Kylian Mbappe stars as France edge Belgium to reach third World Cup final in 20 years

First the good news. France did also take the more treacherous path to the final of Euro 2016 and, having supposedly already got one hand on the trophy by dismantling Germany in the semi-final, froze horribly

when it mattered against a far more limited Portuguese side. Now for the bad news. The top half of the World Cup draw really was best avoided by England and, should they progress against Croatia on Wednesday night, the test that awaits will be of a very different magnitude to anything they have faced. France are a far better side than two years ago and a 1-0 scoreline here against Belgium, who have been the next best team in the tournament, was actually most flattering to their opponents.

Anything is of course possible over 90 minutes in Moscow on Sunday but, having demonstrated here that it is possible to quietly control a match even without the ball, they will start as clear favourites. The record books will show that the teams were ultimately separated by only Samuel Umtiti’s headed goal from yet another tournament set-piece, but there were actually much more to it.

First, of course, Kylian Mbappe who delivered the sort of sublime second-half moment of skill that will make the cut in any of the thousands of YouTube montages that are destined to be produced about his career. To split an opposition defence with a back-heel was one thing. To do it after the sort of drag-back of which Lionel Messi would have been proud was something else. Mbappe continues to impart the greatest teenage influence on a World Cup since Pele in 1958.

And yet, with the France president Emmanuel Macron watching just along from Mick Jagger in the hospitality areas, this was also about other simpler French qualities. Raphael Varane has matured hugely at centre-back in recent years and was a formidable presence in negating Romelu Lukaku. N’gole Kante, as ever, was superb in front of the defence and, in Hugo Lloris, France also have perhaps the best goalkeeper in the tournament.

It took literally only five seconds for Belgium to experience what must have been their worst fears. Mbappe collected the ball straight from kick-off and, with Jan Vertonghen pushing forward, he was past him and down the wing. It all came to nothing but the early warning was clear. Another tactical tweak by Belgium manager Roberto Martinez had involved bringing in Tottenham’s Mousa Dembele to provide an additional midfield presence alongside Axel Witsel and Marouane Fellaini. It helped ensure that France were initially pinned back and, with Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard pulling the creative strings, Belgium were briefly dangerous. Twice Hazard had clear sights of goals, only for his closest effort to be brilliantly deflected up onto the crossbar off the top of Varane’s head.

France players congratulate Samuel Umtiti on his goal  CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES 

Whether intended or not, Fellaini then brilliantly controlled a corner into the path of Toby Alderweireld, whose shot on the turn forced Lloris to a wonderful full-length diving save.

The possession statistics were heavily in Belgium’s failure but, with Lloris, Varane and Kante so effective, France seldom looked uncomfortable in absorbing this pressure. Indeed, as a high quality first-half unfolded, there were clear signs that France were actually in far greater control than they might have looked.

Right-back Christian Pavard was also increasingly beginning to exploit the space behind Hazard. His cross was headed wide by Olivier Giroud and then, after brilliant build-up play by Antoine Griezmann and especially Mbappe, Pavard was released one-on-one with Courtois. He looked certain to score but the Chelsea goalkeeper was just able to glance the ball wide with the outside of his shin.

There was then another excellent chance following a further interchange between Griezmann and Mbappe, only for Giroud’s shot to dribble tamely wide. France were now creating by far the best chances and their 51st minute lead was absolutely merited. Griezmann, whose understanding with Mbappe is improving every day, was also testing Belgium with his dead-ball delivery and a simple near-post corner was attacked by Umtiti. Fellaini possessed all the physical advantages but Umtiti had the momentum and, although his glancing header did also brush off the Manchester United midfielder, Courtois was helpless.

France were ahead but they did not then sit back and what followed was one of the most breathtaking moments of the World Cup. Having again linked superbly with Griezmann, Mbappe dragged the ball back with the underside of his boot before splitting open Belgium’s defence with a backheel while was facing the opposite goal. Yes, you did read that right. The problem was that Giroud had not quite read it quickly enough and just hesitated sufficiently for Nacer Chadli to slide in and prevent one of the goals of the tournament.

Martinez tried to react by introducing Dries Mertens but it had become almost impossible to change the basic pattern of the game. Fellaini, having failed aerially for the France goal, did make one excellent darting run across Paul Pogba but his header from Toby Alderweireld’s cross flashed inches wide.

With Witsel, Hazard and then Alderweireld booked in quick succession, a clear sense if frustration became apparent in Belgium’s game and, with gaps opening up, only a brilliant finger-tip save by Courtois prevented Corentin Tolisso from extending the winning margin. The French players collapsed to the floor on the final whistle but any team with Mbappe, Lloris, Varane and Kante will now take some stopping.