Samuel Umtiti’s second half header was enough to send France through to the World Cup final at Belgium’s expense.
Didier Deschamps’ side, the beaten Euro 2016 finalists, had to withstand a late onslaught from their opponents but held on and will now have the chance to win their first World Cup in 20 years.
Belgium enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening exchanges and nearly drew first blood in the 15th minute when Eden Hazard flashed his shot across goal after Kevin de Bruyne’s inventive flick had presented the Chelsea winger with a sight of goal.
Hazard came even closer shortly afterwards, this time cutting in on his favoured right foot and blasting the ball towards the far corner, only for Raphael Varane to divert the ball over the crossbar with a brave header.
Hugo Lloris was then forced to make one of the saves of the tournament, diving full length to his to turn away a curling effort from his Tottenham teammate Toby Alderweireld.
Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe both showed fleeting glimpses of their ability but the best France could muster in response during the opening half an hour was Olivier Giroud’s header from a set piece which drifted harmlessly wide.
That miss appeared to galvanise France who missed the best opportunity of the opening period when Thiabut Courtois produced a brilliant save with an outstretched leg to deny Benjamin Pavard who had been sent clear by a clever Mbappe pass.
The goal the first half had promised arrived just five minutes after the restart when Samuel Umtiti beat Marouane Fellaini to Antoine Griezmann’s corner at the near post and guided his header past a helpless Courtois.
Giroud nearly doubled the lead soon after but was smothered by the Belgium defence having been played in by Mbappe’s impudent backheel.
Roberto Martinez summoned Dries Mertens from the bench and the change nearly reaped instant dividends when the Napoli winger’s cross was headed narrowly wide by Fellaini.
Belgium threw everything they could muster at the French but were unable to really test Lloris, aside from one speculative long range effort from Axel Witsel.
Share Your Comments