Umtiti heads France past Belgium into Russia 2018 final
Samuel Umtiti was the unlikely hero as France reached the World Cup final for the third time in 20 years courtesy of a 1-0 win over Belgium in St Petersburg on Tuesday.
Defender Umtiti headed home a corner from Antoine Griezmann in the 51st minute to settle the all-European tie, booking Les Bleus a trip to Moscow and a clash against either Croatia or England.
Goalkeepers Hugo Lloris and Thibaut Courtois both made smart saves to make sure an intriguing game remained scoreless at the interval.
However, Umtiti popped up with the game’s telling moment early in the second half, nodding the ball home to score his third international goal.
Belgium pushed hard for an equaliser 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.
Beaten finalists at Euro 2016 on home soil, France will aim to go one better in Russia and emulate the successful squad of 1998 which included Didier Deschamps, who could emulate Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer by winning the World Cup as both a player and manager.
ON EST EN FINAAAAAAAALE !!!!! #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/TfUqDMJ058
— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) July 10, 2018
With Thomas Meunier suspended, Belgium shifted to a back four as Martinez selected Nacer Chadli on the right.
Still, the change in shape did not appear to bother the tournament’s top-scorers in an absorbing first half, both teams threatening a breakthrough as they refused to be overawed by the occasion.
Eden Hazard twice went close, narrowly missing the target with a low, left-footed drive before seeing a curler with his right deflected over by the head of centre-back Raphael Varane.
Lloris’ full-length dive kept out a first-time strike from Tottenham colleague Toby Alderweireld, while Courtois reacted quickly to block Benjamin Pavard’s attempt from a tight angle at the other end.
While the full-back at least hit the target, Olivier Giroud failed to test Courtois when presented with a clear sight of goal by Kylian Mbappe’s volleyed cross, poking his attempt well wide under pressure.
However, France needed just six minutes after the break to edge ahead.
1998 – It’s the first time since 1998 that 3 defenders (Lizarazu, Blanc & Thuram) score a goal for France in the same World Cup (Pavard, Varane & Umtiti). Mental. #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/ooKUrAv9aI
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) July 10, 2018
After Vincent Kompany’s block turned away Giroud’s shot, Griezmann’s inswinging delivery to the front post was turned in by Umtiti, who beat Marouane Fellaini to head beyond Courtois.
Martinez – who had seen his team rally from a two-goal deficit in their last-16 tie against Japan – reacted to the goal by sending on Dries Mertens in place of Mousa Dembele.
The substitute offered a threat from Belgium’s right wing too, with one teasing cross from the flank seeing Fellaini narrowly miss the target with a header as he looked to make amends for his part in the opener.
Axel Witsel did test Lloris from distance but France succeeded where Brazil had failed in the last round, standing firm to stifle their neighbours in a nervy finish and book a trip to Moscow.
Key Opta stats:
– France have reached their third World Cup final, also doing so in 1998 and 2006. Only Germany (eight) and Italy (six) have reached more among European nations.
– This was Belgium’s first defeat of any kind since a friendly defeat against Spain in September 2016.
– France have beaten Belgium three times in World Cup matches, more than they’ve beaten any other side in the competition.
– 44 per cent of the goals at the 2018 World Cup have come from set piece situations (69/158, including penalties).
– Antoine Griezmann has been directly involved in 20 goals in his last 20 competitive games for France (12 goals, eight assists).
