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
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.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.
Follow the latest in the live blog below
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load
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.
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.
Good morning/afternoon/evening and welcome to The Independent's live coverage.
It's the semi-finals and France vs Belgium doing battle for a place in the World Cup final.
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 promises to be a thriller.
We'll have all the latest build-up from our men on the ground in St Petersburg so stick with us, open up a browser tab and get excited.
Without further ado, off we go.
Pogba excelling under the radar
Where else to start other than the definitive Jonathan Liew preview?
With so many star names in the French side, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, N'Golo Kante, to name a few, Paul Pogba has been able to perform at his best without the burden of being solely responsible to influence games.
"Clearly the Pogba of 2018 is a subtly different character to the one we saw performing in such fleeting bursts at Euro 2016 two years ago."
More Pogba
Of course, there is a reason why Paul Pogab is on everyone's lips, as Luke Brown explains.
↵The managers
When you think of the kind of managers that are about to take their side into a World Cup final, Roberto Martinez and Didier Deschamps are probably not two of the names you would expect to be on the brink of hero status.
Both managers have been accused of not having the tactical nous required to make the most of their ludicrously talented teams, but here they are.
Miguel Delaney took a look at the duo who have much in common but their contrasts are greater, in terms of their playing career and football philosophies.
↵How Fellaini and Chadli became unlikely stars and international flag-bearers
Although it is the WORLD Cup, there is just one continent represented in the final four: Europe. However, despite on the outside France vs Belgium is a very European affair, delve a little deeper and you discover that many cultures are being represented on the world stage.
Belgium have nine players who have one parent born in another country, and Nacer Chadli and Marouane Fellaini have emerged as two unlikely Belgian stars carrying the flag for Africa.
The slow rise of Benjamin Pavard
"I don't think I quite realise what's happening to me," Pavard said. "I'm profiting from every moment." His surprise is like many of those who have been following his career. A once little known right-back for Bundasliga side Stuttgart, he is now an influential part of a team that are favourites to win their second World Cup.
In 29 matches for France the right back has not lost a game, something he is in no mood to stop. "I hope that I'll stay undefeated through 31 games and that we'll lift this cup," said Pavard, known for his penetrating play and gritty defending on France's right flank.
Pavard's first game for France in November showed a glimpse of the partnership with 19-year-old forward Kylian Mbappe that has since flourished at the World Cup. In that 2-0 victory over Wales, Pavard collected a pass from Mbappe on the right and shot at goal, hitting the post. He tried it again in France's first game at the World Cup against Australia, but his long-range shot went skyward. "I killed a pigeon," he later joked on television.
Against Argentina in the round of 16, it all came together with a spectacular strike to level the score at 2-2. France went on to win 4-3. That night, Pavard said he was so excited that he couldn't sleep. Among the fans in the crowd was his girlfriend, former Miss France Rachel Legrain-Trapani. "Completely out of this world," she said of his goal, speaking to French broadcaster TF1. "It came out of nowhere. We all screamed with joy."
Since his breakthrough, TV crews have been to the local stadium where Pavard played as a child in the small town of Jeumont near France's northeast border with Belgium.
First name on the team sheet, but where?
Kevin De Bruyne is by far one of the most talented players in a very accomplished group of players, but where will Roberto Martinez deploy him? He started the tournament in a deeper role but came to life as part of a front three with Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, predominantly operating through the middle against Brazil who he scored a stunning long range goal against.
"It's essential to have a player like Kevin — that he can play different roles," Martinez said Monday, ahead of the semi-final. "Apart from goalkeeper I could tell you that he could not just play, he could perform at the highest level in any position. That's the quality that he has.
"When he plays in that forward role, when he plays a bit more in the final third his play, his performance, is very, very attractive and maybe then it gets a bigger recognition,"
His position on the pitch is not any of his concern and De Bruyne is just focused on creating as many chances for his team as possible. "My role for the team is to create opportunities and to give passes that my forward teammates can use to make the difference," he said.
Hazard on knocking out the team he supports
How would you feel about being part of the team that knocks England out of the World Cup? Presuming you support England, of course. Well that's what Eden Hazard will be trying to do for Belgium as they look to dump close neighbours out of the tournament.
Hazard was an impressionable seven and a half year old when France were triumphant in 1998 and has since been supporting Les Bleus, so much so he owns a 'ZIDANE 10' shirt.
“In the past we always supported France rather than Belgium.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments