France vs. Belgium: 2018 World Cup live

Kevin Draper: Both teams demonstrated ruthless counterattack prowess at this tournament, and each attack seems cautious as it throws numbers forward. Belgium is patiently questioning the French defense, Axel Witsel and Mousa Dembele staying at home to protect their three backs. France spends long periods without touching the ball

6: Corner for Belgium

The corner of Nacer Chadli is a bit too strong and overtakes the heads of his teammates

4 & # 39; : Belgium retains possession

This first brilliance of Mbappe genius was followed by a few minutes of Belgium trying everything he wants on the right.

1: Mbappe makes a statement

It took all five seconds Mbappe to drop Vertonghen as a bad Penny, run down the wing and flash into a cross that almost met Griezmann in the wake. Good start for France

Kick in St. Petersburg

Belgium in red, France in blue

Feeling like Nostradamus?

You can bet on the exact score of the game (after 90 minutes). The favorite is 1-1, followed by 1-0 France, 0-0, 2-1 France, 1-0 Belgium and 2-1 Belgium. Remember that regulation time will end at 4-4 or higher? If you're right, you'll be rewarded with a 400-1 win

The yellow cards are eliminated

The yellow cards were eliminated after the quarter-finals, so anyone who chooses one will still be eligible play in the Sunday final. A red card, however, is a different story;

The starting line of France

France remains faithful to what works: Pavard-Varane-Umtiti-Hernandez at the back, protected by Kanté and Pogba as needed. Matuidi, Griezmann and Mbappé will swirl in and around Giroud, who begins alone at the top

Goalkeeper: 1 Hugo Lloris (Tottenham)

Defenders: 21 Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid), 2 Benjamin Pavard (Stuttgart), 5 Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), 4 Raphael Varane (Real Madrid)

Field: 13 N & # 39; Golo Kante (Chelsea), 14 Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), 6 Paul Pogba (Manchester United)

Forward: 9 Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), 7 Antoine Griezmann (Madrid Atletico), 10 Kylian Mbappe (Paris St Germain

Belgium is in its infancy

Belgium is also keen on what works: Fellaini resumes with Witsel and Mousa Dembélé in a hard work, supervised by Nacer Chadli and De Bruyne. Hazard and Lukaku at the front, and the same three-way line that brought them to here: Vertonghen, Kompany and Alderweireld.

Goalkeeper: 1 Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea)

Defenders: 2 Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham), 4 Vincent Kompany (Manchester City), January 5 Vertonghen (Tottenham)

Backgrounds errain: 7 Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City), 19 Mousa Dembele (Tottenham), 8 Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United), 10 Eden Hazard (Chelsea), 6 Axel Witsel (Tianjin Quanjian)

Forward: 22 Nacer Chadli (West Brom), 9 Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)

Belgium more accurate

The Belgian attack was prolific, shooting 85 times, just behind Brazil. France has shot only 56 times, lagging behind the eliminated countries like Spain, Germany and Mexico. The shots from Belgium were also more precise: 39% of shots on goal against 34% in France

Belgium Winning Streak

Belgium lost its first match under Roberto Martinez in Spain in August 2016 and is undefeated in 24 since [19victoires].

The role of Kevin De Bruyne

The fortunes of Belgium and the contributions of Kevin De Bruyne have increased in tandem since the Red Devils lost to Japan, 2-0, in the round of 16. Face to elimination and the need for a goal, Roberto Martinez sent Marouane Fellaini into a defensive midfielder role – to make fun of social media – and pushed De Bruyne into the more offensive role that He has a habit of playing. The result was a return win, and the change became the plan from the start against Brazil, leading to a goal from De Bruyne and the victory that sent the Belgians to St. Petersburg.

"My role changes all the time," said De Bruyne on Monday, adding, "For the semifinal, it may change, I do not know yet, but I think it's okay. to be. "

How they got here

Belgium is the only team left on the field with five World Cup victories this summer. France tied Denmark in the group stage and England lost to Belgium. Croatia left the field with the impression of being a winner in every game, but it has progressed on two shots on goal, but that 's only two breaks of equality: the two matches were officially scored as draws

France scored nine goals and capitulated three. Belgium scored 14 points, boosted by big wins over Panama (3-0) and Tunisia (5-2) in the group stage, but it was not so stingy in the back. He gave up five goals in Russia.

Thierry Henry on the other side

The presence of former France player Thierry Henry on the Belgian bench tonight will be a little embarrbading. Henry was a teammate with Deschamps in the winning team of the World Cup in their country in 1998. Now in the early stages of a coaching career, he works as badistant manager of Belgium , Roberto Martinez. "I had the chance to play with him for two years in the France team," said Hugo Lloris. "It's true that it's a bit odd to see him with the Belgian team, but that's his career and it's like that he's learning his future career.I think his heart will be divided tomorrow, because he remains French through everything. "

How Belgium was built

Some consider Belgium as a validation of the way it has modified its development system and its current generation of players. As for the restarts of Germany and Spain before it, the transformation of Belgium is now considered – by some – as worthy of study and copying. But the presence of Belgium, Croatia, France and England here, reminds Rory Smith, is a reminder to be careful when trying to replicate any model in a country different.

The Belgian attack against France

Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne is perhaps the best offensive trio remaining in the tournament, and they asked serious questions to each team in the KO. France 's ability to disrupt them before that they find themselves in dangerous positions will help them not to impose on the ground today. This role often comes back to N & # 39; Golo Kanté, a tireless worker. But he will need the help of Paul Pogba and another strong performance from Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti today. the stop of Belgium will not be an individual job

The Belgians Slow Mbappé and Griezmann

Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann will pose a test of attack as formidable as that which Belgium has recently pbaded against Brazil. Belgium has done so with a solid game of Marouane Fellaini and Axel Witsel in midfield, and France should expect a little more of the same today.

France vs Belgium Top Story Lines

• So many meetings today familiar to the regulars of the Premier League: N & # 39; Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba of France vs Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium at Midfielder; goaltender Hugo Lloris trying to push forward Romelu Lukaku; Olivier Giroud potentially difficult for Headers against Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. But club affiliations are also unclear today: Tottenham, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Paris St. Germain, Monaco and Barcelona both have players on both sides of this semi-final.

• "I think we know them very well," said French goaltender Hugo Lloris. "But they know us very well," said director Didier Deschamps: "It's an advantage on both sides, they can enjoy each other, but during the match, everyone will be on his side. "

• Belgium is without Thomas Meunier, an important (but not necessarily flashy) member of his team. He took his second yellow card against Brazil and is suspended. France recovers Blaise Matuidi after serving his own yellow card ban in the quarter-finals.

• Tottenham Hotspur has as many players in the World Cup (nine) as the Bundesliga and one more than Italy. Spurs could see the action today: Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembélé for Belgium and Hugo Lloris for France. Dutchman Nacer Chadli also spent time with the Spurs

• France won the World Cup in 1998 and returned to the final in 2006. Belgium is in the semi-finals only for the second time ; he lost at this stage in 1986.

• Today's winner will face the England-Croatia winner in Sunday's final in Moscow. The loser may stay in St. Petersburg, which will host the match for third place Saturday.

• France is the favorite to qualify for the final, but it is very close: the odds of bookmakers are 54% likely winner. Bookmakers have many other opinions too: the over / under is 2.5 goals. At the corners, there are 10. The player most likely to score the first goal is Antoine Griezmann of France (6-1), followed by Romelu Lukaku of Belgium (7-1) and Kylian Mbappe of France (8-). 1). The time off was filled with goals

There were 23 goals scored in the 90th minute and the second half of the time up here in this World Cup, breaking the previous record of 14, established four years ago Brazil.

Some Readings of Pregame

• The right-back of the French formation, Benjamin Pavard, had a good tournament and scored a magnificent goal against Argentina. But his part of the pitch is where the Belgian Eden Hazard likes to work, and that could be his biggest test for the moment

• Nearly half – 40 out of 92 – Remaining World Cup players . Jonathan Lieuw looks into what this means, why people should not give too much credit to the league yet.

• Shameless flattery, dubious fluidity and warm ovations: Sarah Lyall wrote about the glorious stew and great theater that is the World Cup. press conference.

Continue reading the main story

• Why do all World Cup players put their hand in the head after a virtual absence? It turns out that there is a psychological explanation.

Continue reading the main story