Barcelona center back Samuel Umtiti headed goal in the 51st minute
made France to defeat Belgium 1-0 and progressed in the World Cup final. France will play England or Croatia in Moscow on Sunday as the French anticipate to lift the trophy for the second time.
After a tactical match on Tuesday, it was once again a set-piece that proved decisive with Umtiti's near-post header from an Antoine Griezmann corner finalising it.
Belgium took early control of midfield with France content to sit deep and eliminate the threat of counter-attacks from Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne.
But it was a futile effort 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 were thankful their keeper Thibaut Courtois was alert to snuff out the danger. It was an interesting first half and all that was missing was a goal but one came soon after the break. With Griezmann's corner, Umtiti beat Marouane Fellaini at the near post and powered a header home to put France ahead. Fellaini flashed a header just wide and Axel Witsel forced a good save out of Lloris as Belgium pushed forward for an equaliser and France hung on in six minutes of stoppage time to qualify for World Cup final.
