschamps was only interested in talking about France vs. Belgium.
Pressing the translation device against his ear, a startled-looking Deschamps paused and asked the FIFA official sat nearby "are you sure he's asking me this question? I should speak about Russia? Really?"
The FIFA official intervened, saying another question should be asked — at which point Deschamps — still sounding baffled — spoke again.
"We're on the eve of a (semifinal) match. I've already spoken about Russia. I don't really see the point, whether it's for the French journalists, the foreign journalists, Belgian journalists, or others."
Deschamps then added: "Right, let's move on."
Fancy dress
Who's your fancy dress winner? It's go to one of the Belgian chaps with the spiky afros.
There's no respite for Antoine Griezmann or is Fortnite dancing. Could we see more of this tonight?
Maths places France as favourites
Opta's vast database of stats has predicted that France are the most likely winners of the World Cup. I'm not sure about that England percentage, mind.
Thierry Henry a 'traitor'
When television cameras pan to the Belgium bench when they score Roberto Martinez in in the centre of the shot, calm and composed. Alongside him is a France World Cup and European Championship winner Thierry Henry wildly celebrating as if he had scored goal himself.
The Frenchman has been criticised by some users on social media as being a 'traitor,' and France captain Hugo Lloris believes his heart will be split.
"His heart will be divided," France captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris told French media on Monday. "He is above all French. But tomorrow, as a professional, he will be channelling all his passion into the Belgian team."
France manager and Henry's teammate in the 1998 World Cup Didier Deschamps is taking a less sympathetic view.
"When you go to a club abroad and play against one from your own country, you are part of the enemy," said the France manager.
"This time, in an international match, it is much higher. He is facing his home nation. From the time he became an assistant to Roberto Martinez [Belgium manager], he did know that can happen.
"It is a difficult situation – bizarre – it is not easy for him."
How they got here?
France comfortably qualified from their group with wins against Australia, Peru and a draw against Denmark to set up a round of 16 tie with Argentina.
The game in Kazan will go down as one of the greatest World Cup matches and was littered with narratives. Kylian Mbappe erupted onto the world stage and scored a brace as Lionel Messi's Argentina eventually crashed out losing 4-3, although the scoreline is not reflected of France's dominance.
Up next was another highly ranked South American side, Uruguay. Raphael Varane headed France into the lead and Antoine Griezmann's shot from range was bundled into the net by Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.
Belgium's path was a little more complicated. They qualified first in Group G, despite their best efforts, and were granted an arguably easier path through the knock-out rounds.
Their World Cup was 20 minutes away from being over when Japan looked like they would hold onto their 2-0 lead in the round of 16. Jan Vertonghen, Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli all scored late as Belgium completed a remarkable comeback.
Roberto Martinez's side made lighter work of Brazil, oddly, in the quarter-final and held on to their lead despite Renato Augusto's late goal to set up a grandstand finish.
"No heavy tackles please"
Manchester United stars Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba will meet this evening and the club will be hoping their get through unscathed.
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