BHARGAB SARMAH
NIZHNY NOVGOROD: There have been a few intriguing match-ups at this World Cup so far but when France and Uruguay meet here on Friday, the fight for a spot in the semi-final will pit two teams with contrasting styles.
Didier Deschamps’ France scraped through the group stage with two 1-0 wins and a goalless draw. But when the stakes were upped, against Argentina in the Round of 16, Kylian Mbappe and his mates rose to the challenge.
That 4-3 win in Kazan illustrated France’s ability to outscore any other team in the tournament, something that should hold them in good stead on Friday. Uruguay, under Oscar Tabarez, will not be an easy nut to crack, however. Led by Diego Godin, they have been one of the best defensive units at the World Cup having conceded one goal so far, in the 2-1 win against Portugal in the Round of 16.
FAMILIAR FACES
France star Antoine Griezmann knows Godin and Jose Gimenez, Uruguay’s other defensive mainstay, all too well given that they are teammates at Atletico Madrid. Which is why he is not very pleased with the prospect of facing them.
“They are going to take their time; they are going to fall on every contact. They are going to talk to the referee. This is their game and this is what we do at Atletico. So, we are going to watch their games and we will have to get used to it because the match will be annoying,” Griezmann told reporters one day after France beat Argentina.
There are a few similarities between Atletico and Uruguay but the biggest is the way they have defended teams out of games. And so far, a team whose reputation for rough play preceded its coming to Russia has seen only one player booked.
On Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal struggled to create chances and were left frustrated throughout their Round of 16 clash against Taba-
THERE ARE A FEW SIMILARITIES BETWEEN ATLETICO AND URUGUAY BUT THE BIGGEST IS THE WAY THEY HAVE DEFENDED TEAMS OUT OF GAMES
rez’s side.
France have more pace and will present a tougher challenge. They also have the tools to break down Uruguay’s resolute rearguard and will be high on confidence after recovering from being a goal down to beat Argentina.
CAVANI UNLIKELY
To compound matters for Uruguay, Edinson Cavani, the star of the pre-quarter final, hurt his calf in the second half. Uruguay released a statement three days later saying there was no muscle rupture but the Paris SaintGermain forward is unlikely to be fit to start. That could put the onus of leading the line on Luis Suarez.
But while Argentina played into France’s hands, allowing them time and space to counter and using a high defensive line at times, Deschamps’ side will expect no such favours from Uruguay.
Kylian Mbappe, Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, in the case the latter starts, will get little time and space when they have the ball. And that is where Paul Pogba can make an impact by getting the ball oftener to Griezmann and Mbappe.
He had a good game against Argentina but the Manchester United midfielder is yet to hit peak form this summer. France will be without suspended midfielder Blaise Matuidi while four players (Olivier Giroud, Benjamin Pavard, Paul Pogba and Corentin Tolisso) are a booking away from a one-match ban. Uruguay, surprisingly, have only one caution, handed to Rodrigo Bentancur. France play in the World Cup quarter-final for the seventh time having won four times and lost twice in past appearances. Uruguay beat England in the last eight in 1954, Soviet Union in 1970 and Ghana on penalties in 2010, but lost 4-0 to West Germany in 1966.
This will be Didier Deschamps’ 81st match in charge of France – his first was a 0-0 draw against Uruguay in a friendly in August 2012.
France are unbeaten in their last nine World Cup matches against South American sides (W5 D4), keeping a clean sheet in seven of those games.
Uruguay have won their last four World Cup matches. They last won five in a row between 1950 and 1954. They’ve never won five matches in a row in a World Cup.
This is Uruguay’s first appearance in the quarter-final of the World Cup since 2010, when they beat Ghana 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in which Luis Suarez saw red for a handball on the goalline.
France have gone through on four of the last five occasions they’ve reached the quarter-final stage, with the only exception being a 0-1 defeat against Germany in 2014. Spain might be out but four Atletico Madrid players could feature in this game with Antoine Griezmann and Lucas Hernandez for France and Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin in Uruguay’s defence. Add French defenders Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) and Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona) to that and the Spanish subplot can’t be missed.
Caceres Gimenez
Nandez Muslera Torreira Arrascaeta Godin Bentancur Suarez Laxalt Vecino Pavard Varane Kante
Hernandez Umtiti
Pogba Mbappe Griezmann Quintero Fekir