French youngsters outshine Belgium's golden generation
The young brigade of Didier Deschamps took their World Cup dream closer to reality as they dispatched Belgium with a 1-0 win in the first semifinal at the Saint Petersburg Stadium yesterday.
Defender Samuel Umtiti scored the all-important goal with a spectacular header six minutes after the break to shatter Belgian hearts.
The Red Devils came into the game with a huge confidence boost following their splendid 2-1 quarterfinal win against five-time champions Brazil. But their dream of making a first World Cup final came unstuck against a young France side that showed maturity beyond their years while defending the slender lead for the rest of second half.
Belgium were not as overpowering as Brazil were against them. They created a couple of chances but those were wasted by Marouane Fellaini and Romelu Lukaku. However, France were deserved winners and they could have won by an even bigger margin had goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois not made two stunning saves off Antoine Griezmann and substitute Corentin Tolisso in the extended last six minutes.
France will now wait for the winners of today's second semifinal between England and Croatia for Sunday's final at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
The breakthrough came in the 51st minute when Umtiti headed home a Griezmann corner from the left-hand flag. Fellaini contested the aerial ball but the French defender go to it first and his glancing header may have taken the slightest of touches from Fellaini on its way in, but that hardly mattered.
Belgium showed urgency in coming forward but five minute later France's wonder boy Kylian Mbappe showed something that everyone in the stands admired in awe.
The 19-year-old released Giround with an outrageous back-heeled pass but the shot was blocked by midfielder Moussa Dembele. Fellaini was entrusted with the job of keeping Mbappe in check, but the Manchester United midfielder, alongside Tottenham's Dembele, failed to contain the fleet-footed forward. Mbappe was born the year France won their first World Cup in 1998 and the Paris Saint-Germain forward is surely heading towards fulfilling Les Bleus' dream of a second star.
It was really end to end stuff with a fascinating first half.
It all started with a burst of speed from Mbappe, who galloped down the left-flank before releasing a neat cutback. However, an onrushing Oliver Giroud was late to meet the ball.
It was then Belgium's turn to create an opening in the sixth minute. Eden Hazard made a darting run down the line and provided a perfect low cross which was cleared for a corner by ever-alert young French defender Samuel Umtiti.
Six minute later Paul Pogba sent an intelligent lob that Mbappe failed to control on the turn in the box, much to the relief of Belgian fans. The Pogba-Mbappe combination broke the back of the Belgium defence in the 13th minute, only to be rescued by athletic goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
It was a half where Belgium tried to keep possession as long as possible instead showing the urgency to create something. However, Hazard had the first crack at the goal in the 15th minute, but his left-footer from an acute angle zipped past Lloris's left-hand post.
Two minutes later Blaise Matuidi, the French midfielder who returned from a one-match suspension to replace Tolisso, came up with blazing left-foot volley. Unfortunately for the Les Bleus it went straight to Courtois.
Lloris then made some double saves including an absolute blinder from overlapping Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld, who swiveled before unleashing a left-footer that the Tottenham goalkeeper fisted for a corner.
France, who were more direct and lethal when they had the ball, were unlucky not to open their account in the last 23 odd minutes. Giroud's low header missed the near post while Griezmann's shot from top of the box flew over the bar.
Giroud wasted anoter golden opportunity in the 35th minute. Griezmann, who pulled all the strings from deep, curled in a beautiful ball from mid-pitch to Mbappe, who squared the pass first-time to Giroud. Unfortunately, the misfiring striker's feeble shot from eight yards harmlessly crossed the line.
Right-back Benjamin Pavard, one of the best young player in the tournament, then played a couple of one twos with Mbappe before releasing a low right footer that Courtois spectacularly fisted away.