WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 20

Belgium’s goalkeeper (R) concedes a goal in the 51st minute during the Russia 2018 World Cup semi- final football match between France and Belgium

Tuesday July 10 FRANCE 1 0 BELGIUM 51’ Umtiti Saint Petersburg Stadium Semi-finals Referee FrenchTuesday July 10 Tuesday July 10 FRANCE FRANCE1 0 BELGIUM1 0 BELGIUM Andres Cunha (URU) 51’ Umtiti51’ SaintUmtiti PetersburgSaint Stadium Petersburg Stadium Players PossessionSemi-finals Semi-finals Players Referee Referee 1 Lloris (cap) AndresPossession CunhaAndres (URU)(URU) Cunha (URU) 1 Courtois Players Possession Players 2 Pavard Players Possession 2 AlderweireldPlayers 4 Varane 1 Lloris (cap) 4 Kompany1 Courtois 1 Lloris (cap)(cap) 2 Pavard 40% 60% 1 Courtois2 Alderweireld 5 Umtiti 5 Vertonghen 2 Pavard 4 Varane 40% 60%2 Alderweireld4 Kompany 6 Pogba 4 Varane 5 Umtiti 4 Kompany6 Witsel5 Vertonghen 6 Pogba 40% 60% 6 Witsel 7 Griezmann 5 Umtiti 5 Vertonghen7 De Bruyne 6 Pogba 7 Griezmann 6 Witsel 7 De Bruyne 9 Giroud 85’ 9 Giroud 1985’ Shots 19 9Shots 9 8 Fellaini8 Fellaini 80’ 80’ 7 Griezmann 10 Mbappé 7 De Bruyne9 Lukaku 10 Mbappé 9 Giroud 13 Kante85’ 19 Shots5 On9 target 3 8 Fellaini9 Lukaku10 Hazard (cap) 80’ 13 Kante 10 Mbappé 14 Matuidi 5 86’ On target 3 9 Lukaku10 Hazard19 Dembele (cap) 60’ 13 Kante 21 Hernandez 5 On target6 3Fouls 1610 Hazard22 (cap)(cap)Chadli 90+1’ 14 Matuidi 14 Matuidi 86’ 86’ 19 Dembele19 Dembele 60’ 60’ 15 Nzonzi 85’ 14 Mertens 60’ 21 Hernandez 6 6 Fouls(cap)Fouls = Captain 16 Yellow card22 Chadli 90+1’ 21 Hernandez 12 Tolisso 86’ Substitution Red card 22 Chadli11 Carrasco 80’ 90+1’ 21 Batshuayi 90+1’ 15 Nzonzi 85’ (cap)(cap) == CaptainCaptain YellowYellow cardcard 14 Mertens 60’ 15 Nzonzi 85’ Source: FIFA 14 Mertens 60’ 12 Tolisso 86’(cap) = CaptainSubstitutionSubstitution YellowRedRed cardcard card 11 Carrasco 80’ 12 Tolisso 86’ Substitution Red card 21 Batshuayi11ItCarrasco was a90+1’ question80’ of Source:Source: FIFAFIFA 21details.Batshuayi Unfortunately90+1’ Source: FIFA for us the difference delight was a deadball situation. The game De Bruyne warned Kylian Mbappe their sides’ quarter-final wins and it was very close, very Umtiti heads France was ready to take the world by storm was only thanks to two of the best tight. It was going to into• World Cup final as on the eve of the game and the most ‘keepers in the world the game re - be decided by whoever expensive teenager in the history of mained goalless at half-time. could find that final Belgium fall short football showed why inside the first touch in the box or 60 seconds. Goalkeepers impress He skipped past with First, Lloris flew to his right to turn a bit of luck in front Belgium denied and of goal. The effort will• contest third-place ease and only a last-ditch tackle by Vin- ’s shot on the turn cent Kompany prevented Griezmann behind. from the players was play-off on Saturday from latching onto his cross. At the other end, Mbappe demon- magnificent, I couldn’t Thibaut Courtois rushed from his strated the subtler side to his game to ask for more AFP | Saint Petersburg, Russia goal just in time to save Vertonghen play in , but Courtois BELGIUM COACH ROBERTO MARTINEZ again from Mbappe’s pace on 12 min- used his massive 6ft 5ins (199 centime- 12France advance to its first amuel Umtiti headed France into utes, but it was Belgium who started tre) frame to deny the Stuttgart full- World Cup final in 12 years the World Cup final in Saint Pe- the better in possession. back his second goal of the tournament. nearly created a second with a backheel Stersburg yesterday with a 1-0 win, One of the Red Devils’ many ’ men ended the that again freed Giroud only for Mousa consigning Belgium’s ‘golden gener- French connections was opening period on top, but again Oliv- Dembele to block. ation’ to another bitter disappoint- the biggest danger as Eden ier Giroud looked short of confidence Roberto Martinez introduced an ex- ment. Hazard, who began his ca- as the focal point of the French attack. tra attacker in in an at- France’s own supremely talent- reer with Lille in , Giroud has not scored in eight games tempt to turn the tide and he nearly had ed young squad will aim to make pulled the first attempt of and is yet to even have a shot an immediate impact as his cross was amends for defeat on home soil in goal just beyond the far on target in Russia. headed inches wide by Marouane the final of Euro 2016 in Sunday’s post. His best chance arrived Fellaini. showpiece against England The Chelsea for- via more good work from That was as close as Belgium or Croatia. ward’s next Mbappe with a cushioned came to taking the game In a World Cup replete effort was ar- cross, but the Chelsea to extra-time, though, as with set-piece goals, a rowing into striker could only slice Lloris parried a long- corner again proved de- the top corner horribly wide on his favoured range piledriver from cisive when Umtiti timed until it flicked left foot. . his run perfectly to meet off Rapha- Giroud did at least have a part But for Courtois, ’s de- el Varane’s to play in the decisive opener France’s margin of livery six minutes into the head and as, after his shot was deflected victory would have Samuel Umtiti’s near-post second half. deflected wide, Griezmann’s corner was been even greater header1 in second half be- Samuel France were thankful Umtiti just over. flicked in at the near post by as he made saves came the only goal to be for fine saves from goal- Lloris Umtiti. from Griezmann scored during the match keeper ei- and Cour- Once in front, France had even and Corentin ther side of half-time. tois played more space to exploit Mbappe’s pace, Tolisso in stop- Belgium’s Kevin a huge part but it was a majestic piece of skill that page time.

Marouane Fellaini