SATURDAY, JULY 7, 2018 19

France forge aheadFriday July 6 URUGUAY 0 2 FRANCE Goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann were enough to help France book a berth in the semi-finals Nizhny Novgorod Stadium Varane 40’ Friday July 6 0 2 Quarter-finals Griezmann 61’ Reuters | Nizhny Novgorod, Russia Friday July 6 URUGUAY URUGUAYFRANCE0 2 FRANCE Referee aphael Varane’s glancing head- Nizhny NovgorodNestor Stadium PitanaVarane (ARG) 40’ Quarter-finalsNizhny NovgorodGriezmann Stadium 61’Varane 40’ er and a goalkeeping blunder Referee Quarter-finals Griezmann 61’ that gifted Antoine Griezmann Players Nestor Pitana (ARG)PossessionReferee Players R NestorPossession Pitana (ARG) a soft goal gave France a 2-0 victory 1 Muslera Players Possession Players 1 Lloris (cap) over Uruguay in the first World Cup 2 Gimenez1 Muslera Players Possession1 Lloris (cap) 2 PavardPlayers 2 Gimenez 2 Pavard quarter-final yesterday and set them 3 Godin (cap) 1 Muslera 1 Lloris4 Varane (cap)(cap) 3 Godin (cap) 43% 43% 57% 4 Varane57% up for a last-four tie with either Brazil 6 Bentancur6 Bentancur2 Gimenez59’59’ 5 Umtiti 2 Pavard5 Umtiti 8 Nandez 73’ 6 Pogba or Belgium. 8 Nandez 3 Godin (cap)(cap)73’ 43% 57% 4 Varane6 Pogba 9 Suarez 6 Bentancur 59’ 7 Griezmann 90’5 +3’Umtiti Uruguay went into the game without 9 Suarez11 Stuani 8 Nandez 59’ 73’11 Shots 11 9 Giroud 6 Pogba7 Griezmann 90’ +3’ 14 Torreira 10 Mbappé 88’ 90’ +3’ key striker Edinson Cavani, who was 11 Stuani15 Vecino 9 Suarez 59’ 4 On target11 2 Shots12 Tolisso11 7 80’Griezmann9 Giroud ruled out with a calf injury, with Cris- 14 Torreira17 Laxalt 11 Stuani 59’ 11 Shots13 Kanté11 9 Giroud10 Mbappé 88’ 22 Caceres 14 Torreira 16 Fouls 15 21 Hernandez 10 Mbappé 88’ thian Stuani drafted into the starting 15 Vecino 15 Vecino 4 4On Ontarget target 2 12 Tolisso12 Tolisso 80’ 80’ 18 Gomez 17 Laxalt 59’ (cap) = Captain Yellow card 15 Nzonzi 13 80’Kanté line-up. 17 Laxalt7 Rodriguez 59’ 11 Dembélé 88’13 Kanté 22 Caceres Substitution Red 16card Fouls 15 21 Hernandez The impact on their attack was no- 22 Caceres20 Urretaviscaya 73’ og=own goal, pen=penalty16 Fouls 18 Fekir15 90’ +3’21 Hernandez ticeable. Without Cavani, who scored 18 Gomez Source:59’ FIFA (cap)(cap) == CaptainCaptain YellowYellow cardcard 15 Nzonzi 80’ twice in the round of 16 win against 18 Gomez 7 Rodriguez 59’ 59’(cap) = CaptainSubstitutionSubstitution YellowRedRed cardcard card 11 Dembélé15 Nzonzi 88’ 80’ 7 Rodriguez 20 Urretaviscaya59’ 73’ Substitutionog=ownog=own goal,goal, pen=penaltypen=penaltyRed card 18 Fekir11 Dembélé 90’ +3’ 88’ Portugal, Uruguay’s moves forward Source:Source: FIFAFIFA lacked a focal point, and Luis Suarez 20 Urretaviscaya 73’ og=own goal, pen=penalty 18 Fekir 90’ +3’ found less space and openings against Source: FIFA a well-drilled French defence. I’m proud of my team The South Americans battled but their talented generation of players, mates - they were lions. We are a team where everyone gives everything Antoine Griezmann of France scores his sides second goal in the matches and in preparation. I have only including the defensive rock Diego Go- minute when Varane sprinted clear words of gratitude for my We had done something din, look like ending their international of his marker to meet a well-placed team mates big against Argentina and careers without the World Cup success Griezmann free kick with a perfectly they have threatened to deliver. angled header. URUGUAY CAPTAIN DIEGO GODIN today we have again raised “I’m proud of my team mates - they Moments later, France goalkeeper our level. I have a good were lions,” said skipper Godin. KNOW WHAT Hugo Lloris ensured his side went in team that still has plenty “We are a team where everyone gives at the break with the advantage, pro- header although Diego Godin will be of room for improvement. everything in the matches and in prepa- ducing a brilliant disappointed his follow-up shot was You can see our lack of ration..I just have words of gratitude one-handed wildly off target. experience sometimes, for my team mates,” he said. France have gone un- save to If that was an example of goalkeeping but we have so many France rarely sparkled, but they beaten when Antoine keep out at its very best, Uruguay’s Fernando didn’t need to move through too many Griezmann has scored. a Martin Muslera showed how easily it can go qualities too. In any case, gears, and they Caceres wrong for the custodian with a horren- it definitely won’t be a Out of 20 matches go into the in which the Atletico dous error to gift France their second failed World Cup now, and semi-finals goal in the 61st minute. we’ll wait to find out our without any Madrid star scored, Les Griezmann tried his luck with an opponents and see what major weak Bleus have won 18 while effort from outside the box which was happens two were draws straight at Muslera, but the keeper’s ill-chosen attempt to palm the ball FRANCE COACH DIDIER DESCHAMPS away ended with him merely de- points and appearing capable of flecting it into the net. taking on anyone of the survi- It was a mistake that left Oscar vors in this tournament. Tabarez’s team with too much to France forward Kylian do to turn the match around. Mbappe, who had ripped “Fernando is a great goalkeep- apart Argentina in the previ- er... We all make mistakes.. On ous round with his direct- other occasions, he has rescued ness and pace, wasted us with incredible saves,” said a good opportunity Godin. to open the scoring Mbappe then caused a melee in the 15th minute after he went down claiming he when Olivier Giroud had been struck in an incident off headed across the the ball and was confronted by a box to him but the furious Godin about his playacting. 19-year-old’s looping That proved to be the last hint of header was off-target. Luis Suarez of Uruguay looks any drama in what was overall a dis- A relatively quiet game dejected after the defeat appointing game which had promised burst into life in the 40th much more. Antoine Griezmann of France celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s second goal

WORLD CUP PREDICT AND WIN Yesterday’s lucky winner is Arif Ikbal Hossain. Winner will be contacted

DAY 24, 7th JULY 2018

SWEDEN ENGLAND

RUSSIA CROATIA

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