Umtiti ensures clinical France heads to final
ST PETERSBURG: Samuel Umtiti’s 51stminute header sent France into the World Cup final with a 10 win over Belgium in an absorbing first semifinal yesterday.
Didier Deschamps’ side will face England or Croatia in Moscow on Monday as the French look to lift the trophy for the second time following their triumph on home soil in 1998.
In an enthralling, albeit highly tactical rather than incidentpacked match, it was once again a setpiece that proved decisive, when defender Umtiti’s nearpost header from an Antoine Griezmann corner settled matters.
Having gained the lead, France showed the defensive nous to nullify the threat from Belgium’s Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne for a win that sent it to its second straight major tournament final, following its loss to Portugal in Euro 2016.
It had been suggested that France needed to step up a level to get past the Belgians and it did just that, even if its disciplined performance hardly set the pulses racing. But the worrying factor for Croatia or England is that France still looks to have another gear to move into.
Deschamps, coach at Euro 2016 and captain of the 1998 World Cup winners, suggested as much.
‘‘We showed character and mentality. It was very hard for us tonight. We worked hard defensively. We needed to take advantage a bit more in the counter attacks but congratulations to my players and my staff,’’ he said.
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez was left frustrated by his team missing out to a setpiece goal, a familiar outcome in this tournament.
‘‘Unfortunately for us the dif ference was a deadball situation. The game was very close, very tight and it was going to be decided by a little bit of luck in front of goal,’’ he said.
Belgium took early control of midfield, while France was content to sit deep and eliminate the threat of counterattacks by Hazard and De Bruyne.
But it was by no means a purely negative approach, as the French offered their own danger on the break, perfectly illustrated when Paul Pogba’s delivery sent Kylian Mbappe racing towards goal and Belgium was thankful for the skills of keeper Thibaut Courtois.
The nearest Belgium came to a leveller was a header from Fellaini which flashed just wide and a fierce strike from distance by Axel Witsel the impressive Hugo Lloris parried away.
France can begin to prepare for the final at the Luzhniki Stadium, eager to avoid a repeat of 2006 when it was beaten by Italy on penalties in Berlin and the pain of the loss to Portugal on home soil in 2016.
‘‘We will go into this final to win it as we have still not gotten over the [2016] final,’’ Deschamps said. — Reuters