PICK OF THE DAY

2018 FIFA WORLD CUP: FRANCE V BELGIUM, 6PM, RTÉ2

WE’RE getting down to the nitty-gritty now as the opening semi-final gets under way at St Petersburg Stadium. France defeated three South American teams on their way to this stage of the tournament – now a strong European side are the only thing blocking Les Bleus’s path to the final. Can talents including Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba and Olivier Giroud defeat such luminous players as Belgium’s Vincent Kompany, Romelu Lukaku (pictured) and Eden Hazard? The Belgians will have plenty of confidence, having already defeated England and Brazil at the World Cup. A cracking match awaits.