Uruguay VS France

France 2, Uruguay 0

France are through! France now have to wait later today for the winner of Brazil and Belgium quarterfinal to meet in the semifinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. France making its way into their first WC semifinal appearance since 2006 after a strong performance today against a defensive Uruguay.

Nabil Fekir comes on for Antoine Griezmann.

Les Bleus support has been loud and proud today with their flags waving high as they pave their way into the semifinals awaiting their opponents.

5 minutes have been added to end today's first quarterfinal.

Paul Pogba wins a free-kick after juking Jose Maria Gimenez and catching the French midfielder. Antoine Griezmann lines up for a screamer of a free-kick, but the ball travels high over the bar.

The second change for France has Kylian Mbappe coming off to be replaced by Ousmane Dembele. Mbappe on a yellow card so the decision to end his game was a smart one.

Luis Suarez has been shut down today when matched up against two tough French defenders, Samuel Umtiti and Raphael Varane. Even Benjamin Pavard has defended the striker when he makes his runs to the sideline. Suarez is visibly upset and frustrated, but know all Uruguay need now is just one goal. One goal would change the end of the game, but it needs to be now rather than later.

France make their first substitution of the game with Corentin Tolisso coming off for Steven N'Zonzi to play more defensive in the midfield.

The French are finding it easy to keep the ball with seeking the open area with a white shirt. Kante, Pogba and Tolisso have a strong handle of the midfield which forces Uruguay to play the ball out wide.

Uruguay has made their final substitution for the rest of the 90 minutes with Jonathan Urretaviscaya coming on the pitch for Nahitan Nandez.

Cristian Rodriguez stuck his left arm out to meet Kylian Mbappe's torso. Mbappe goes down and the Uruguayan players are running over Mbappe to voice their displeasure with his reactions. Uruguay surrounds Mbappe on the ground as the French players run to aid their young winger. Both teams are now face to face arguing the challenge from Rodriguez. At least three minutes have gone by with the delay in game. The referee ends up giving out a couple of yellow cards. One to Rodriguez and one to Mbappe, which was questionable.

France now find themselves in complete control. They're not throwing numbers forward and play with the game in front of them so that they won't let Uruguay break early.

Fernando Muslera makes a huge defensive error in stopping Antoine Griezmann's direct 25-yard shot. Griezmann's shot knuckles at the last second and Muslera misjudges the punch. France up 2-0!

Maxi Gomez is replacing Cristhian Stuani while Cristian Rodriguez comes on for Rodrigo Bentancur. Uruguay look to put more numbers in the French box to level the score.

Benjamin Pavard's wonder goal last round has given him some confidence in ripping another far volley to catch Muslera off. The shot, however, makes its way into the crowd leading to a goal kick for Uruguay.

Mbappe is continuously getting knocked down by Diego Laxalt with late challenges as Mbappe uses his pace to run around the defender. Let's see if France try to exploit that matchup more this second half.

France has never lost a World Cup game after leading at halftime. Let's see if the streak continues for France or will Uruguay pull together a commanding second half performance and find a way into the semifinals.

France- 1, Uruguay- 0

Uruguay have a set piece with a long ball delivered into the box near the penalty area. Martin Caceres wins the header to direct it into the bottom left corner. Lloris makes a fantastic save at full extension to parry the ball for Diego Godin to jump on the loose ball. Godin skies the ball past the post and France can breathe for a minute.

France 1-0! Antoine Griezmann delivers a left-footed inswinging cross into the 6-yard box and meets Raphael Varane's head to redirect it into the netting of the far post.

Rodrigo Bentancur is written down into the referee's book after a late challenge on Corentin Tolisso in Uruguay's half. Tolisso grimaces in pain as the French set up for a set piece.

Lucas Hernandez receives the game's first yellow card after a lazy defensive error. Hernandez loses focus for a second when settling the ball and is dispossessed by Nahitan Nandez. Hernandez grabs a chunk of Nandez's jersey and pulls him down. The referee shows a yellow card immediately and Hernandez has no complaints. Nandez's jersey was ripped so badly that the referee ordered he change tops.

After 30 minutes, we see France take control of the midfield and threaten more chances in Uruguay's half. The game has been chippy, but the Argentinian referee has refused to show any cards.

France win a corner from a blocked cross attempt from Benjamin Pavard. Griezmann takes an inswinger with his left to the front post, but meets the first Uruguayan defender and clears with a header.

After a quarter of an hour into the game, we can see that both teams are playing into their typical styles. Uruguay tends to press and play the game with a little bit of pace early on. They're challenging the organization of France. France work with their possession to calm the game down and control the match to find breaks to counter.

Bench: Kimpembe, Lemar, Dembele, Nzonzi, Mandanda, Rami, Fekir, Sidibe, Thauvin, Mendy, Arreola