France become the first team to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup after a 2-0 win over Uruguay in Nizhny Novgorod. Goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Greizmann ensured that Le Bleus qualified for their sixth World Cup semi-finals and the first in twelve years.
#FRA reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2006, and their sixth time in total
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 6, 2018#URUFRA // #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/KYhZW0E23J
With Edinson Cavani accounting for three of the seven goals scored by Uruguay at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, there’s no doubt that his absence was felt as the Uruguayans posed no threat to the French defence.
Although both teams started out brightly with action going on at both ends of the pitch it was France who got the breakthrough in the 40th minute courtesy of Varane’s header from a Greizmann freekick.
Within two minutes of conceding, Uruguay almost drew level but for a crucial match defining save from Le Blues captain and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris who kept out Caceres’ header at full stretch to keep the score level at half time.
In the end, that save proved to be crucial for the French team as they grew more confident and took complete control of the game in the second half.
Uruguay tried to bounce back but they looked clueless in attack without the threat of Edinson Cavani. Hence they resorted to crosses and long balls which France dealt with quite well. Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera then fumbled Greizmann’s strike to sum up a really uninspiring and clueless display from the Uruguayans as France doubled their lead.
France should have had a third through Corentin Tolisso but his strike went just high off the crossbar as Uruguay had no idea what to do with the ball whenever they attacked.
France will now face the winner of the game between Brazil and Belgium at the Kazan Arena later tonight for a place in the final of the 2018 World Cup.
