France vs Uruguay: 5 Talking Points as Les Bleus Seal Semi-Final Spot, World Cup 2018

#3 The partnership of Samuel Umtiti and Raphael Varane

Samuel Umtiti and Raphael Varane were immense in defence

On paper, it might seem like Spain had the better defence with one half of Real Madrid and Barcelona's central defenders playing in the same team in the form of Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique.

But not many considered the other half playing for France. And on the field, Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti have looked the better defensive pairing. Umtiti is 24 while Varane is only 25, but the two looked solid in central defence and looked like they had been playing together for years.

Varane's commanding presence and Umtiti's ball-playing abilities have come to the fore for France and they rarely ever panic in the box.

Of course, Uruguay's attack was blunted by the absence of Cavani but the pair not only kept Stuani and Suarez at bay but they also won headers in set-pieces - where Uruguay are at their most dangerous.

0 - Luis Suarez (#URU) failed to have a single touch in the opposition box vs #FRA, and also failed to register a single shot. Missing #URUFRA #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/Hm7sBXsXrK

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) July 6, 2018

Along with the support of Lloris, the trio denied Uruguay any sniff on goal. In fact, the South American nation had no shots on target in the second half as France saw the game out.