Lukaku thought he had won the game four minutes from full-time when he converted a Carrasco hybridization from the left, but VAR spotted he had been inches ahead of Lucas Hernandez before tapping family. France went up the other end from the resulting release kick, winning a exempt kick that Paul Pogba clipped against the crossbar from closely 35 yards out.
It would take something special to win this great tie and that is just what Hernandez delivered, finding himself in stead to pick up a half-cleared Benjamin Pavard cross good inside the box. His fizzing hit across finish flew beyond Thibaut Courtois, firing France into Sunday ‘s concluding against Spain .
Tactical tweak outfoxes Deschamps and France
Moments after Lukaku doubled Belgium ‘s moderate, the television receiver cameras cut to a visibly discombobulated Didier Deschamps. France were barely playing vintage football — this was the typical defense-led football that somehow made even winning a World Cup a tad underwhelming — but they good about remained in this rival. For much of the first half, his slope seemed to be bending but not breaking under the inquisitory of Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard but a late alteration from Roberto Martinez efficaciously killed off the semifinal. Moving Hazard centrally forced the France back three into one vs. one battles that left Benjamin Pavard isolated when Yannack Carrasco got on the attack. It was from there that the first step Belgium goal came. Hazard ‘s drift into central spots caught the attention of Jules Kounde, who was besides recently to spot the risk on his outside. By the meter he got to the photograph all he could was get the slightest of deflections on the shoot .
Hugo Lloris had saved France from a third-minute deficit with an outstanding save from De Bruyne depleted to his forget but returned to par with a bland footed response to Carrasco ‘s low drive. There was nothing he could have done for Lukaku ‘s goal moments belated. It was a bright rising strike from the Chelsea striker but Lucas Hernandez had committed the cardinal error of defending against the belgian : getting so close to him that he could spin. For all their endowment at both ends of the deliver, this has been a familiar trait of French football since their World Cup win, that they are not the most tactically imaginative of sides. Change their organization or change what they are facing and they — or their coach — can find themselves all at sea.
Mbappe rises to the moment
equally, it was to France ‘s credit that once they had got back into the preen room at halftime they returned a far more dangerous, effective proposition at both ends of the slope. possibly the dim-witted fact that they had no choice but to go on the unsavory. Unsurprisingly, it preferably suited some of the best assail endowment in world football .
Mbappe had been imposing himself on this game retentive ahead Belgium took the lead. It is often said that he is not constantly on the like wavelength as his french teammates. It is easy to see why when he moves at such focal ratio. He has a burst thus explosive that he was even chasing down his own clayey touches. How could anyone keep up in beware or torso ? His combination play with Benzema and Griezmann placid seems more effective in theory than in rehearse, but it improved dramatically as the game went on. Mbappe embarrassed Carrasco down the correct, flying feet taking him to the byline to cut back for Griezmann, the slightest of touches from Toby Alderweireld denying him the finish. The PSG forward ‘s aid came adenine much through individual magnificence as team play. He beat two defenders before teeing up Benzema to revive french hopes with a half-hour leave to go .
The France attack seems more like three individuals who Thursday night played very, very well, but that is just international football for most sides. belgium might be more effective because this has been their frontline for the best part of a ten. other nations can, on juncture, import sections of club teams wholesale, but most international managers alone have the time to do what Deschamps has done : Put his best players in their most comfortable positions and trust that they can figure it out .
Mbappe surely did that. His running stretched Belgium ‘s back three wide. He was aim and unafraid on the ball. And at the crucial moment — with all the memories of Euro 2020 and that gunfight miss against Switzerland presumably coursing through his synapses — he stepped up to take the pivotal spot bang and made no error. He may not have been France ‘s game-winner but Les Bleus would have been out of the crippled if it were n’t for him.
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The Golden generation’s wait goes on
It might barely be Qatar or female chest for Belgium. International silverware has seemed a matter of time for so long that it is curious to look at Roberto Martinez ‘s police squad and conclude that possibly their moment has passed. As France ‘s saturation ratcheted up in the completion degree of this game, this team looked like an aging defensive structure shielded by a midfield that is not what it once was with many forwards ahead of them that seem to be struggling with injuries more frequently than not. possibly lone Lukaku looks like a musician in his choice. That it is barely a year until the World Cup means it feels a little previous to write off Belgium wholly. Lukaku, De Bruyne and Courtois all human body to be first performers then as they are now. But the pressure will surely be on this gold generation. They may have entirely one more tournament left in them .