Martinez’s men miss out on final
> Samuel Umtiti is kissed by Olivier Giroud
SAMUEL Umtiti headed France into the World Cup final as Belgium’s Golden Generation – managed by former Swan Roberto Martinez – came up just short in St Petersburg.
On a night when teenager Kylian Mbappe once again underlined his mouthwatering potential in breath-taking style, it was Barcelona central defender Umtiti who made the decisive intervention when he headed home Antoine Griezmann’s 51stminute corner with the help of a touch off Marouane Fellaini to secure a 1-0 win.
The 1998 winners will face either Croatia or England in Sunday’s final, leaving the Belgians to reflect on what might have been after Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku and company could not bring their considerable talents to bear in meaningful fashion.
Mbappe gave an early signal of his intent when he embarked upon a fleet-footed run within seconds of the kick-off, but as Belgium settled, they responded with Hazard prominent and Nacer Chadli seeing plenty of the ball down the right.
Mbappe was in full stride once again with 13 minutes gone, prompting keeper Thibaut Courtois to race from his line to intervene after Paul Pogba had eluded Moussa Dembele and charged forward before feeding the ball into his path.
However, opposite number Hugo Lloris was relieved to see Hazard drag his shot across goal three minutes later after De Bruyne had opened up the French defence.
Lukaku was presented with his first real opportunity wihtin three minutes of the restart, but headed harmlessly over from Axel Witsel’s inviting cross, but when the opening goal arrived, it did so at the other end.
Umtiti got to Griezmann’s corner marginally before Fellaini and saw his header flick off the midfielder as it flew into the net.
Martinez’s men stepped up a gear as they looked for a way back into the game and Fellaini headed just wide from substitute Dries Mertens’ 65th-minute cross with the newcomer making a significant impact.
Lloris had to parry Witsel’s 81st-minute thunderbolt as Belgium threw everything they had left at them, but their best efforts proved in vain as France saw out the game in relative comfort.