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In the "derby" between Belgium and France on Tuesday, the first finalist of the Football World Cup is determined. The two nations met 73 times before the duel in St. Petersburg (20:00 / live ORF). The French are considered as light favorites, but meet a team that has already put out of the race the highly esteemed Selecao of Brazil for the trophy.
01.00, 10 July 2018
Belgium not only enters the game with confidence healthy in his own strength. The "Red Devils" are the only team in Russia to have won all of their five participations up here, scoring 14 goals in the tournament's peat plant. 24 games in total, the team of Spanish coach Roberto Martinez is undefeated. The French have respect, but also have their own optimism.
"We've already eliminated the best player in the world, he barely touched the ball," recalls rear Lucas Hernandez of Argentina's Lionel Messi. Antoine Griezmann said that the team could play for free. The house of the Europeans two years ago, the pressure had been stronger, stressed the French striker. At that time, the French failed in the final in Portugal. Griezmann's recipe now: "We have to be compact in the back and use the few possibilities ahead, we have to dictate our pace to the game."
The Blue managed to do just that in the quarterfinals and then in the quarter-finals final against Uruguay. In the country of origin, there is great confidence that the team of coach Didier Deschamps 20 years after winning the trophy in their own country in Russia, the second world title in the # 39, history of the badociation can retract. The parallels are drawn. For example, the center forward Olivier Giroud has not yet met. Stéphane Guivarc 's failed in 1998. "If I do not meet, and we become world champions, that would be good," Giroud said. For goals, the other young star Kylian Mbappe and Griezmann were previously responsible.
This is a game of the Great Nation against the little neighbor, who often smiles in everyday life. "There is a big rivalry, it's like a derby," Giroud said. Many players know each other from the English Premier League. Giroud and N & # 39; Golo Kante play in Chelsea with Belgium's Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois in a team, Kevin De Bruyne in Manchester City with Vincent Kompany. Tottenham, French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Belgian defenders Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. Paul Pogba is with Manchester United's colleague Romelu Lukaku
The semi-finalists also agree that they have targeted the trip to the Luzhniki stadium as a clear goal. He gets up on Sunday the final. Therefore, after the successes in the quarter-finals prevailed there and no exaggerated rejoicing. "We have not achieved anything," said Pogba after the 2-0 win against Uruguay. The Belgians also thanked the fans after the spectacular 2: 1 against Brazil, before disappearing in the cabin. "We want to reach the final, the game that the world is watching," said De Bruyne thereafter.
The golden generation most often cited in Belgium is already there, where its predecessors did it in 1986. In the semifinal of the World Cup was then against the eventual champion of the world. Argentina at the final stop of Diego Maradona. "We were a golden generation in Mexico in 1986. It's a brilliant generation," says Belgian goalkeeper Jean-Marie Pfaff. In the World Cup final, Western Europeans have never resisted. "If you beat Brazil, you do not have to fear anyone, we are ready," said Nacer Chadli. The English winger also engaged is likely to replace the tight Thomas Meunier as a right-back. With the opponent, Blaise Matuidi probably returns to the starting lineup.
France reached the World Cup Final after 1998, but was beaten by Italy 12 years ago. 73 matches The two semi-finalists have been quarreling so far. The Belgians are at the head of the statistics with 30 wins. France has won 24 times, as in the previous two World Cup duels. The most recent comparison was amusing: In June 2015, the Belgians hijacked a 4: 3 victory in Saint-Denis during a friendly match.
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