";s:4:"text";s:5456:" The second half was where Didier Deschamps' men took control, restricting Uruguay in the final third. Not quite his strike against Argentina. Suarez releases the run of Stuani into the right inside channel. France had struggled to find space as their opponents hustled and harried but the breakthrough came from a set-piece when Griezmann, disguising his delivery with a stuttering run-up, curled in for Varane to glance into the far corner.That had been the first time Muslera had been threatened and France were indebted to opposite number Lloris for a brilliant diving stop moments before the interval to deny Martin Caceres.Muslera thwarted Paul Pogba with a strong punch as France returned with intent but they were gifted a further advantage when the Uruguay goalkeeper let Griezmann's potshot through his grasp.Uruguay needed cool heads but instead a melee erupted when Mbappe's flamboyant flick drew a reaction from Christian Rodriguez and Pogba, angered by Nahitan Nandez, needed to be calmed by his coach.Tabarez's side were tiring, the cause looking lost, and though Griezmann sent another free-kick high into the crowd, France controlled the ball with ease in the closing stages to seal a Tuesday showdown in Saint Petersburg.Hugo Lloris made big stops at key moments before Uruguay's threat diminished but Antoine Griezmann gets the nod after another influential, if not top-gear display. Pogba and Mbappe combine in the final third to attempt to release Griezmann in the box, but the forward's flick is intercepted by Gimenez. Bentancur makes a surge down the left inside channel and tries to slide a pass into the feet of Stuani in the box. He sees his first effort hit a wall of white shirts before driving again, sending his second attempt inches wide of the post. Hernandez loses out to Nandez and then pulls back the midfielder. France hold a 1-0 lead at the break over Uruguay thanks to Raphael Varane's headed effort. Pavard latches on to a loose ball on the edge of the box and goes for the spectacular.
From then on, France managed the game to perfection to see out the victory. Uruguay are not happy with the teenage forward. France reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2006 and ended Uruguay's dream with a 2-0 win in Nizhny Novgorod.Raphael Varane converted a clever Antoine Griezmann free-kick five minutes before half-time and the provider then profited from Fernando Muslera's goalkeeping howler (61) as Didier Deschamps' men booked a last-four showdown with Brazil or Belgium.France, out to emulate the triumphant 1998 team captained by Deschamps, were thankful for several fine Hugo Lloris saves but his counterpart's blunder took the edge off the contest as Luis Suarez - without injured partner Edinson Cavani - toiled in vain.Oscar Tabarez's team had almost taken an early lead during a ragged passage of play, Cavani's replacement Cristhian Stuani failing to connect as France neglected to clear, before Lloris was forced into a low diving punch under pressure from Jose Gimenez.Olivier Giroud - on the receiving end of one of a string of robust challenges - teed up Kylian Mbappe soon after but the teen who terrorised Argentina watched his header loop harmlessly onto the roof of the net.Uruguay could only name Edinson Cavani on the bench following the calf injury he sustained against Portugal. 33' Lucas Hernández (France) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. A NIGHTMARE FOR MUSLERA!!!! Tabarez opts to replace him with Rodriguez. Les Bleus now await the winner of the contest between Brazil and Belgium to determine their last-four opponent. We're reaching the final stretch of the World Cup now as just two rounds remain before the final. Kante hammers the ball back in towards Pogba at the back post. They will need to up the ante in the second half to get back into the contest. Rodriguez goes into the book for an incident with Mbappe. Brave keeping from Lloris. OVER! France have the opportunity to apply pressure in a good starting position. Goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann sent Les Bleus into the last four, securing a comfortable win over Uruguay at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. Uruguay have not been assertive enough in the final third in the second half. The referee puts him into the book. OVER! Both teams have recent history in the latter stages of the competition and will be desperate to get over the line on this attempt.