The five-time champions came to Russian Federation desperate to make amends for their stunning 7-1 semi-final defeat on home soil to Germany in 2014. We had three excellent opportunities in the second half and we failed.
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Roberto Martinez: “They did incredible”.
“It is special and we can’t let the people of Belgium down”.
Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann scored the goals and Deschamps was particularly pleased for the former, who had been at fault when Mats Hummels scored Germany’s victor in the quarter-finals at the last World Cup.
His 13′ own goal gave Belgium the upper hand, cemented by Kevin De Bruyne’s 31′ goal, thanks to a brilliant assist from Romelu Lukaku who ran nearly the entire stretch of the pitch with the ball glued to his feet before passing it on to the Manchester City striker.
Substitute Renato Augusto headed them back into it on 76 minutes as the tournament favourites piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser.
The centre back, who was only 21 at the time, took the blame for France’s defeat to Germany in Rio de Janeiro when he was dismissively brushed aside in an aerial duel with Mats Hummels that proved decisive his team’s 1-0 defeat.
Thomas Meunier, who got his second yellow for fouling Neymar, will miss Belgium’s semi-final against France on July 10.
Tabarez was keen to praise Cavani for his attitude in training, though, and thinks the camaraderie in the squad between the senior stars and younger players will stand Uruguay in good stead as they bid to reach the semi-finals.
Raphaël Varane (France defender): “This is pure joy; it’s attractive”.
But France were indebted to Hugo Lloris for pulling off a stunning save at full stretch moments before the half-time whistle to deny Martin Caceres.
It was a question Didier Deschamps was asked after the Uruguay win.
They are doing what other successful teams at the World Cup have done, namely get stronger with each game and against progressively better opponents.
“We just need to do what is right, rather than trying to play good football”. “These are things we work on”.
“We were again in a match to reach the semi-finals”, said Godin.
“The further we go in this competition the fewer mistakes we can afford to make”, he added.
Saturday sees four fellow European nations bid to join them in the last four, as England meet Sweden in Samara before hosts Russian Federation take on Croatia in Sochi.
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A shot that flew directly at the hands of the opposing goalkeeper turned into a Fifa World Cup goal for Antoine Griezmann.
