France 1-0 Belgium: Samuel Umtiti heads Les Bleus into another final

Barcelona’s Samuel Umtiti sent France into their third World Cup final in 20 years with a  glancing header that beat off a Belgium side who were in many ways superior to the French but lacked a killer instinct.

Just as in their quarter-final tie against Uruguay, France needed the help of a set-piece to find a way through although this time it was Umtiti rather than his centre-back partner Raphael Varane who headed home a cross from Antoine Griezmann.

The Barca defender beat the usually towering presence of Marouane Fellaini to reach Griezmann’s outswinging corner and score his first competitive goal for France to break the deadlock early in the second half.

France will play either Croatia or England in the World Cup final on Sunday.

Belgium, who fell agonizingly short in their first semi-final since losing to Argentina in 1986, had been more impressive in the first period in a remarkably open game given what was at stake and how tight semi-finals usually are.

Eden Hazard gave inexperienced right back Benjamin Pavard a torrid time down the left wing and was Belgium’s greatest source of danger even if his side didn’t quite create clear cut chances.

Their best effort came from Toby Alderweireld and was punched away by Hugo Lloris, who took turns with Thibaut Courtois in the other goal to make show-stopping saves.

Down the other end, France had fewer opportunities but came equally close, closest of all when Pavard came tearing through down the right and shot just beyond the far post.

The game was beginning to resemble Italy’s classic 2-0 win over Germany in extra-time in the 2006 semi-finals, but, as has happened so often in this tournament which has seen more set piece strikes than any other World Cup, the opening did not come from open play.

It came from the head of Umtiti, who is proving as valuable to France as he is to Barca.

His goal allowed France to sit back, hold on to what they had and try and pick Belgium off on the break.

Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud both could have killed off Roberto Martinez’s side but again they were grateful to Lloris for protecting their slender lead.

France, who lost the Euro 2016 final, now have another chance for this supremely talented generation to emulate the achievements of the 1998 world champions, who were captained by their current coach Didier Deschamps.

And rather like in that tournament, they got through their semi-final thanks to a centre-back.

Then it was Lillian Thuram, who went on to finish his career at Camp Nou.

But tonight it was Umtiti, the smooth operator at the back who is proving just as useful in the opposing box.