World Cup 2018: France beat Uruguay 2-0 to reach semi-final
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Highlights: Uruguay 0-2 France
France are into the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time since 2006 after seeing off Uruguay with the help of a terrible error by goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.
In terms of excitement, this quarter-final tie did not come close to Les Bleus' win over Argentina in the last 16 but will still be remembered for the contrasting fates of the two goalkeepers, with Hugo Lloris producing a contender for save of the tournament while his opposite number made a mistake that was even more memorable.
Raphael Varane headed France into a first-half lead from a free-kick that came straight off the training field, with Antoine Griezmann checking his run before delivering the perfect cross for the Real Madrid defender to glance home.
Uruguay, with injured striker Edinson Cavani failing to even make the bench, almost struck back immediately from a free-kick of their own, but Lloris produced a brilliant diving stop to deny Martin Caceres, before Diego Godin blasted the rebound over.
The second half started with France continuing to control possession, but they were gifted the goal that made certain of their victory.
There seemed little danger when Griezmann let fly from the edge of the area but Muslera misjudged the flight of the ball, flapped at the shot, and saw it loop slowly over the line.
Uruguay, roared on by their huge travelling support, threw bodies forward in the closing stages but could not seriously trouble Lloris again.
Their run of four successive victories is over, as well as their hopes of reaching the final in Moscow on 15 July.
It is France who march on, and they will face Brazil or Belgium in the semi-finals in St Petersburg on Tuesday. Those sides play their quarter-final later today (19:00 BST).
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France do what they need to win
France manager Didier Deschamps has been criticised back home for his conservative tactics, but this time he got his approach exactly right.
This was an efficient, rather than a spectacular, display but it was exactly what was needed against stubborn South American opposition.
There were no more fireworks from Kylian Mbappe, for example, although he did waste a glorious chance to open the scoring when he badly mistimed a header.
Instead, France took control of the game in midfield, found a way to hurt Uruguay from the right flank and then struck their first decisive blow from Griezmann's well-worked set-piece.
France's second goal gave them breathing space, and added gloss to the scoreline, but they rarely looked troubled in any case and with defensive resilience as well as attacking flair, they will make formidable opponents to whoever they face next.
Uruguay simply outclassed by France
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World Cup 2018: Antoine Griezmann strike slips through hands of Uruguay's Fernando Muslera
Uruguay's hopes of reaching the last four of the World Cup for the first time since 2010 were always going to be hit by Cavani's enforced absence through a calf injury.
While their famed defensive organisation was again evident in Nizhny Novgorod, ultimately they paid the price for having a blunted attack.
Their failure to score for the first time in this tournament was not for the want of trying, however, with eight of their outfield players having attempts at goal.
Noticeably, Luis Suarez was not among them, and although he charged around to try to make things happen for his side in the final third, inspiration eluded him, as it did his team-mates.
Other than Caceres' header, and Godin's wild miss with the follow-up, Uruguay were largely kept at arm's length, and not even the noisy support they received from the stands could change the feeling they were simply outclassed.
Man of the match - Antoine Griezmann (France)
The man who claims to love Uruguay did not celebrate after scoring but, with a goal and an assist, he was the player who did most to put France into the final fourMatch stats - 10 games unbeaten against South American sides
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France have reached the World Cup semi-final for the sixth time, progressing to the final twice (1998 and 2006)
France have become only the second team to beat three different South American sides in a single World Cup tournament, after the Netherlands in 1974
France are unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches against South American sides (W6 D4), since a 2-1 loss v Argentina in 1978 - the joint longest run alongside Italy (1982 to 2010)
Uruguay received more yellow cards (two) than they had in their previous four World Cup games combined (one)
France have now scored with each of their last six shots on target at the World Cup
This was Uruguay's first competitive game that Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez did not start together since March 2017, a 4-1 defeat by Brazil
France have lost none of the 20 games in which Antoine Griezmann has scored for them (W18 D2)
Griezmann has scored seven goals in his last six appearances in the knockout stages of major tournaments
Varane's goal was his third for France, with all three of them being headers
Uruguay forward Luis Suarez failed to have a single touch in the opposition box, and also failed to register a single shot
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Uruguay
1Muslera
22Cáceres
2Giménez
3Godín
17Laxalt
14Torreira
8NándezSubstituted forUrretaviscayaat 73'minutes
15Vecino
6BentancurBooked at 38minsSubstituted forRodríguezat 59'minutesBooked at 69mins
11StuaniSubstituted forGómezat 59'minutes
9Suárez
Substitutes
4Varela
5Sánchez
7Rodríguez
10de Arrascaeta
12Campaña
13G Silva
16Pereira
18Gómez
19Coates
20Urretaviscaya
23M Silva
France
1Lloris
2Pavard
4Varane
5Umtiti
21HernándezBooked at 33mins
6Pogba
13Kanté
10MbappéBooked at 69minsSubstituted forDembéléat 88'minutes
7GriezmannSubstituted forFekirat 90+3'minutes
12TolissoSubstituted forN'Zonziat 80'minutes
9Giroud
Substitutes
3Kimpembe
8Lemar
11Dembélé
15N'Zonzi
16Mandanda
17Rami
18Fekir
19Sidibe
20Thauvin
22Mendy
23Areola
Referee:
Néstor Pitana
Attendance:
43,319
Match Stats
Home TeamUruguayAway TeamFrance
Possession
Home39%
Away61%
Shots
Home11
Away11
Shots on Target
Home4
Away2
Corners
Home4
Away3
Fouls
Home17
Away15
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Uruguay 0, France 2.
Full TimePosted at 90'+6'
Second Half ends, Uruguay 0, France 2.
Posted at 90'+3'
Foul by Nabil Fekir (France).
Posted at 90'+3'
Lucas Torreira (Uruguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+3'
Substitution, France. Nabil Fekir replaces Antoine Griezmann.
Posted at 90'+2'
Paul Pogba (France) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Lucas Torreira (Uruguay).
Posted at 90'+1'
Hand ball by Lucas Torreira (Uruguay).
Posted at 90'
Foul by Paul Pogba (France).
Posted at 90'
Maxi Gómez (Uruguay) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 89'
Attempt missed. Antoine Griezmann (France) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
Posted at 88'
Paul Pogba (France) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 88'
Foul by José Giménez (Uruguay).
SubstitutionPosted at 88'
Substitution, France. Ousmane Dembélé replaces Kylian Mbappé.
Posted at 82'
Foul by Olivier Giroud (France).
Posted at 82'
Jonathan Urretaviscaya (Uruguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 80'
Foul by Paul Pogba (France).
Posted at 80'
Cristian Rodríguez (Uruguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, France. Steven N'Zonzi replaces Corentin Tolisso.
Posted at 79'
Samuel Umtiti (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Maxi Gómez (Uruguay).
Posted at 76'
Attempt missed. Olivier Giroud (France) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
SubstitutionPosted at 73'
Substitution, Uruguay. Jonathan Urretaviscaya replaces Nahitan Nández.
Posted at 73'
Attempt missed. Corentin Tolisso (France) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Paul Pogba.
Posted at 70'
Kylian Mbappé (France) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 70'
Foul by Diego Laxalt (Uruguay).
BookingPosted at 69'
Kylian Mbappé (France) is shown the yellow card.
BookingPosted at 69'
Cristian Rodríguez (Uruguay) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 65'
Benjamin Pavard (France) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 65'
Foul by Lucas Torreira (Uruguay).
Posted at 64'
Attempt missed. Cristian Rodríguez (Uruguay) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by José Giménez following a corner.
Posted at 64'
Attempt blocked. Cristian Rodríguez (Uruguay) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 63'
Corner, Uruguay. Conceded by Lucas Hernández.
Posted at 63'
Corner, Uruguay. Conceded by Benjamin Pavard.
Goal!Posted at 61'
Goal! Uruguay 0, France 2. Antoine Griezmann (France) left footed shot from outside the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Corentin Tolisso.
SubstitutionPosted at 59'
Substitution, Uruguay. Cristian Rodríguez replaces Rodrigo Bentancur.
SubstitutionPosted at 59'
Substitution, Uruguay. Maxi Gómez replaces Cristhian Stuani.
Posted at 59'
Attempt missed. Martín Cáceres (Uruguay) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left.
Posted at 57'
Foul by Raphael Varane (France).
Posted at 57'
Luis Suárez (Uruguay) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com
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