With Edinson Cavani out for the match, Uruguay needed to put together a special effort up front if they wanted to get past France. It would take the likes of Luis Suarez and Cristhian Stuani up front to make something happen.
First Half
The first 45 minutes of the match belonged to France, as they were able to maintain possession and control the pace of the match. However, it was Uruguay who did put the first attempt towards goal of the match as Stuani missed a shot to the left in the fifth minute.
Uruguay would also have the first shot on goal by Jose Gimenez, who put a header on target but was denied by Hugo Lloris in the 14th minute.
In the 15th minute, Olivier Giroud put a head across the box after a cross from Lucas Torreira. Kylian Mbappe was all alone and had a clear shot at goal but couldn’t get a good angle for the header and let it float over the crossbar.
Up until the final minutes of the first half, the game just began to drag. Both sides not putting many chances together but it was apparent France was getting closer.
Les Blues finally struck in the 40th minute. After Rodrigo Bentancur was shown yellow after a hard tackle on Corentin Tolisso, Antoine Griezmann stood up to take the free kick. Griezmann sent a left to right curler into the box, finding Giroud for the deflection and goal.
Varane breaks through to give #FRA the lead.#WorldCup #TheAOSNWCpic.twitter.com/yUKEfhjUo8
— The AOSN FC (@TheAOSNFC) July 6, 2018
Second Half
Very much like the middle of the first half, the start of the second half carried itself in the same way. A lot of one-sided possession by France and not much Uruguay could do in terms of attacking. As the game progressed, not having Cavani showed itself to greatly harm Uruguay’s offense.
It was in the 61st minute that the rest of the match would have its tone set, as Fernando Muslera could not keep a strike from Griezmann in front of him.
Oh no, Muslera…
The Uruguayan's howler puts France up 2-0! pic.twitter.com/PPZE0wBGNE
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 6, 2018
France would hold on to defeat Uruguay 2-0 and take their spot in the World Cup semifinals.
They would wait on the winner of Brazil and Belgium to determine who they’ll play next.
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