France vs Belgium LIVE World Cup 2018: France into World Cup final - latest reaction from St Petersburg
Follow all the action from the first semi-final of the 2018 World Cup
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.France and Belgium face off in the first semi-final of the 2018 World Cup in what promises to be one of the games of the tournament.
France are here after seeing off Argentina and Uruguay in the knockout stages with Kylian Mbappe continue to rise as one of the games ascending stars. Belgium have moved through the gears in Russia with the performance to dump Brazil out last time out one of the very best of the last three weeks.
Coaches Didier Deschamps and Roberto Martinez have their detractors but have delivered here and are now 90 - or 120 - minutes away from a shot at immortality. It should be a thriller.
Follow the latest in the live blog below
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load
What time does it start?
The game kicks off at 7pm in St Petersburg
Where can I watch it?
The match is being shown live on BBC1. You can also watch it via the BBC Sport website.
How they got here?
France have warmed to this tournament rather than exploded into it with their group stage progression characterised by what have been rather than what did actually come to be. Australia were seen off but only via a late own goal before Peru fell to Mbappe's first goal in Russia. The less said about the Denmark snoozefest the better before Les Bleus showed what is possible with a supreme performance to see off Argentina in the last-16 with that man Mbappe coming of age on a balmy summer afternoon in Kazan. Next the quarter-final and another solid if unspectacular display as Uruguay were sent packing thanks to goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann (and a monumental howler from Fernando Muslera).
Belgium themselves have flattered to deceive at times with Panama and Tunisia negotiated without too much trouble before England were also seen off, albeit with a second team in Nizhny Novgorod. Japan threatened to end the dream in the last-16 before Nacer Chadli's last-gasp, extra-time winner saved them. The quarter-finals saw Brazil ousted in a performance to put the whole world on notice as the five-time winners were sent home thanks to vintage displays by De Bruyne and Hazard.
Head-to-head
These two have met some 73 times down the years, the first of which coming way back in 1904 (a 3-3 draw for those wondering). They haven't met competitively since the 1986 World Cup - a 4-2 win for Michel Platini's side - while the last time they faced each other was back in 2014 when the Belgian's triumphed 4-3 with Hazard scoring what proved to be the winner.
Odds
France 29/20
Belgium 11/5
Prediction
France 1-3 Belgium: This is one of the match-ups of the tournament with the two, pound-for-pound best squads going toe to toe in St Petersburg. Both offer an abundance of threat going forwards and while Les Bleus possess the more sturdy defence that fearsome Red Devils front three are in the form of their lives. Expect De Bruyne to have a big game with Romelu Lukaku perhaps the difference maker.
"No heavy tackles please"
Manchester United stars Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba will meet this evening and the club will be hoping their get through unscathed.
France and Belgium players post on social media ahead of the semi-final
"He's a genius"
Roberto Martinez is two wins away from being the first foreign manager to win the World Cup and his former colleagues at Everton are not surprised by his achievements with Belgium.
"He reminded me of those wonderful what I call zoot-suited American vocalists, like Bobby Darin, Frankie Avalon, Frankie Valli," Everton chairman Bill Kenwright said. "And I christened him Frankie from the first day I met him."
"He truly is, truly, truly, truly, 24-7. I don't say that thinking, well, he'll take an hour off on Sunday. He won't. He takes no time off at all," Kenwright said. "The World Cup this summer has not been about superstars, but has been about teams and particularly their coaches and their managers. And that's why people like (Martinez) and Gareth Southgate stand out."
"He's a genius tactically," said American goalkeeper Tim Howard, who spent three seasons with Martinez at Everton. "He always finds a weakness in the opponent. He prepares his teams to break down the opponent. No game is the same — he changes tactics every game."
Robot predicts win for Belgium
Using animals to predict the World Cup results was sooo 2014. Instead we have robots who are taking a break from playing connect four and working out who might win.
Designed for industrial purposes, the American-made robot housed in Moscow's Robo Station predicted a few hours before kickoff that France would beat Belgium in Tuesday's semi-final in St Petersburg.
Several of Baxter's competitors, including Achilles the clairvoyant cat and Timon the meerkat, have fallen out of fashion after a false prediction or two, while an octopus in Japan suffered an even worse fate.
Rabio the oracle octopus was boiled and butchered despite correctly predicting all of Japan's group stage matches, and speculation is rife that the country's last-gasp exit in the first knockout round might be mysteriously linked to his demise.
Baxter's handlers, however, think their robot's data-crunching mastery gives him a decided edge over his rivals, who might be motivated more by the treats on offer than any particular love for 'the beautiful game'.
For each prediction, Baxter receives the latest statistics on the teams, including number of goals, ball possession and previous results, before he applies an algorithm to arrive at the winner.
"The statistics are updated after each game and the robot collects his own statistics and according to that, he makes a choice between the two teams," said Sergei Vasilyev, a senior engineer at the Robo Station.
Liew on Pogba
Jonathan Liew takes a detailed look at how Paul Pogba is rising to the occasion at the World Cup as he benefits from a lapse in sole responsibility.
"The freight of footballing expectation is something France has had to deal with for a while, ever since it became clear that they were in possession of a truly exceptional generation of young footballers. And nobody, perhaps, is more aware of that expectation than Paul Pogba."
Chelsea love-in
This afternoon Chelsea's Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtios will come up against teammates Olivier Giroud and N'Golo Kante for a place in the World Cup final and there is no hard feelings between any of the players.
Eden Hazard
"I play all year with Kante, for me he is the best in the world in his position," said the Chelsea and Belgium man. "When he is at his best and on top, you have a 95 per cent chance to win the game. It's up to us to do whatever it takes to stop him from picking up the ball."
Olivier Giroud
"To stand alongside Eden every day at Chelsea, he is impressive when he is driving with the ball, in his capacity to cut through with the ball," said Olivier, who formed a productive partnership with Hazard for Chelsea in the second half of last season. For me, he is one of the three best players I have ever played with in my whole career."
"Thibaut has an impressive wingspan. It's hard to beat him on the sides. He can stop balls in any area," added the forward. "I have scored a few goals against him in training with Chelsea and I hope I can do it here."
"He is very busy at this World Cup, but we have the qualities to break down the Wall of Courtois. This is a special game for us. There are Belgians who have evolved with us at club level. We don't want to endure jeering from them during pre-season at Chelsea!"
Good luck
Burnley midfielder Steven Defour played in the 2014 World Cup for Belgium but surgery on an injury at the start of the year ended his hopes of playing in Russia, but he has sent a video encouraging his teammates to meet England in the final.
Golden Boot
In 2014 Colombia’s James Rodriguez went home as the top scorer with just six goals – but his tally is likely to be well beaten in Russia.
Harry Kane leads the way with goals but is closely followed by Romelu Lukaku, and do not rule out Kylian Mbappe if France get through to the final.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments