#FRABEL #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/ZqTaemlW43. Its awful. The ball bounces around the French box before eventually being booted away.

12:50 AM IST: Eden Hazard enters the book. 23:28 IST: Eden Hazard for Belgium, Hugo Lloris for Franceexchange the teams sheets, the mandatory coin-toss is done. 90+3min: After Kompany is booked for pushing Mbappe to the ground while trying to get the ball back, Griezmann fires weakly at Courtois. 48min: Good start again from France as Lukaku heads over an Axel Witsel cross in an attacking start from Belgium. Gregg Berhalter reacts to Christian Pulisic's comments about wanting to win the World Cup wIth the USMNT. They laboured in the first half against Panama but soon saw off the tournament's worst side before then thumping Tunisia 5-2. #FRA #BEL #FRABEL #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/LHhrFlQCWO. '90 minutes to kick off and this certainly doesn't feel like war. How about grading each and every player? 18min: It has been a decent start to this game and finally we are having some shots on target, although Blaise Matuidi's powerful 30-yard effort is straight at Courtois who saves comfortably. You can do so here: France are good at stopping football matches from happening, snorts Niall Mullen. Belgiums Axel Witsel, left, Romelu Lukaku and Dries Mertens attempt to change the mind of Uruguayan referee Andres Cunha. 01:12 IST: Substitution for France,Olivier Giroud has been replaced by Steven Nzonzi in the 85th minute. France 0-0 Belgium. 00:38 IST: Olivier Giroud twists and turns,to take a shot but Vincent Kompany keeps it out, the ball goes out for a corner. 78min: The fizz has gone out of Belgium in the last 10 minutes or so and that means a second change is on the way. Griezmanns delivery is good but Pogbas header goes over.

France were thankful for fine saves from goalkeeper Hugo Lloris either side of half-time. The Paris Saint-Germain star easily gets past the Belgium defence in the chase for the ball, but Thibaut Courtois reads it well and on the edge of the box does well to claim. At the other end, Hazard cuts back and unleashes a good shot of his own to win a corner that comes to nothing. A host of Premier League stars will be on show in the first semi-final, with Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, N'Golo Kante and Hugo Lloris among those expected to start the huge knockout clash. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. 81 min: Varane makes a super tackle on Hazard but the ball runs to Witsel, who lets fly from long range. In football you have to understand there are winners and losers but if you are going to lose, you do it while giving everything Now we need to get rid of this disappointment and make sure we finish on a high. World Cup Semi Final, France vs Belgium Highlights: Umtiti's Header Propels France To Their First World Cup Final In 12 Years. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes.

69 min: Mertens curls over another cross from the right - hes become the most likely source of an equaliser for Belgium. Easily two of the best goalkeepers in the world, although both Thibaut Courtois and Hugo Lloris have an error in them. But in case you do, here are some readers takes on that semi-final: Decent contest! gushes Austen. 21:01 IST: French fanslook geared up for the marquee clash. 65 min: Mertens cross from the right. But the battle between Romelu Lukaku and Antoine Griezmann - both their sides respective top scorers - will also be worth watching out for. 1:03 AM IST: De Bruyne gets some space to shoot but his effort goes well over. Belgium are in for a long night if they cant stop him from doing that. And deservingly so, I might add! Meanwhile, Mertens puts in a wonderful cross that Fellani heads just wide. Belgium and France both have stars throughout their sides Thierry Henry faces loyalty test with France icon now 'We'll have to be ready to suffer and play extremely well to 'Now we have the chance to play in the World Cup final. The ball is pumped high in the box and it eventually falls for Mbappe. One minute added for half-time. In the Champions League round of 16 that season, Monaco met De Bruyne's Manchester City and an 18-year-old Mbappe scored in both legs to help dump out the Premier League side on away goals. ', Leeds train ahead of Crystal Palace friendly in Australia, Root remains commitment to England after Stokes and Morgan retirements. 23:25IST: Teamshave take on the turf as national anthems take the centre stage. Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois vs Hugo Lloris. But what an amazing half that was. READ: The full World Cup semi-final match report from the Krestovsky Stadium. 1:10 AM IST: 8 minutes left for Belgium to find an equaliser. #FRABELG. Until then, goodnight and goodbye. Mbapp has picked up some shithousing from Neymar, tut-tuts Rob Coughlin. Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature. 00:47 IST: Attacking substitution for Roberto Martinez,Dries Mertens replaces Dembele in the 60th minute. Cleared at the near post, it allows France to tip forward on the counter-attack. 'Now we have the chance to play in the World Cup final.

Belgium retain the ball and Hazard unleashes a low shot that fizzes wide. On the other hand, here are Kai Tulinius thoughts: This is one of the most high level performances from two teams at the business end of a World Cup I can remember in recent years. @equipedefrance From where do you support us ? 22:05 IST: French fanslook all decked up in anticipation of the key clash. 65 minutes played. 00:39 IST: GOAAAL! Granit Xhaka explains how he has improved his relationship with Arsenal fans. The two wingers (Chadli and De Bruyne) will have to run a lot and do a lot defensively, which could also impact their level of performance in attack. Belgium -- the top scorers of the tournament, continue to push France on the backfoot. 6min: Aside from that opening minute, Belgium have been well on top so far. Belgiums only space is down the flanks, especially on the right. Romelu Lukaku has been a disappointment for Belgium tonight!

Umtiti misses De Bruyne's cross but Romelu Lukaku can't react in time and it results in the ball bouncing off him and out for a goal kick. Regardless the results, expect this to be a thriller of a contest! Belgium are struggling to find any openings and, at this point, are more likely to concede again on the counter. No panic from Belgium yet as they knock the ball around patiently looking for an equaliser. 01:21 IST: Jan Vertonghen booked!Belgium keep the ball, Kevin de Bruyne plays a long ball, cleared away. Neymar, for many a pretender to the throne, has also been sent packing, his most meaningful impact on the tournament being a series of dives that sparked a million memes. 23:42 IST: Chance for France, Pogbaplays a brilliant through ball to find his target-man Mbappe, for whom the ball is a bit heavy as the PSG forward sprints past the Belgian defence before Courtois charges forward to collect the ball. The goalless draw over Denmark was a dead rubber and just about the worst game of the entire tournament. Mertens' cross isn't properly cleared by France but with the ball falling awkwardsly out the air, De Bruyne's doesn't really catch his volley into the ground that well, giving Lloris an easy save. As this tournament has developed the answer has been an overwhelming yes. CHRIS WHEELER: Martial moves from Man United outcast to first-choice No 9 as Ten Hag confirms he'll STAY Jesse Lingard completes SHOCK move to Nottingham Forest on a free transfer after waving goodbye to MARTIN KEOWN INTERVIEWS STEVE BOULD: Arsenal legend and new boss of Belgian club Lommel catches up with his Lewis Hamilton snubs Max Verstappen by failing to mention his bitter rival as one of his toughest F1 IAN HERBERT: At last, some welcome needle and nastiness at Euro 2022! No! 22:48 IST:France playing XI analysis: Didier Deschamps stays loyal to his 4-2-3-1 formation with Olivier Giroud as a number nine. ROBERT COTTINGHAM: Kevin De Bruyne admits he hadn't even heard of Kylian Mbappe just 16 months ago as he prepares to face France's star striker in Tuesday's World Cup semi-final. Hazard and De Bruyne on it from the off.'. Hard to separate them. With a dextrous shuffle he makes space for a shot and then sends the ball skyward. Lets walk ! Belgiiums Axel Witsel lets fly but he is denied by Hugo Lloris between the French sticks. Admittedly, good contests have dominated one of the finest World Cups at least in recent memory, but conditions have not been too stifling in Saint Petersburg today. Frances Blaise Matuidi attempts to get the better of Belgiums Toby Alderweireld and Axel Witsel. Frustrating. 74min: This second half has flown by for me, so Belgium should be alarmed that with 16 minutes remaining of this semi-final they have still yet to seriously test Hugo Lloris in this half - and I do include that De Bruyne volley in that. But that is not going to hijack this live blog of a World Cup semi-final, so follow all the latest from that sensational deal on our live transfer blog with Matthew Smith here. In other news, Manchester City have just announced the signing of Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City. I guess we will have to wait and see Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Chadli, Vertonghen, Dembele, Fellaini, Witsel, De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Lukaku. French fans celebrate in front of The Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees in Paris. Belgium finding a second wind again. Belgium are threatening while going forward and France and only to happy to break at speed when they have the chance. Thats a measure of how well France have coped with crosses into the box. Belgium and France players all smiles and handshakes as they meet each other on the pitch while they take a first look at it. 11:30 PM IST: The referee blows his whistle and we are underway at Saint Petersburg! 23:45 IST: Eden Hazardhas a shot, formed by a cheeky little pass from Kevin de Bruyne, butthe ball goes just wide off the post. 81min: Second change for Belgium as Carrasco comes on for Fellaini. Belgium won 4-3 against France when they met in a friendly match in 2015. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, CHRIS WHEELER: Martial moves from Man United outcast to first-choice No 9 as Ten Hag confirms he'll STAY Ronaldo cast a cloud over this tour but the Frenchman has been a breath of fresh air, Jesse Lingard completes SHOCK move to Nottingham Forest on a free transfer after waving goodbye to Manchester United this summer, with the England star penning a one-year contract at the City Ground worth nearly 200,000-a-week.

People celebrate Frances victory at a fan zone in Rennes. 00:05 IST: Hazard brought down by Griezmann!Belgium continue to keep possession on the ball. France will play in the World Cup final after beating Belgium 1-0 thanks to a goal from Samuel Umtiti in St Petersburg on Tuesday evening. So would that be Jan Vertonghen right back, and Nacer Chadli featuring on the left? 01:23 IST: Courtois SAVES AGAIN,corner for France! Nzonzi gets a head to it but doesnt clear. Todays game will certainly be a thriller with the amount of quality on display. In a World Cup replete with set-piece goals, a corner again proved decisive when Umtiti timed his run perfectly to meet Antoine Griezmann's delivery six minutes into the second half. 00:02 IST: Griezmann skies the shot!The Frenchman was in space, unmarked but his shot from outside the box rises above the crossbar. I take that back. Blaise Matuidi is back on the left wing. However, under pressure his touch across goal is just behind Olivier Giroud before Belgium hack the ball clear. Unfamiliar. 90 min: Belgium have at least six minutes to preserve their World Cup challenge 89 min: De Bruynes delivery from the freekick is good. 10:45 PM IST: Hello and welcome to live coverage of the first FIFA World Cup 2018 semi-final between France and Belgium! But both have been crucial to their respective nations' World Cup campaigns. This wouldnt have looked out of place as a Champions League semifinal.. How and where will you be watching #FRABEL? 75 min: Hazard jinks past Giroud in his own half and skedaddles forward, eventually picking out Mertens on the right. 68min: I may be tempting fate but this Giroud shot on target never looks like coming. 11:43 PM IST: Both teams have the speed to break at pace and France very nearly do so. 01:15 IST: Free-kick for Belgium,Kevin de Bruyne takes it from 30-yard out, drifted in. 31min: Time for a set-piece as Jan Vertonghen fouls Kylian Mbappe a good 35 yards out. Deschamps, who has been diligently preparing his men over the past couple of days, ran his players through their final routines on Monday ahead of the hotly-anticipated clash. A series of changes saw their B Team defeat England's B Team to top the group in what was otherwise a dead rubber. I have to say, France look like they have got this in the bag. ', Tous ensemble #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/RnTHuURDki. Pick a topic of your interest and subscribe. The effort from the players was magnificent, I couldnt ask for more. Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne warned Kylian Mbappe was ready to take the world by storm on the eve of the game and the most expensive teenager in the history of football showed why inside the first 60 seconds. Won't criticise the Manechester United striker too much there as he was under heavy pressure from surrounding defenders. It's been a strange old tournament for France who have passed every test they have faced, yet still at the semi-final stage there is an unknown quantity about them. He will have to be careful here now. 40min: France on top now and yet ANOTHER opportunity goes begging. 89min: A minute to play and France have given up on the counter attack. 'Belgium have more of the possession but we've seen once that it could only take one delivery through the central channel from Pogba to Mbappe to put France ahead. Hernandez missed a chance from a close-range just minutes earlier. Thomas Meunier is suspended so into the team comes Mousa Dembele. 00:13 IST: Free-kick for France, near the edge of the boxafter a foul on Paul Pogba by Moussa Dembele. 00:16 IST: Missed chance for Belgium!Kevin de Bruyne delivers a brilliant cross as Samuel Umtiti makes a slight mistake and fails to tuck it away, least anticipated by Romelu Lukaku inside the box, who takes a nudge off the ball as it goes for goal kick and referee calls it half-time. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Get highlights of France vs Belgium, FIFA World Cup 2018 semi-final, here. Lloris is having his goal peppered with shots and hes saving them like Neo in The Matrix movies so far. Umtitis goal from a set-piece, and Frances excellent defending, were the difference between the sides. 57min: Big test here for Belgium - they are losing their way a bit. Les Bleus are into the World Cup final, leaving Belgiums golden generation to compete for bronze! 11:56 PM IST: France steadily make inroads into the Belgium box and Matuidis run looked to have had them in danger but he overran the ball and it went out of play for a goal-kick. De Bruyne spots Hazard inside the box but with a snapshot across goal he drags wide of the post. 21:05 IST: Belgiummeanwhile, looked to have enjoyed their final training session ahead of the key clash. Antonie Griezmannkicks the ball from right to left to get the match underway. A deserved yellow card is shown. So not only do we not know what he thinks about Tuesday's World Cup semi-final clash against his nativeFrance, we don't really know what he thinks about his role at all Twice before have the two sides faced each other at the World Cup. De Bruyne tries to smash the dropping ball into the net from 16 yards but hes under pressure and doesnt catch his volley well. 01:08 IST: Hugo Lloris SAVES!Axel Witsel gets a shot, powered and directed well on target but the Tottenham Hotspur goal keeper does well to punch it away. Samuel Umtiti header puts France in World Cup final with win over Belgium, Didier Deschamps says France can write the most beautiful page, Belgium are left stifled and Roberto Martnez is found wanting for answers | David Hytner, Manchester City seal 60m deal for Leicesters Riyad Mahrez, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. 3 minutes added time remaining. Antoine Griezmann stands over and plays short to Benjamin Pavard whose cross is then nodded wide by Giroud, who had to adjust with the ball slightly behind him. 90+4 min: Varane makes yet another clearance from a Belgian cross. Time limits and T&Cs apply. 00:58 IST: Toby Alderweireldpicks up a yellow for challenge on Matuidi. 71 minutes played,France 1-0 Belgium. Both teams are looking very fluid. Both Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne are causing a bit of havoc in opposing flanks as the Chelsea midfielder's low cross earns the Red Devils a corner. France are camped out inside the penalty area and Giroud gets a good shot in but its blocked. The biggest weakness? 10 minutes remaining! 90+6 min: Pogba slips in Tolisso, who has a chance to put the icing on Frances gateau. 22:10 IST:Belgium playing XIagainst France: 11 @thibautcourtois, @AlderweireldTob, @VincentKompany, @JanVertonghen, @NChadli, @Fellaini, @mousadembele, @axelwitsel28 @DeBruyneKev, @hazardeden10, @RomeluLukaku9 #REDTOGETHER #WorldCup #FRABEL. Dare I say it, but the Les Bleus are looking relatively organised. 00:09 IST: Courtois SAVES!Pavard does well to get past the Belgian defence, but the Belgian goalkeeper makes himself large to keep the shot out. 25 goalless minutes! 21:50 IST: Griezmann to Lukaku, Mbappe to Hazard --all clash under one roof tonight. 21:00 IST: Hello and welcome to the live commentary from the first semi-final between France and Belgium. Both have the ability to run at opponents and create chances as well as take them. France reached the FIFA World Cup 2018 final on Tuesday after a second-half header from Samuel Umtiti gave them a 1-0 win against Belgium.Belgium enjoyed large amounts of possession but Umtitis goal in the 51st minute from a corner ultimately proved the difference as 1998 champions France reached their third World Cup final. Here is a reminder of how they line-up France: Lloris, Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Lucas, Pogba, Kante,Mbappe, Griezmann, Matuidi, Giroud.Subs: Mandanda,Kimpembe, Lemar, Dembele, Tolisso, Nzonzi, Rami, Fekir, Sidibe,Thauvin, Mendy, Areola. France lie in wait for either England or Croatia after Samuel Umtiti's second half header was enough to launch Les Bleus into World Cup final. Few expected England to reach the World Cup semi-finals and perhaps fewer still may have believed that Tottenham Hotspur would have the most players left in the tournament at this stage. England do have Harry Maguire after all.'. 45+1min: There will be one added minute in an intriguing but otherwise goalless first half. Belgium pushed hard for an equaliser after conceding but Roberto Martinez watched on as his team suffered their first defeat in 25 outings, ending their hopes of winning the tournament for the first time in history as their so-called golden generation came up short. A final spot at stake here. #FiersdetreBleus #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/HupcxoKLcj. Umtiti has been given the official man of the match award, presumably because his goal edged ahead of other contenders, most notably Varane, Matuidi, Kant and Mbapp. 00:43 IST: Sublime football from France,Mbappe gets better off Fellaini on the right flank, but the ball goes out for goal kick. A place in theFIFA WORLD CUP 2018 FINAL at stake!

11:48 PM IST: OH SO NEARLY! 11:00 PM IST: 30 minutes till kick-off. Who has more of a chance of reaching the final? 80min: Free-kick? 12:38 AM IST: GOAAAAAL! The striker would have been in. Hes forced back out but then is brought down by Giroud at the edge of the box. Not much has changed.'. Belgium have a freekick wide on the left and one last chance, perhaps? 12:45 AM IST: Belgium making an attacking substitute now. #FRABEL #REDTOGETHER #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ys1MDpgWLX. Follow trending topics. 37min: France are enjoying their best spell of the game now, but they waste another chance. Lloris punches it away. PLAYER RATINGS: 85m signing Darwin Nunez shows what he's about with FOUR goals in one half while JOE BERNSTEIN: Dele Alli's latest gaffe epitomises the malaise affecting him and Everton. Belgium retaining early control though. The feisty, edgy aspect of England's win over Spain helped turn it into a spectacle you could not take your eyes off, 'I don't mind getting kicked': Jack Grealish is relishing his role as Manchester City's pantomime villain as 100m man insists being booed by opposing fans 'gets me going' and he's 'just got to embrace it', In-form Anthony Martial is STAYING at Manchester United and expected to lead the Red Devils' attack in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo when new campaign kicks off after impressing new boss Erik ten Hag in pre-season friendlies, Darwin Nunez shows he's gelling nicely with his new team-mates after netting FOUR, while Mo Salah looks focused after signing a new deal FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED as Reds thrash RB Leipzig 5-0, RB Leipzig 0-5 Liverpool: 85m man Darwin Nunez scores FOUR after coming on at half-time to open his Reds account in style with Mo Salah also on target after netting the first in Germany, PLAYER RATINGS: 85m signing Darwin Nunez shows what he's about with FOUR goals in one half while Ibrahima Konate was rash at times against his former club, JOE BERNSTEIN: Dele Alli's latest gaffe epitomises the malaise affecting him and Everton. France trying to keep the ball inside the Belgian half.

USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter addressed the reasons for John Brooks' exclusion in the last three World Cup qualifying windows. Belgium have probably just shaded it over the course of the first half but France have had the best chances and this game remains just too close to call. 425 - Olivier Giroud has now played over seven hours of football at the 2018 World Cup (425 minutes) without managing a single shot on target. Let-off for France as that set-piece would have been ina tremendous position for Roberto Martinez's men. Kevin de Bruyne plays a low cross into the six-yard box but it is well read by Samuel Umtiti who prevents a red shirt getting on the end of it as he clears away for a throw in. Published: 07:34 EDT, 10 July 2018 | Updated: 16:15 EDT, 10 July 2018. 5 minutes to kick-off! On both occasions they went through to the final, beating Croatia in 1998 (2-1) and Portugal in 2006 (1-0).

Belgiums Kevin De Bruyne leans back and the ball goes over the bar. 11 - Only England v Tunisia (12) had more shots than France v Belgium (11) in the 1st half of a game at the #WorldCup2018. 80 min: Brilliant run by Hazard down the left, past Pogba and into the box. 61 min: Mertens first touch is a cross from the byline, heading away in extremis by Varane. Can anyone break the deadlock or are we destined for extra-time and maybe penalties? Team sheets to be out in a few minutes. Matuidi unleashes a thunderbolt of a shot but it is straight at Courtois and he collects. 01:20 IST: Courtois SAVES!Greizmann gets a shot on goal, but the Belgian keeper dives to his right to keep it away.

11:32 PM IST: The game barely kicks off and Mbappe breaks free down the right with a massive surge of pace. 85min: Giroud's quest for a shot on target at this World Cup goes on to another day as he departs to be replaced by Steven Nzonzi.

But the France coach will have to face a challenge that nobody expected - Roberto Martinez's Red Devils are going to play in a 3-5-2, super-offensive line-up.

23:40 IST: 12 minutes on the clock, France 0-0 Belgium. 10:50 PM IST: Belgium starting XI - Thibaut Courtois, Toby Alderweireld, Vincent Kompany, Jan Vertonghen, Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne, Marouane Fellaini, Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard, Mousa Dembele, Nacer Chadli. 15 minutes played, still goalless. 4min: It looks like four at the back for Belgium, with Nacer Chadli on the right and Jan Vertonghen on the left. France 1-0 Belgium. 65 min: Mertens cross again from the right. 22min: Spurs on Spurs. 'Both these sides look a step up from England in terms of technical ability and the pace at which they play the game. Feisty Forest mean business! 23:30 IST: KICK-OFF! Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit.

Belgiums Eden Hazard is consoled by Frances Samuel Umtiti after the final whistle. MARTIN KEOWN INTERVIEWS STEVE BOULD: Arsenal legend and new boss of Belgian club Lommel catches up with his old team-mate to talk Arsene Wenger, Dennis Bergkamp and ordering 35 pints of lager! 23:32 IST: Kevin de Bruyne finds Nacer Chadli on the right flank,who tries a put a cross inside the box but the ball is cleared away by Umtiti. 23:50 IST: Corner for Belgium,came off a Kevin de Bruyne long-ball cleared off by Varane. Should score really. 13min: Crikey, those jet packs on Mbappe. Germany 2-0 Austria: Goals in each half from Lina Magull and Alexandra Popp seal victory and a Euro 2022 semi-final spot for eight-time winners in Brentford, REVEALED: How Georgia Stanway went from the shadows to the limelight for England the former Man City star was not a starter for Sarina Wiegman until the eve of Euro 2022, Sarina Wiegman's tactical tinkering is giving England the edge at Euro 2022 her second-half substitutions and formation changes made the difference against Spain as she outsmarted Jorge Vilda. Personalise your news feed. 34min: Big chance for France - their best of the game. 1:33 AM IST: This France team were always considered a threat but many thought their inexperience might count against them. I still can't imagine Dembele performing that role. Belgium: Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen, Chadli,Dembele, Witsel, Fellaini, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Eden Hazard.Subs:Mignolet, Vermaelen, Carrasco, Mertens, Thorgan Hazard,Tielemans, Januzaj, Boyata, Batshuayi, Dendoncker, Casteels. Belgium winger Nacer Chadli has said Spanish coach Roberto Martinez deserved credit for the team's success at the 2018 World Cup. They each made excellent saves in the quarter-finals and could decide who reaches the the final and who has to settle for the third-fourth play-off.