Deschamps’ superbly-drilled defence carries Les Bleus to victory

France’s defence made the difference at both ends of the pitch in last night’s semi-final win over Belgium.

While goalkeeper Hugo Lloris kept a clean sheet, it was defender Samuel Umtiti who scored the winner.

And it was France’s backline, not their slick attackers, carrying the team to the World Cup final. No wonder coach Didier Deschamps fell into Umtiti’s arms after the final whistle. His superbly drilled defence, led by an imperious Raphael Varane, neutralised Belgium’s much-hyped attack to record a fourth shutout in six games so far.

Varane was injured when France lost the European Championship final two years ago, and he looks determined to make up for it. The spotlight has been firmly on France’s 19-year-old sensation Kylian Mbappe in Russia, whose electric pace and skill lit up the tournament. But for the second consecutive knockout game, a defender managed to score when he couldn’t.

Against Uruguay last Friday, it was Varane’s glancing header giving France the lead in a 2-0 win. A few days later, it was Umtiti rising to head home a corner from the right in the 51st minute. “Enormously proud,” Umtiti said. “We worked really hard together, and it’s me that scored but we all delivered a big game.”

Forward Antoine Griezmann set up Umtiti’s goal with his delivery from the corner but, like Mbappe, he took a back seat against the Belgians as Lloris and his defence starred in St Petersburg.

Varane made decisive headers to cut out dangerous crosses and corners and read to perfection almost every run from striker Romelu Lukaku and the fleet-footed Eden Hazard.

When France’s defence was breached, the agile Lloris was on hand to make decisive saves.

France won their only World Cup 20 years ago, thanks to a commanding goalkeeper – Fabien Barthez – protected by a rock-solid defence. Back then, France kept five clean sheets in seven games. With Croatia or England awaiting in Sunday’s final, the formula is one game away from working again. 0 Didier Deschamps hugs France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.