For the first time in 32 years, Belgium is in a World Cup semifinal.
France also joined them, with both European sides knocking out the remaining South American opposition in Uruguay and Brazil in Friday’s quarterfinals. However, it could’ve been a slightly different outcome if not for woeful Brazilian finishing.
Here are three winners and three losers on Day 20 at the 2018 World Cup.
WINNERS
Romelu Lukaku
Roberto Martinez’s tweak to move Kevin De Bruyne centrally was a game-changer for Belgium. But no one was as impactful for the Red Devils as Romelu Lukaku.
It was Lukaku’s run from his own third into the Brazilian half of the pitch that set up De Bruyne’s fantastic strike to double Belgium’s lead. In fact, the Manchester United forward was exploiting Brazil’s open space in midfield throughout the game.
Lukaku mainly occupied the wings whenever Brazil’s full-backs pushed up. With De Bruyne situated in the central channels, Lukaku collected the ball out wide before drifting inside and connecting with De Bruyne.
Everybody in the Belgian attack was lively. Eden Hazard took on all comers and De Bruyne was brilliant, as mentioned. But without Lukaku’s work off the ball and dragging Brazil’s defenders out of position, this win wouldn’t have been possible.
Pogba-Kante partnership
This game was likely going to be won or lost in the midfield for France or Uruguay.
Luckily for the French, the midfield partnership of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante thrived yet again.
Pogba was especially sensational. He completed more passes in the attacking third than any other player and had an astounding nine ball recoveries against Uruguay. It was as dominant a performance as we’ve seen from Pogba thus far at the World Cup.
About 42 per cent of France’s attacks have been generated down the right wing, per WhoScored.com, so it was no surprise to see Pogba favouring that side and combining with Kylian Mbappe in the buildup.
As for Kante, he wasn’t too involved defensively because Pogba was largely responsible for those interventions. Regardless, the diminutive midfielder still orchestrated the game in the defensive third, providing a link between the defence, Pogba and the attack.
The chemistry between Pogba and Kante has been integral to France’s run to the semifinals, and they will continue to be key in the next round.
French centre-backs
The midfield has stood firm, but France might live and die by their defence.
Entering the quarterfinals, no team had allowed fewer expected goals — an advanced analytic used to determine the quality of a shot — than France.
The #WorldCup quarterfinalists, sorted by xG.
(Via Opta, excluding penalties & own goals)#BEL: #RUS: pic.twitter.com/djg1Slp1mA
— Peter Galindo (@GalindoPW) July 3, 2018
That defensive solidity continued against Uruguay.
Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti are the architects behind that stingy back line. They tracked Luis Suarez’s movement impeccably well, likely aided by Umtiti’s knowledge of his Barcelona teammate.
Together, Varane and Umtiti completed seven ball recoveries and 15 clearances. Since both players were constantly in sync with one another and in the correct position, they didn’t have to overexert themselves.
It was a defensive masterclass from France, which will need to continue for as long as they remain in the tournament.
[snippet id=3758859]
LOSERS
Brazil’s finishing
In the opening 30 minutes, Casemiro was the biggest absence for Brazil. His defensive solidity and deeper positioning compared to Fernandinho may have prevented De Bruyne’s goal.
However, the final hour for Brazil was defined by wasteful finishing and missed penalty calls. Expected goals backs that up.
As Mel Brooks said, tragedy is when I cut my little finger, comedy is when you fall in an open sewer and die. pic.twitter.com/tqz6pjM3Do
— Caley Graphics (@Caley_graphics) July 6, 2018
Because it only takes seven games to win the World Cup, one unfortunate day in front of goal can end a team’s tournament in an instant. That was Brazil’s ultimate undoing.
Fernando Muslera
No one will feel as disappointed as Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera.
With Uruguay trailing 1-0, a long-distance strike from Antoine Griezmann suddenly swerved before reaching Muslera hands. Unfortunately for the Uruguayan shot-stopper, the ball ended up squeaking through his gloves and into the goal.
That was the decisive blow for Uruguay, who seemed deflated after Muslera’s mishap. Normally very reliable at the international level, it was an uncharacteristic lapse for the Galatasaray-owned goalkeeper.
Rodrigo Bentancur
Tipped to be a breakout player at the 2018 World Cup, Rodrigo Bentancur has enjoyed a meteoric rise.
Last year at this time, Bentancur was playing for Boca Juniors and representing Uruguay at the U-20 World Cup. Twelve months later, he’s a member of Juventus and starting for the senior national team at the FIFA World Cup.
However, this was the first match at the World Cup in which the 21-year-old was rendered ineffective.
Up against a strong French midfield, Bentancur was tasked with providing a link between the other midfielders and the attack. But he struggled to do so.
Bentancur completed just 14 of 18 passes, only four of which connected with Luis Suarez or Cristhian Stuani.
However, because France was pressing Uruguay’s midfield as soon as they were in possession, Bentancur had to constantly roam across the pitch to collect the ball.
That, in turn, left Bentancur disconnected from the forwards and the attack failed to gain consistency as a result.
[relatedlinks]
