ST PETERSBURG, July 10 -- Small details win big matches between good sides and so it proved on Tuesday night when Samuel Umtiti's 51st minute header gave France a 1-0 win over Belgium in the first World Cup semifinal.
Umtiti's goal means France will go to Moscow while Belgium will remain in St Petersburg to contest 3rd and 4th place on Saturday.
They said it would be a tactical game: a game of systems, but also individuals, such as Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne and Kylian Mbappe, who can turn a game with their pace and touch.
France with their 4-2-3-1: with a strong backbone of Hugo Lloris, Raphael Varane, Umtiti, Ngolo Kante, Paul Pogba and Oliveir Giroud, allowing Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann room to roam and Blaise Matudi room on the left.
Belgium, flexible with three at the back, five in the middle and Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard dropping back, picking the ball deep, running, cutting inside and continually probing, looking for the ball into Romelu Lukaku.
The game ebbed and flowed like the waters of the Baltic, just a stone's throw from the Saint Petersburg Stadium with Belgium dominating first, then France reacting before halftime.
De Bruyne and Hazard twice threatened at the start of the second half, before that moment Roberto Martinez warned about in his pre-game press conference happened: "You can't lose concentration against France."
But they did.
After 51 minutes Umtiti stole a yard on Marouane Fellaini from a corner and although it got a touch on the tall midfielder, his header ended up in the back on the net.
Giroud, always in the right place, but not always as clinical in his finishing had a chance to double the lead after Mbappe's backheel, but Courtois, for the second time in the game, made a vital stop
Dries Mertens came on, Lloris punched his first cross clear and Fellaini headed his second wide.
Belgium were pressing, but vulnerable on the break with both Hazard and Toby Alderweireld booked for stopping counterattacks and Axel Witsel also lucky to escape similar punishment.
Witsel stung Lloris's gloves from range, but the French keeper had a good view of it and the French were street smart enough to ensure Belgium didn't trouble him again, while Griezmann could have killed the game off completely in injury time.
So France and thousands of their supporters will be in Moscow on Sunday: the last time that many French were in the Russian capital was with Napoleon in 1812. That time it didn't end well, this time they will hope to truly conquer the city... and the World.
体坛英语资讯:Chinas Zhang, Peng bow out from French Open second round
研究表明 腿部运动能使你的大脑更聪明
川普上台又忘记歌词,这次他被喷不爱国了...
国际英语资讯:Saudi, UAE launch 60 joint projects as part of newly formed alliance
体坛英语资讯:FIFAs annual awards ceremony to return to London in 2018
国内英语资讯:China Focus: China achieves remarkable success in IPR protection: official
国内英语资讯:Chinese premier meets Kazakh president on advancing economic cooperation
耐克公司以美国制裁为由,称不向世界杯伊朗队球员提供球鞋
美国对盟国与伊朗做生意提出警告
体坛英语资讯:Greeces 2018 Acropolis Rally kicks off under Parthenon monument
体坛英语资讯:Warriors beat Cavaliers in overtime in Game 1 of NBA Finals
国内英语资讯:China, Kyrgyzstan to tap cooperation potential under comprehensive strategic partnership
国内英语资讯:China to stay committed to development, not to threaten others: Chinese diplomat
科学家发现水分子其实有两种类型
男人当爸爸之后会有什么变化?
体坛英语资讯:Zverev finishes another five-set thriller, Wang suffers bitter exit
十年了,我们的感情为何越来越好?
国内英语资讯:China hopes U.S. will meet it half way: MOC
体坛英语资讯:Talented France beat Italy 3-1 in World Cup warm-up
国内英语资讯:Putins China visit to enhance bilateral ties: FM spokesperson
美国防部督察长调查川普前专职医生杰克逊少将
苹果发布iOS新系统,对老用户可真是好消息!
国内英语资讯:China, Kyrgyzstan agree to establish comprehensive strategic partnership
国际英语资讯:Italian new govt clears first big hurdle, winning confidence vote in Senate
体坛英语资讯:Peru captain Guerrero cleared to play in World Cup
永远别在超市买这些东西
国际英语资讯:Egypts PM submits governments resignation to President Sisi
每天走1万步就能身体健康?专家:别逗了
国内英语资讯:State Council clarifies functional adjustment amid institutional reshuffle
体坛英语资讯:Scotland edges S. Korea 2-1 to reach Toulon semis
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |