France advances to semifinals by upending 2-time champ Uruguay
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia — Sure, France could have lost in the World Cup quarterfinals Friday … had Uruguay’s other sublime forward been well enough to play and the opposing goalkeeper not committed a howler of a mistake and the French netminder not made an almighty save about a half-hour after almost swallowing a large bug.
But none of those events turned against Les Bleus and, with a 2-0 win over Uruguay that emphasized efficiency over style, a semifinal is in their immediate future for the first time since 2006. The French will play Tuesday in St. Petersburg, two steps from replicating
their first championship of 20 years ago.
Blessed with an abundance of riches, France entered the tournament as a serious contender. And although nothing has altered that status, Les Bleus have left admirers wanting more. They are individually so good all over the pitch, one must brace for a comprehensive performance at some point soon.
“We played better, but we didn’t play the perfect match either,” coach Didier Deschamps said. “All of these games are giving us strength and confidence.”
Antoine Griezmann assisted on Raphael Varane’s goal before intermission and scored himself in the 61st minute against undermanned and overmatched Uruguay, a two-time champion seeking its second semifinal slot in three tournaments.
“We played against an opponent stronger than us,” Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said. “We have to admit it.”
Without Edinson Cavani (calf injury), Uruguay lacked the one-two punch that has struck fear into opponents for years. Luis Suarez was largely on his own and wasn’t a factor.
“If he could have played, it would have been a huge help,” Suarez said of Cavani, who scored twice in the round-of-16 victory over Portugal and posted three goals overall. “But it’s not an excuse.”
A tedious start — highlighted by referee Nestor Pitana lecturing the volatile Suarez, a large bug flying onto Lloris’ lips and neutral locals chanting “Russ-seeya!” ahead of the host country’s match Saturday — gave way to 10 lively minutes leading to intermission.
France went ahead in the 41st minute when Griezmann served a free kick from 30 yards away. Varane made a crossing run and met the ball in the heart of the penalty area, flicking a header to the far corner of the net.
In the previous four matches, Uruguay had conceded one goal — the lowest figure in the tournament.
The French barely escaped the half with the lead. Uruguay delivered several dangerous balls into the box and, in the 44th minute, Martin Caceres’s header of a free kick seemed like a certain equalizer.
Lloris, however, sprung to his right and, with his body and right arm fully extended, slapped the bid aside in spectacular fashion.
Godin was on the doorstep, but with Lloris springing back to his feet, the Uruguayan captain belted the rebound well off target.
“Other than that, they didn’t have a lot of great opportunities,” Deschamps said. “We weren’t really hard-pressed.”
He’s right. France was unflustered by Uruguay’s growing urgency in the second half. The largely subdued crowd took up La Celeste’s cause, but Les Bleus extended the lead on a goalkeeping blunder.
Griezmann fired from long distance. The ball had movement on it. Fernando Muslera leaned the wrong way, didn’t set his feet and was not fully behind the ball when he tried an awkward, two-fisted punch.
When the ball caromed off his unsure hands and into the net, one teammate fell flat on his back and another held his own head.
Because he has deep professional ties to Uruguayan soccer, Griezmann declined to celebrate.
“I was supported by an Uruguayan who taught me the good and the bad in football,” he said. “So I have a lot of respect for Uruguay as a country, the Uruguayan culture, and I was also playing against friends. So out of respect, it was normal not to celebrate my goal.”