France and Belgium make strong claims that their semi-final clash is true decider at World Cup

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  • Friday was not a good one for those who ascribe an inexorable quality to the chant “football’s coming home”.

    A fitting champion emerged from two heavyweight contests that helped guarantee a European winner for the fourth-successive running.

    These opening quarter-finals set a standard that the weaker side of the draw can only aspire to. England coasting towards a 2-0 victory against limited Sweden doesn’t cut it.

    Next Sunday’s showpiece at Luzhniki Stadium has had plenty of lustre removed by the unavoidable conclusion that the true decider will have been played in Saint Petersburg five days previously.

    Inevitability now defines the engraving of France or Belgium’s name on the trophy.

    Antoine Griezmann made his own fortune and sent Les Bleus into the last-four with a 2-0 triumph against Edinson Cavani-less Uruguay. No flourish, but quiet assuredness – the very definition of a Didier Deschamps-side.

    Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez then ripped up the script from the close shave against Japan and moved Kevin De Bruyne to centre stage as pre-tournament favourites Brazil were sent packing thanks to a 2-1 victory.

    De Rode Duivels performed like angels in the competition’s defining match to date. Even usual lummox Marouane Fellaini showed remarkable self-discipline when tasked with keeping perennial provocateur Neymar deathly quiet.

    Battle lines are being drawn by geographical neighbours who have produced squads with a combined value estimated at more than €2 billion (Dh8.7bn) by the CIES Football Observatory.

    Les Bleus have been a walking exhibition of self-control through their time in Russia. Belgium in contrast, were European qualifying’s joint-top scorers and have continued this valuable trait.

    Uruguay were kept at arm’s length by France and then punished for both slack marking at a set-piece for Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane’s header, plus Griezmann’s pot shot from 25 yards that slipped through Fernando Muslera’s fingertips.

    Deschamps’ outfit have averaged just 11 shots per game. In Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud, they have a centre forward leading the line who has yet to produce an attempt on target this summer from four matches – never mind score a goal.

    Exclude the madness of the 4-3, round-of-16 win against Argentina and they’ve conceded just once in four other matches – Mile Jedinak’s penalty for Australia in France’s 2-1 opening Group C victory.

    Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation’ of De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Co. are averaging 17 attempts per match. This World Cup’s leading scorers with 14 goals showcased their double threat in an open and entertaining contest against Brazil.

    Buoyed by Fernandinho’s own goal, they produced one of this tournament’s most-enlivening moves when Lukaku tore forward from deep and De Bruyne sent a precision finish past the helpless Alisson.

    The South Americans had three times as many attempts as their European conquerors (27 to nine) and bossed possession (58 per cent to 42 per cent).

    In the second-half alone, Belgium recorded just one shot on target to Brazil’s 17. They prevailed because of Thibaut Courtois’ masterclass between the posts, plus a generous call from the Video Assistant Referee to not punish centre-back Vincent Kompany for a bludgeoning foul on Manchester City club-mate Gabriel Jesus.

    France allowed just 21 attempts against them in three group-stage matches, plus another 21 combined in their two knockout trials to date.

    Vantage points on the value of this stoic statistic produce contrasting views.

    Either the 1998 champions are exhibiting the necessary defensive acumen to repeat the achievement of two decades prior, or the theme of underperformance by electric constituent parts has been extended from Euro 2016’s painful run on home soil to defeat in the final.

    One area of the pitch in which France are excelling, however, is centre midfield.

    The boundless Paul Pogba and ubiquitous N’Golo Kante have clicked into gear at the right time.

    Belgium defensive midfielders Marouane Fellaini and Axel Witsel will be confident of breaking up this partnership. In front of them, De Bruyne, Hazard and Lukaku are an attacking unit without compare when at their searing best.

    A grandstand occasion awaits in Saint Petersburg.

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