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France beat Belgium 1-0 with an early second-half goal from Samuel Umtiti proving to be enough for Didier Deschamps's side to enter their second consecutive tournament final, after finishing second at Euro 2016.
For this Belgian side that gave so much joy to their fans and neutrals alike, it is another tournament that has slipped away from their golden generation, and in truth, France were good money for the win today.
Belgium was slow, indecisive and couldn't get their big players on the ball anywhere near enough like they did against Brazil. Eden Hazard tried but was shut down, Kevin de Bruyne had an off day, and Romelu Lukaku was a virtual spectator throughout the game.
Here are the key individual duels that eventually decided the outcome of the game in the first semi-final of the World Cup 2018.
#3 Samuel Umtiti v Romelu Lukaku
After Belgium's quarterfinal win over Brazil, France would have expected to have their hands full, with the aerial threat posed by Lukaku, but as his detractors often reiterate (falsely, if we may), he went missing on the big day.
In Lukaku's defence, Belgium did not at all play to his strengths. The Red Devils dominated the ball for large periods of the game, meaning they were not able to counter-attack to the devastating effect that Brazil found.
Lukaku was more the focal point in Belgium's attack today, as Roberto Martinez set his side out to hurt a well-organised French defence with the artistry of Hazard and De Bruyne and the power of Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini.
But Les Blues stood strong in the face of everything the Belgians threw at them. Raphael Varane was the Rolls-Royce that everyone expects him to be everytime he steps on the football pitch, but it was the goalscorer Umtiti's defensive performance that stood out.
He was powerful in the air, assured when the ball was on the ground and commanded that rearguard with absolute surety.
Belgium, for large parts of the game, indulged in Spain-esque pointless passing between the centre-backs, and never really had any impetus to their play.
There was a lethargy which was evident, and with their general slow pace of play, they were never going to hurt the well-organised French defence.
#2 Paul Pogba v Marouane Fellaini
Pogba is a much-maligned character, but that performance was among his best for France. He was shackled by Deschamps's system, virtually having to play as a 3rd centre-back, ensuring his power and drive forward were not utilised.
But the job he was given, he did perfectly. France needed someone to deal with the power and physicality of Fellaini in the middle of the park.
Brazil missed that in the quarterfinal, with Casemiro's suspension, and the big Belgian made them pay.
Pogba went into aerial duels with a sheer authority that he was going to win them, and win them he did, at least a large chunk of them. He was beaten in the air once, and that could've proved costly, but Fellaini put his header wide.
In possession of the ball, Pogba wasn't expansive, but he was mighty effective. Fellaini was effectively the first line of defence for Belgium, as he tried to press the French midfielders. Pogba was pivotal in breaking that press and playing the early ball forward, to feed the pace of Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.
In the battle of the Manchester United midfielders, the Frenchman came out having knocked his opponent to the ground.
#1 Blaise Matuidi v Kevin De Bruyne
Throughout the tournament, the debate has raged over the constant selection of Matuidi over other more flamboyant players.
But Deschamps has kept selecting him to do a job, and in this game, he did that job, as he shackled De Bruyne for a major portion of the game.
De Bruyne was not able to find the space he needed to dictate play like he usually does, and that was largely down to Matuidi covering ground and getting in the Manchester City man's face whenever he could.
After France scored, Roberto Martinez brought on Dries Mertens, and along with De Bruyne and Chadli, the attempt was to create an overload on the right flank for Belgium to pump crosses into the box.
But Matuidi ensured that his full-back Lucas Hernandez was given ample support to keep out the Belgian threat.
What did you think about France's performance? Sound off your opinions in the comments section below!
