FRANCE
LIKELY TEAM (4-3-3): Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez, Kante, Pogba, Matuidi, Mbappe, Giroud, Griezmann
- This will be the first competitive meeting between the two sides since the 1986 World Cup, when France won 4-2 in the third-place playoff
- France are making their sixth appearance in a World Cup semi final
- Excluding shootouts, France have lost just one of their last 13 games in the knockout rounds of the World Cup (W10 D2 L1)
- France's Kylian Mbappe (3 goals) is the highest scoring teenager in a World Cup tournament since Pele scored six in 1958. Pele scored a hat-trick against France in the semi-final of that tournament, the last teen to score in the last four of the competition
- France forward Antoine Griezmann has scored seven goals in his last six knockout stage matches in major tournaments (World Cup and Euros)
The Stade De France, Saint Denis on July 12th 1998 was the setting, surrounded by a sea of blue the then French team captained by the current manager, Didier Deschamps achieved what no other French outfit before or since has, winning the World Cup. The then dubbed "Black-Blanc-Beur" side have plenty in common with today's side. Two of the main proprietor's from that night will now be on opposing sidelines Tuesday night with Deschamps coaching the French outfit while Thierry Henry lends his expertise to Roberto Martinez and the Belgian setup. Whilst only 10% of the twenty-three French players have been born outside France, 50% of them can trace their ancestry to Africa alone. Where key player in 1998, Zinedine Zidane was born to Algerian parents, Deschamps' star man Kylian Mbappe is the son of a Cameroonian father and Algerian mother. Midfield stalwart Patrick Vieira was born in Senegal while today's commander in chief N'Golo Kante is of Malian descent. Key centre half , Marcel Desailly was born in Ghana will today's general, Samuel Umtiti hails from Cameroon. Similar to Aime Jacquet's champions in 1998 Deschamps has instilled an uncanny durability, determination and will to win. Come Tuesday night in St.Petersburg all French generations new and old will hope the paralells don't end there.
It was one of the most memorable and intense moments the nation had ever experienced and transcended football; this triumph had social repercussions and brought a sense of unity that, arguably, had only previously come about because of war. The final whistle was the signal for millions of ecstatic people to pour into streets throughout France. For those directly involved, the effect of what they had achieved took some time to sink in but, when it did, they realised the magnitude of the victory went beyond football. The team became known as "la France black-blanc-beur" -- the black-white-north African France -- due to its range of ethnicities: Desailly was born in Ghana and Patrick Vieira in Senegal, for example, while Lizarazu and Deschamps were from the French Basque Country and Emmanuel Petit came from Normandy. Zidane's parents came from Algeria, Pires' mum came from Spain, his dad from Portugal, Thierry Henry's family was from Guadeloupe in the French West Indies and Youri Djorkaeff's background was Armenian. But after several unsuccessful attempts to repeat France’s success at the World Cup or EURO, the country’s image on diversity through football came crashing down in 2011. A scandal emerged claiming national team coach Laurent Blanc (who was also a member of the 1998-winning team) was involved in advocating a race quota on blacks and Arabs in the youth national training programs. Blanc was cleared of any wrongdoing by the French Football Federation, but the fallout is still prevalent among players. And the idea of the football pitch being the place in France where race does not matter quickly evaporated. His former teammate and World Cup winner Marcel Desailly came to the defence of Blanc, but agreed there is a race problem in France. Since then the Karim Benzema fallout has only heightened this notion. Sadly the country too has had to contend with terrorist attacks on Paris and Nice. It is noteworthy that only two years ago France was in a ‘state of emergency’. The 1998 win has not allowed the problem to dissipate over time but the French will be hoping a similar outcome this tournament could help alleviate the burden just for now and bring happiness back to the nation.
One man of foreign descent who has surely endeared himself to French public has been PSG wonderboy, Kylian Mbappe. The Bondy boys skills, athleticsm, power unquestionable his commitment and desire unwaverable. The 2017 Golden Boy winner is well on the way to matching ex French superstar and opponent come Tuesday; Thierry Henry's achievements. Like Henry they both hail from suburbs located in the North-East of Paris. They both attended Clairfointane before playing as left wingers for AS Monaco. They also won French league titles as teenagers. However Mbappe will be looking to replicate another one of Henry's feats - winning the World Cup in his first international tournament. With three goals in the tournament to date Mbappe has already matched Henry's tally between the 1998 and 2006 World Cups. If he scores again he would become the first Frenchman since Just Fontaine to score four at a World Cup; Fontaine netted 13 times at the 1958 World Cup. A key facet of France's play will for Mbappe to drift inside and attack the opposition with his searing pace thereby vacating space for 22 year old and Stuttgart defender; Benjamin Pavard to roam into. Pavard has been a revelation this tournament and can be sure of a transfer to one of the big boys come the close of the tournament. Pavard who watched the 2016 Eurppean championships from a fanzone in Lille hails from the French-Belgian border town of Jeumont who just contain over 10,000 inhabitants.
Another player who will be keen on taking advantage of any space Mbappe may abandon will be Manchester United maverick Paul Pogba. Pogba who's form in the 2017/2018 season for club has been anything but unpredictable has been hugely reliable for the French. The facts support this, although down in chance created, he has won over half his duels and made a surprising high amount of ball recoveries, 34. In the game against Uruguay Pogba made 14 recoveries alone. It was indeed Pogba's dispossession of Vecino last Friday that led to the French second goal. Pogba's been a picture of efficiency and brute force thus far for Les Bleus. If the Belgian's are to beat France they will have to succeed in conquering Pogba and his Chelsea counterpart, N'Golo Kante. Kante has come in for huge praise from Chelsea teammate but foe come kickoff Tuesday, Eden Hazard who stated any team that had Kante in their lineup had a "95% chance of winning". Kante's form for both club and country has rarely if not ever veered off course and the sight of the Blues man dispossessing key opposing men has been a consistent feature of Les Bleus play this summer. Who will join the Premiership duo in midfield will have caused Deschamps many a sleepless night in the buildup to Tuesday's clash. Corentin Tolisso although disappointing in the opener versus Australia was brilliant against Uruguay and was central to the two French goals. The Bayern Munich youngster has technical skill in abundance and his intelligence combinations with Griezmann and Mbappe against Uruguay were a major part of the French dominance. However it is Juventus star Blaise Matuidi who is expected to reclaim his role on the left side of midfield as he returns from suspension. Matuidi played a key role against Argentina help stiffling Messi down the French left flank and enabled a greater controlled tempo to Les Bleus play thereby also facilitating a more controlled counter attacking aspect to their game. When Matuidi has played France have looked more balanced and disciplined whilst still maintaining the ability to unleash Mbappe at a whim.
Deschamps has figured out a way of playing this French team; he is actually showing he's a better coach throughout the tournament tinkering and adapting, while many argue he does not know his best XI others will take the approach that he has prepared specifically for each opponent. However his preparations for their semi final clash have taken a hit the past few days with news that numerous stars such as Hugo Lloris, Benjamin Pavard, Samuel Umtiti, Raphael Varane, N'Golo Kante and "Golden Boy" Kylian Mbappe have all been forced to miss training due to knocks. While all are expected to be fit, the past few days training could not have been easy for the French manager.
Although not revered tactically the Bayonne man got the Uruguay game spot on. The quick switch from right full Pavard to left full Hernandez was his preferred method of bypassing the Uruguayan press and moving their compact banks of four around while they transitioned from attack to defence. Suddenly gaps started to appear and sure minded relaible members of Uruguay's squad were caught several yards out of position. If France are to advance to the final one can be sure Deschamps will have adjusted his side accordingly to exploit the Belgian's major weakness in transition whilst also looking to capitalize on the attacking talents available to him. Should he do so it will be the likes of today's stars Pogba and Mbappe who will be looking to prosper and take one step closer to emulating the feats of "Black, Blanc and Beur" in the process.
BELGIUM
LIKELY TEAM (3-4-1-2): Courtois, Alderweirald, Kompany, Verthonghen, Chadli, Fellaini, Witsel, Carrasco, De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku
- Belgium's haul of 14 goals is the most by the semi-final stage of a World Cup tournament since Brazil in 2002 (15). Belgium have had nine different goalscorers in the 2018 World Cup (excluding own goals); only Italy in 2006 and France in 1982 (10 each) have had more in a single tournament
- Romelu Lukaku has been directly involved in 20 goals in his last 13 games for Belgium in all competitions (17 goals, 3 assists)
- Eden Hazard completed all ten dribbles the most attempted by a player with a 100 percent success rate since 1966
Exciting, open, thoughtful, insightful are all words used to characterize Belgian boss Roberto Martinez who has earned his stripes the hard way coaching Swansea City to the Championship in 2008 before FA cup success with Wigan and a topsy turvy spell at Everton followed. However looking at all these sides Martinez coached one could only admire (the man affectionately known as "Bobby" ) unequivocal desire to win playing the game the right way. This is a far cry from the terms used to describe his counterpart Tuesday, Didier Deschamps who has been called "pragmatic" and touted to be "defensive minded". All the adjectives used to describe Martinez above are also all hallmarks of how his players set up and play the game. Their open, expansive approach has been a revelation this summer and has made a nation dream. A man so accustomed to moral victories will be hoping that his side's outpouring of emotion and hysteria following their victory over Brazil will not have been in vein. "It is important for everyone to understand that Belgium has a population of 11 million and the current generation of players did not happen by accident," said Martinez."There is a very clear structure within professional football in Belgium. It is a country focused on developing its young talent."We can only be ourselves and we already have time to use this World Cup as an advantage with the newest generations." Martinez is wary of the mission at hand.
The Azteca Stadium in Mexico City was the scene of Belgium's last appearance at a World Cup semi final. Unfortunately the ilk of Eric Gerets, Jan Ceulemans and Enzo Scifo were of no match for the unstoppable force that was Diego Maradona's Argentina and they sucumbbed to a 3-2 defeat. Argentina dominated the first half, breaking through almost at will, leaving the Belgian’s bewildered bystanders on more than one occasion. Their defence survived the Argentine onslaught until half time. There was little hint of the attacking capabilities that had been to the fore in their previous two knockout matches, save for one quick counter-attack that threatened a breakthrough but was flagged offside. Otherwise they were simply unable to make any significant inroads into Argentine territory, taking on a team of talent that was a level beyond anything they’d faced so far. Into the second half, Argentina would ramp that level up another notch or two to put things well beyond the befuddled Belgians. Maradona, having run rings around England in the previous round, now repeated the trick twice over in sublime style. The first came when Maradona dissected the defence to latch onto a delightful Jorge Burruchaga pass and flicked the ball past the onrushing Pfaff. Then, minutes later, he scored another after a spellbinding, zigzagging run when seemingly surrounded by the tight marking of the defence, leaving all who trailed in his wake twisted, turned and fabulously flummoxed. It was a strike that, if it hadn’t been for the mesmerising goal against England a few days earlier, would now be remembered as one of the very finest of World Cup goals. The game was up, and the Belgians knew it. Try as they might, they were indeed fortunate to only lose by two. It was, in the end, a step too far. As Brian Glanville noted in his Story of the World Cup, they perhaps had “lived beyond their means, exceeded all their hopes.” Fast forward thirty-two years later and although Belgium have not arguably exceeded hopes this tournament a new youthful side led by Eden Hazard and co could drive their nation to unprecedented heights with World Cup success.
It was France manager Didier Deschamps who once suggested that that the goalkeeping and center forward positions were the two positions most likely to determine the outcome of any game and in last Friday's Brazil game it was indeed goalkeeper; Thiabaut Courtois and Red Devils' striker Romelu Lukaku who proved fundamental to their success. Courtois who spent last season at Chelsea and seemed to cut a figure of a man desperate for a move gave one of the if not the finest goalkeeping performances to date against Brazil. His save versus Neymar will be one shown on the highlight reels for many a year to come. France will be wary of how they attack set pieces and will hope not to be left exposed at the back when they are turnovered. Courtois has been a rather commanding figure of late claiming corners and kickstarting Belgian counters from his own penalty box with Nacer Chadli's stoppage time winner versus the Japanese being a prime example. Romelu Lukaku's rise to prominence this tournament has been supported by no other then French legend and current Belgian assistant; Thierry Henry. Lukaku who cut a hopeless, perplexed figure for club during several big games and labelled than no more than a goalscorer in the season just passed has been instrumental to the Red Devils' fortunes this summer. Rather than being at the tail end of the build up play the Manchester United man is a central figure in its process. He is more than just a mere target man. Lukaku's choice of movement, game involvement and efficacy has put to bed the notion that he is man of little footballing knowledge. Supported by Henry, Lukaku has developed an understanding for the game at an alarmingly fast rate and is central to whatever plan Martinez proposes ahead of Tuesday.
In various circles Belgium's 2-1 victory over Brazil last Friday was dubbed the performance of the tournament among pundits and media outlets alike. Without possession Martinez' side adopted a 5-3-2 formation with Thomas Meunier and Nacer Chadli slotting into the wing back roles. With the ball however it looked more alike a 4-3-1-2 with De Bruyne spearheading Martinez' gameplan. The Belgians had recognized the tendency of Brazilian left back Marcelo to canter forward at ease, leaving his left central side defender, Miranda vulnerable. Belgium therefore set up with Romelu Lukaku on the right flank aiming to roam into any space the Real Madrid man left. Amid all the furor on Brazil's left, captain Eden Hazard was set a similar task on the Brazil right except mainly to prevent their right full, Fagner from advancing forward. Without possession this worked a treat with both flanks covered, Brazil's natural tendency was for weaker ball player Miranda to carry the ball or offload it to either Fernandinho or Paulinho in the center of midfield. The Brazilian midfield were then suffocated immediately by the onrushing Belgian counterpress of Witsel, Chadli and Fellaini, led by Kevin De Bruyne. Axel Witsel, the trainee pilot has had fleeting performances thus far in the Belgian middle while it was De Bruyne who recovered the ball frequently from his Manchester City colleague and switched play to Hazard or Lukaku at once sending the Brazilian backline scurrying towards their own goal. The gameplan was executed to a tee and the damage had long been done before Renato Augusto's late consolation goal. With this performance Martinez put to bed a lot of misconceived notions regarding the Spaniard's suitability to managing teams at the top level and gave one of the finest coaching masterclasses' in recent World Cup history.
The question for the Wigan resident will be whether or not he can repeat the trick against France in their do or die battle on Tuesday. There are a number of points he too has to address. The Red Devils will be without a key, if less flashy , part of their puzzle against France, with Thomas Meunier picking up a second booking prior to them being wiped for the semi-finals. Martinez must decide whether to keep the system which he has been so wedded to since obtaining the managerial position in 2016 or will he stick to the system that served him so well versus Brazil. Marouane Fellaini started against Brazil and was tasked with pushing wide to support Meunier. On Tuesday, he might be asked to do something similar to the left, in order to shut down Mbappe. Axel Witsel will play in holding midfield and Mousa Dembele could come into the side with Chadli, who played centrally vs. Brazil, being used elsewhere. A small personnel change is expected with Yannick Carrasco reclaiming his left wing back role and Nacer Chadli moving out to the right wing. Also Vincent Kompany, whose positioning was somewhat uncertain against Brazil, is particularly prone to getting involved in physical confrontations and leaving space in behind, which means the Giroud vs. Kompany clash might be the game's pivotal individual battle .Martinez has to couple these concerns with whatever deficiencies he notices about the French side, one would not be surprised to see Martinez overload the French left side therefore isolating the majestic Hazard against the relevantly inexperienced Pavard down Belgium's left. Will "Bobby" also recognize what he saw in the last half an hour versus Brazil with tired minds and legs abound?; his side turnovered a lot of ball and wasted precious counter attacking opportunities at crucial intervals in the game owing to poor decision making from tired minds. Mousa Dembele, Youri Tielemans and Adnan Januzaj are all players of good quality and too can provide impetus given the expected French onslaught tomorrow. Leonardo Da Vinci once said: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” It may just be simplicity and reverting to type that indeed catapults one of football's deepest, romantic thinkers into the absurdity of a World Cup final Sunday evening in Moscow. A potentially career-crowning Final is as little as an hour and a half of football away.
WHERE GAME WILL BE WON
The loss of right-wing back Thomas Meunier will have a huge effect on the outcome of tomorrow's result. The PSG man's loss will cause Martinez to shift several of his key men to make up for the loss and ensure the return of Yannick Carrasco to the starting lineup. Carrasco will be detailed with keeping French starlet Mbappe quiet. Carrasco has been far from reliable in any of his outings to date so far against minnows Panama, Tunisia and Japan. If France are to beat the initial Belgian high block of Hazard and Lukaku and get clean ball into the French midfield and attack they will look to expose Belgian's backline down the flanks and probe at every opportunity.
PREDICTION
France to live up their favorites tag and see off their neighbors in a comfortable manner putting many of their critic's questions to bed. Pogba to make a serious claim for the Golden Ball with a man of the match winning performance while Griezmann keeps up his impressive record of scoring in the knockout rounds.
France 2 - 1 Belgium