Five conclusions as France beat Uruguay to reach semi-finals | OneFootball

France marched into the World Cup semi-finals after a hard-fought victory over Uruguay.

Raphaël Varane and Antoine Griezmann fired Les Bleus to victory as the South Americans struggled without the injured Edinson Cavani.

Here are five conclusions from the tournament’s first quarter-final tie.

Uruguay lack attacking threat in Cavani absence

Despite boasting the killer instinct of Luis Suárez, Uruguay clearly missed Cavani upfront and the deadly partnership the two have forged.

The Paris-Saint Germain forward’s brace was the difference in their victory over Portugal in the last-16 and it’s no surprise the nation was praying he would pull through for the clash with France.

Uruguay stuck with two in attack, deploying Girona marksman Cristhian Stuani alongside Suárez, but as expected, toiled without Cavani and failed to find the net against Didier Deschamps’ side.

Raphaël Varane shines at both ends

Now 25, Varane has fulfilled his early potential and it was his stunning header, raising highest above the Uruguay backline, which set France on their way to victory.

The Real Madrid centre-back is a calm and confident figure in the France team and his aerial threat is a constant nuisance from set-pieces.

His goal was the only effort on target made by the French in the first-half. However, it is the individual quality they boast all over the pitch which could see them lift the trophy – they have match-winners all over the pitch, even when not at their best.

Fernando Muslera, look away now…

The Galatasaray stopper will not want to see this game over too many times.

With the score at 1-0, and Uruguay still very much in the tie on the hour mark, this should have been a routine save. However, the 32-year-old completely misjudged Griezmann’s tame, hopeful punt and allowed the ball to squirm past him and into the back of the net.

A dependable pair of hands, it was a shame Muslera’s howler came at such an important stage of a huge game in his nation’s history.

Hugo Lloris makes Save of the Tournament contender!

The Tottenham goalkeeper certainly made a save for the cameras but it was needed to deny Martín Cáceres.

Having to react quickly, Lloris faced a powerful header from the Uruguay defender but got down speedily, athletically getting a strong hand to keep out the danger.

Diego Godín raced in but fired his rebound over the bar. Lloris had kept France in the game with his goalkeeping heroics as they took a giant step closer to possible glory.

We might have just seen the World Cup winners

This talented France team has got the lot.

Full of goals, young talent, experienced older heads and plenty of dangerous options from the bench, this is a fine France squad and they have impressed, showing a consistency to their solid displays on the way to the last four.

With Kylian Mbappe’s star rising and his youthful fearlessness seeing him shine on the biggest stage, he could be the catalyst for the French to lift the trophy on July 15.