First semi has makings of a classic

ST PETERSBURG: A compelling cast of players, two attacking teams propelled by great pace and a clash between neighbours to boot.

There seems very little to stop Belgium and France producing a World Cup classic in tomorrow’s semifinal.

Both teams boast a rich assembly of matchwinning players — Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard for Belgium and Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe for the French — but have also shown a strength of character that adds to their tournamentwinning credentials.

Belgium’s comefrombehind win in the last 25 minutes of its secondround tie against Japan would have made Roy of the Rovers envious, while France produced a venomous sting in its tail to sweep past Argentina, after also finding itself trailing in the second half.

Both have built off a slow start at the tournament in Russia, seemingly set to peak just at the right time.

The predominant weapon for both teams is speed going forward, catapulting players with instinctive talent into positions from where their genius can prove lethal.

Both sides will be cautious about being sucked forward and leaving space behind the defence for the opposition to launch quick counters, until someone takes the lead.

Instead the contest is likely to be about passing and probing and waiting for some magic to prise open the defence.

The midfield battle promises intrigue too, none more so than Paul Pogba muscling it out with Manchester United team mate Marouane Fellaini.

Belgium reinforced for the quarterfinal win against Brazil and France will have Blaise Matudi back from suspension for tomorrow’s game at the Saint Petersburg Stadium. It means Corentin Tolisso will lose his place in what is likely the only change from the France team that beat Uruguay 20 in the quarterfinal on Saturday.

Against Japan, Belgium was harried and corralled by its opponent’s pressing and made clever changes for the next game against Brazil, in which Fellaini and Nacer Chadli came in. Chadli played higher up the middle, Romelu Lukaku was switched to the right and De Bruyne employed as a decoy centre forward, the socalled false nine.

Standing in the way of the rich selection of potential matchwinning performers on either side are two outstanding goalkeepers.

Hugo Lloris made arguably the save of the tournament to keep intact France’s halftime lead over Uruguay on Saturday and Thibault Courtois’ tipover save from Neymar near the end of Belgium’s 21 triumph over Brazil later the same day drew a ‘‘Hand of God’’ headline in the Belgian press the next morning. — Reuters