World Cup: France For Final

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For the third time in 20 years, France has again secured another place in a World Cup final with a 1-0 defeat of Belgium in St Petersburg today.

France’s victory today ended Belgium’s 24-game unbeaten streak.

Samuel Umtiti’s 50th-minute header sealed the fate of Belgium.

Belgium came into the game as the tournament’s top scorers, boasting a 100 per cent record after five games in Russia.

Head coach Roberto Martinez was forced to make changes from their quarter-final win over Brazil, with Tottenham’s Mousa Dembele a surprise pick to replace the suspended Thomas Meunier.

Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli were rewarded for impressive performances in Belgium’s win over Brazil with starting berths on Tuesday night.

PSG midfielder Blaise Matuidi was restored to the France midfield.

Belgium began the brighter of the two sides in what was a cagey opening 15 minutes.

France found themselves camped in their own half as Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne enjoying plenty of touches of the ball.

Hazard, who has been linked with a summer move to Real Madrid, had the first big opportunity of the game, cutting inside before driving his shot inches past Hugo Lloris’ far post.

Lloris was called into action just two minutes later as the Spurs goalkeeper was required to turn Toby Alderweireld’s shot away with an acrobatic one-handed save.

France’s best chance of the first half fell to Benjamin Pavard, who was denied brilliantly by Benjamin Pavard after being neatly slid in by Mbappe.

But Didier Deschamps side did not have to wait long to capitalise as Antoine Griezmann’s 50th-minute corner was headed home by Umtiti.

Fellaini went close for Belgium halfway through the second half but his header narrowly went past Lloris’ near post.

At full-time King Philippe of Belgium congratulated French president, Emmanuel Macron, in what was the first competitive meeting between France and Belgium since the 1986 World Cup.

France will play in Sunday’s showpiece 20 years on since they won the World Cup on home soil.

Les Bleus will now play either Croatia or England who will meet in Moscow on Wednesday evening.

It’s the first time since 1998 that three defenders (Lizarazu, Blanc & Thuram) would score a goal for France in the same World Cup (Pavard, Varane & Umtiti).