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Belgium and France face each other at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in today, in what could be an interesting semi-final in the World Cup. No side have faced each other as much as these two European nations – they have played 73 times, with France winning 24 and Belgium 30. However, in the total of 11 competitive games between the two, there are 5 wins for France and 3 for Belgium.
In the World Cups, though, they have met only twice, with France edging out Belgium both times; a 3-1 win in the opening round of the 1938 World Cup and a 4-2 win in extra time in the 3rd place playoff in the 1986 World Cup.
Their most recent encounter was a 2015 friendly held in Paris, where two Marouane Fellaini goals gave Belgium a 4-3 victory. Interestingly, Belgium are currently on an unbeaten run of 24 games in all competition, winning 19 and drawing five.
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As the world prepares for a fascinating clash of two of the most talented sides in the tournament, we take a look at six players each from both sides, who will be crucial to the outcome of the game.
France have scored 9 goals, but conceded only 4. They had 56 shots, with 19 of them on target. 4 players have scored all the goals for France, and 4 players have assisted them. France have scored 6 goals from open play and 2 from set pieces. For a team full of superstars, it is hard to pick just 6, however, the following 6 are vital for France
France
Benjamin Pavard
Pavard played 4 games and scored one goal, the excellent strike against Argentina. He covered a total distance of 38.4 Kilometres so far, with 3 attempts on goal. He attempted 201 passes, completing 171 of them. Defensively he was sound, notching up 8 tackles, the highest in his team, and 19 clearances.
He also recovered the ball 17 times. He had 5 deliveries into the penalty area and attempted 8 crosses. His defensive qualities will be tested against Eden Hazard and Pavard will be hoping that he is ready for what could be his most intense game in the tournament so far.
Raphael Varane
Varane has been a revelation in this World Cup. He started all the games for France, covering a distance of 45 Kilometres and scored the opening goal against Uruguay in another solid display. He had 4 attempts on goal in the tournament so far, with one of them on target.
He is strong on the ball and has attempted 268 passes, the second highest in his team, completing 243 of them. His 25 clearances are the most for both teams and he also has 37 ball recoveries, more than anyone in the Belgium team. He also delivered the ball 3 times into the penalty area.
His partnership with Umtiti has been rock solid and forms the basis of France’s defensive compactness. Lukaku will be his toughest trial so far and how he deals with the Belgian will have a big impact on the result of the game.
Paul Pogba
Pogba covered 34.6 Kilometres and had 5 attempts on goal, with 1 on target, which was blocked. He is yet to score a goal but has come close on a few occasions. With Kante and Matuidi to lean on to, Pogba has unleashed himself on the pitch, in an avatar which Manchester United fans were dying for all season.
He has attempted 233 passes, completing 189, mixing flair and flashy skills with calmness on the ball. Even though Kante has freed him from his defensive responsibilities, Pogba has not been idle off the ball. He has 4 tackles and 11 clearances to his name so far. He also recovered the ball 16 times.
Offensively, he has attempted 6 deliveries into the penalty box and attempted 2 crosses. He is someone who can turn the tide in the favour of France within a flash and as such, Belgium will be studying him carefully.
His club compatriot Fellaini could be issued the responsibility to handle him, especially after his gutsy performance against Brazil. But Pogba seems to have chosen this World Cup to make a name for himself and he has been bossing the midfield so far in performances that have grown in leaps and bounds with every game.
N’Golo Kante
Kante covered 51.6 Kilometres in his 5 games, the highest in both teams, unsurprisingly. He has carried his club form effortlessly into the national team and even the change of personnel around him has not deterred him. In truth, Kante with his infectious energy and his running compliments Pogba, enabling a formidable midfield partnership.
There is also a certain urgency about the Kante and such is his capabilities that he effortlessly affects the proceedings of the games without himself coming to the fore. He has attempted 308 passes so far, completing 276 of them.
He has 1 tackle and 11 clearances to his name and has won the ball back 52 times, again the highest in both the teams. He will have his eyes on either of Hazard or De Bruyne, but in truth, he can be everywhere. If Belgium are to succeed, Kante has to be stopped, but it will not be easy.
Antoine Griezmann
Griezmann covered 44 Kilometres, had 14 attempts on goal, 8 of them on target, the highest in the team. He also scored 3 goals, attempting 176 passes, completing 127 of them. Griezmann likes to roam behind the main striker and drops back to create space for midfield runners.
However, what comes as a surprise is that he has the joint highest tackles of the team, 8, which shows that he likes to press even higher up on the pitch, something that is integral to the way France play. He has delivered 7 balls into the penalty area, attempted 12 crosses and dribbled once into the penalty box. He also won the ball back 7 times. Interestingly, France has never lost a game in which Griezmann has scored, winning 18 and drawing 2.
Kylian Mbappe
The teenage sensation rocked the world with his brace against Argentina. Mbappe has covered 34.2 Kilometres in the tournament so far. He is arguably a faster version of Hazard, but his team will be hoping for a bit more composure from him. His play-acting abilities have come to the fore in recent games, and if he is not careful, Belgium could use that to their advantage.
Mbappe had 6 attempts on goal so far, 5 of them on target and scored 3 goals. He attempted 115 passes, completing 87 of them. He delivered the ball 5 times into the penalty area, attempted 8 crosses and dribbled 4 times into the penalty area. His speed will be a headache for the Belgium defence and after a quiet game against Uruguay, he will be determined to stamp his authority now.
Belgium
In the 2018 World Cup so far, Belgium have scored 14 goals, the most in the tournament and have conceded 5. They had 85 shots, with 33 of them on goal. Only Brazil have more shots (103) and more attempts on target (38).
Belgium have 9 different scorers and 7 different players have assisted for those goals. Belgium have scored 12 goals in open play, but surprisingly, only one from a set piece. For his team, Meunier had 11 deliveries into the penalty area and 11 attempted crosses and has recovered the ball back 20 times, the second most in the team.
He covered a team-high distance of 46.5 Kilometres, and would have certainly made this list, but instead will miss the game, as he is suspended after picking up his second yellow of the tournament in the game against Brazil. Even in his absence, it is tough to pick out just 6 Belgium players to look out for from this talented bunch, but the following will surely have their say on Tuesday.
Thibaut Courtois
Courtois played every minute of Belgium’s 5 games and made a total of 18 saves. His man of the match performance against Brazil was one of the reasons for Belgium’s process to the semi-finals.
Calm, cool and composed under pressure, it was his quick thinking that unleashed a venomous counter-attack in the dying minutes of the round of 16 clash against Japan, which ultimately led to the winning goal. Even under wave after wave of Samba pressure in the Brazil game, he kept his composure, saving brilliantly from Neymar in injury time, to protect the lead.
While Hugo Lloris had been brilliant in this World Cup and narrowly misses out in this list, he only made 8 saves, starting behind a mean French defence. Meunier’s absence would certainly affect Belgium’s defensive composition, but they will gather confidence knowing that they can count on Courtois to bail them out when required.
Jan Vertonghen
Vertonghen has covered 37 Kilometres so far, with 2 attempts on goal, both on target. He famously initiated the Belgian comeback against Japan with his maiden goal of the tournament. Against Brazil too, he was rock solid.
He has been the pick of the Belgian defence in the tournament and has attempted a total of 229 passes so far, completing 203 of them, with 5 tackles and 9 clearances. Interestingly, he has recovered the ball 21 times, the highest in the team and also attempted 3 crosses.
While Meunier’s absence would force Roberto Martinez to reshuffle his back four, it would be up to Vertonghen to put in another stellar shift. He will certainly have his hands full with the speed and stealth of Mbappe, and the physical presence of Giroud, and will be relying on his impressive partnership with his skipper, the towering Vincent Kompany, to handle the French onslaught.
Axel Witsel
The midfield warrior of Belgium, who quietly does all the hard work, will be tested against the might of the France defence, especially the craft of Paul Pogba. He gave a fabulous example of his niftiness in the game against Brazil and has the prerequisite to give the Manchester United star some headache on the field. Witsel covered an impressive 43.3 Kilometres so far, attempting 219 passes and completing 208 of them.
He had 5 attempts, with 2 of them on target, but is yet to score a goal. He also recovered the ball 21 times. Defensively, he has given his midfield partners the license to roam. Much like Kante, Witsel is a hard worker and will be running tirelessly around the field all game. He is not too ambitious, preferring instead to sit in front of the defence and Roberto Martinez will be looking towards him to attend to Griezmann.
Kevin de Bruyne
De Bruyne has been playing a deeper role for Belgium than is typical of him, but he has done a wonderful job. He has covered 43.3 Kilometres so far, attempting 219 passes and completing 178 of them. Because of the way Roberto Martinez’s men play, his pass completion percentage has been low, as he is initiating and attempting through balls for Hazard and Lukaku.
He has one assist to his name and has shown his passing prowess in the Belgian counter attacks, both against Japan and Brazil. Even though he has been playing deep, he has 8 attempts on target, with 2 of them on target and 1 goal.
What is fascinating is that he has 14 deliveries and 2 dribbles into the penalty area and 17 attempted crosses. France will be wary of him and either of Kante or Matuidi will be paying very close attention to him. Like the internal combustion engine is the heart of an automobile, De Bruyne is the heart of this Belgian team. He dictates the pace and the tempo of the game and like the Japan game, he inspires them to believe in themselves
Eden Hazard
Hazard has had a mixed world cup so far. He has been impressive but has not hit full gear yet. He has run a total of 36.7 Kilometres so far, has 13 attempts on goal, with 5 of them on target and has scored 2 goals. He has attempted 157 passes, completing 126 of them. He attempted 11 deliveries into the penalty area and has 11 dribbles into the penalty area, the highest in both teams.
He also attempted 6 crosses and recovered the ball 8 times. His speed and trickery have been a bane for the opposition so far, but he will believe that he can touch an even higher level. Pavard and Varane, even with their confidence, will not be looking forward to this encounter, because, Hazard is dangerous and he has the players around him to make him better.
Romelu Lukaku
Contrary to France’s focal point of attack Oliver Giroud, who is yet to score a goal, Lukaku has been in terrific form so far. His display of speed, precision and power will please Jose Mourinho, his manager at Manchester United, while United fans will be overjoyed at his performance.
Even though his first touch is still a tad loose, Lukaku has gone from strength to strength as the tournament progressed. He has combined pace with brawniness. Even though he holds the ball exceedingly well, he is not a typical burly, static centre-forward; his work ethic and willingness to run for the team makes him an invaluable part of Roberto Martinez’s tactics.
He also puts his team before personal glory, as evident in his dummy for Chadli's winning goal against Japan, or his assist for De Bruyne’s goal against Brazil. He is the tip of the Belgian spear and he will test Varane's resolve.
In the end, it takes more than just 6 players to win a game of football. It takes astute planning from the coach, the assistants, it takes footballers playing out of their skins, it takes clever tactical decisions and emergency plan Bs.
Along with all that, it requires heart and desire. Tuesday will be a test of resolve and steel of two deserving foes in a battle of wits and it remains to be seen which of these 12 warriors rise above the rest and take their team one step closer to eternal glory.
Who among these 12 players will be most influential in the game? Comment and let us know
