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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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
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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.
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.
Team news
If you like your fancy team news graphics then we have a treat for you...
1 place in the final, 2 teams, and millions of fans. We are just an hour from kick off in the first of our two semi-finals in the next 48 hours.
Didier Deschamps vs Roberto Martinez
Paul Pogba vs Kevin De Bruyne
Who comes out on top? We don't have long to wait until we find out.
Sticking with the numbers, although these are just a tad more sophisticated than two teams down to one doesn't quite add up...
Saint Petersburg Stadium has a capacity of 67,000
France and Belgium have faced each other 73 times, with Belgium leading the way in terms of 30 victories, with France back on 24, and 19 games where the points have been shared - not the case today, that we do know for sure.
So far this tournament France have completed 2037 passes, with Belgium again leading the way on 2211. Sensing a pattern here?
Well it's France who go into this one with the ultimate honour, and the star on top of their 'coq gaulois' or a rooster to those like me that didn't do a French GCSE...
Belgium's midfield is a battle of the hair. Marouane Felliani, often pointed out for his resemblance of a tree (can't see it myself) lines up alongside Axel Witsel, who we don't see as often as we would like with him plying his trade in China with Tianjin Quanjian.
Fellaini isn't always a favourite with the fans of Manchester United, but has proved pivotal in Belgium's route to the last four, particularly over Brazil. He lines up against teammate Paul Pogba here, in a clash of styles - and yes we are still talking about the hair.
Fellaini despite his elbows that often catch the headlines, and some people's faces, tends to be a workman like figure that doesn't make the back page. Pogba however, seems to hold all the attention, and Fellaini will be hoping he can limit the undoubted potential of the Frenchmen.
The Premier League has played a big part in this World Cup and today is no different. Belgium have 12 players in their squad that we see lining up in the Premier League, and 10 of those make up the starting XI this evening.
For France, the midfield of N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba, Olivier Giroud up front, as well as Hugo Lloris in goal can handle Stoke on a wet and windy Tuesday night. but can they handle the Belgium Red Devils?
Having some dinner and waiting for kick off? Other than following the build-up right here, you can also give our podcast a listen, with previews for tonight's action as well as tomorrow's England game.
Think I've spent almost as long looking at beards, hair cuts and kits as I have the actual football this World Cup...
Cristiano Ronaldo has somehow taken a bit of spotlight off of this one. Two teams full of stars and incredible attacking talent, this has all the signs of an open exciting game, despite the huge prize on offer.
In 2015, this match-up ended in a 4-3 victory for the Belgians. I don't think any of us would mind another goal-fest like that. Except perhaps Harry Kane. A reminder Romelu Lukaku is just two goals behind Kane in the race for the Golden Boot, and Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann are snapping on his heels.
The teams are walking onto the pitch, and we are five minutes from kick off. This marks just four games left of what has been a wonderful World Cup. But don't weep yet, let's enjoy the spectacle that awaits after the anthems.
A reminder yellow cards are cleared, and only a Zidane headbutt moment of madness that sees red, would mean missing out on a place in the final - as long as you are on the winning side of course.
As ever VAR will be keeping a close eye on proceedings and Massimiliano Irrati is the head referee in his kit watching the telly like the rest of us...
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