France vs Belgium and these two neighbouring countries went head to head last night in the first match of the World Cup Semi-Finals and what a fantastic game of football it was. The last time these two sides had met previously in a World Cup match was way back in 1986 when they met each other in the Third-Place Play-Off game. Obviously there was a lot more at stake this time around with a place in a World Cup Final up for grabs for one of them.
France had once change before kick-off and that was Matuidi back in after suspension, but all eyes were of course on their front two of Mbappe and Griezmann. As for Belgium, they had the suspended Thomas Meunier missing and basically it was a Premier League ten representing them plus Axel Witsel. The game started fast and furious as expected, with both sides defending from the middle of the park and then attacking quickly down the wings. Chances started to come as they game went on but nothing clear-cut as either side pressed the other in the first-half.
Both keepers were kept busy though, but mainly from long-range efforts, although late in the first forty-five minutes Courtois pulled off a brilliant save from Pavard. It didn’t take long in the second-half though for a goal to finally come, as Umtiti rose superbly to head in a goal from yet another Griezmann set-piece. Moments later, France could have made it two Courtois pulled off another save, this time from Giroud. Belgium up their game that little bit more to try to get back into it as soon as possible.
Fellaini then headed a superb chance just wide, De Bruyne then went close too with a long-range effort. France defended superbly though and manged the game excellently even though Belgium just kept coming at them until the final whistle. However, it wasn’t to be for Belgium’s golden generation as France went through to their third World Cup Final in twenty years.
France 1–0 Belgium
Umtiti Goal 51′
Next fixtures for France vs Belgium:
Third-place play-off Saturday July 14th: St Petersburg, 3pm – Belgium vs England
Final Sunday July 15th: Moscow (Luzhniki), 4pm – France vs Croatia
