France Keep Marching On | France 2-0 Uruguay | 2018 FIFA World Cup Quarter-final

The Group A winners facing the Group C winners for a place in the semifinals and a meeting with either Brazil or Belgium in St. Petersburg next Tuesday. Emotional renditions of the respective national anthems. Uruguay aiming to reach the semifinals for the second time in the last three World Cups. France for the first time since 2006. As expected, Edinson Cavani is ruled out with a calf injury. It's a huge blow for Uruguay, who have conceded only one goal in their four matches here in Russia. A strong defense led by captain Diego Goldin. Nahitin Nandez and Rodrigo Bantancur have really established themselves in midfield at this World Cup. Cristian Stuani is the striker given the task of replacing Cavani. Luis Suarez has scored seven goals at World Cups now. Uruguay's all-time top scorer shouldering extra responsibility with the enforced absence of his regular strike partner. Didier Deschamps' first match in charge of France was against Uruguay. France are without Blaise Matuidi who is suspended. He's replaced in midfield by Corentin Tolisso. It's a settled back four. Benjamin Pavard's exceptional goal against Argentina will live long in the memory. Tolisso, who started France's opening group match, the win against Australia, will slot in on the left-hand side. Kylian Mbappe, at 19 years of age, has been outstanding. Three goals so far for him, including two to knock out Argentina in the round of 16. Olivier Giroud is the focal point up front as France go for the sole striker option again. Toledo, Loris, able to just get that one away. Nandez the target, it's away by contact. Picked up again though by Bentancur, the pressure up. Tolisso. Pavard is in quite a bit of space on that far side, here he is. Towards Giroud, and a real chance here for France, but the header cannot be guided down towards goal by Kylian Mbappe. Look at the room that he has here, just having to wait for that ball to drop. No problems in the end for Mazlera. Kylian Mbappe, the first French international to represent his country, to be born after the 1998 World Cup success in Paris. Drives it in, Mbappe with the touch! Uruguay should clear this one away. Caceres. Pavard's ball in here. Laksa. Tolisso's sweat sprawling. Bentancur is cautioned, and that means that if Uruguay progress through into the semi-finals, Rodrigo Bentancur will be suspended. Griezmann. And hooked it towards goal, and it strikes for France! It's their first attempt on target in this match, and it is their opening goal of this match. Extracts unimpeded. What a header that was. Martin Caceres on the end of the free kick. Lloris at full stretch. Outstanding goalkeeping to keep France in front. Mbappe to take this free kick. It has been, by and large, Griezmann to deliver. Mbappe with it. Caceres in a bit of trouble as well. You see here Pogba, the number six, caught by the follow-through there on the shoulder. Rodriguez. Here's Rodriguez again. Pogba. Griezmann setting off on one side, and Mbappe on the other. Tolisso. Here is Antoine Griezmann. Griezmann to shoot! And it's gone in! An error from... With a second goal for France. Mbappe shakes his head. A huge mistake from the highly experienced Uruguayan goalkeeper. Esma Zlera handed France victory. Griezmann with the shot. It looked to be a regulation save. They're across then to take this corner. Too high for Godin. Rodriguez. The post. Christian Rodriguez. Tolisso. Pogba playing in a more central position. It's almost like it's a 4-4-2 formation now for France. Pavard. Griezmann gets there first. Pogba. Tolisso. Just opened up for him! Could so easily have been goal number three for France. Pavard. Tolisso. Terrific pass. Hernandez. Hernandez again. Mbappe. Twisting, turning. Stopped in the end. And finally, harmlessly wide from Olivier Giroud. Griezmann Dembele who scored his second goal for France in a pre-World Cup friendly victory over Italy. Griezmann. Dembele. Pogba. Steps away from one challenge. Fouled by the second. Jimenez. Griezmann stands behind this free-kick there. It's Griezmann! Dip in time. Rodriguez. Away by Hernandez. Hernandez. Key save that he made from Martin Caceres, for he's had a look at his watch. And France are through to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup. Brazil or Belgium await them in St. Petersburg on Tuesday. Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann with the goals for France. You have to feel for Fernando Maslera, whose error led to the second French goal. But it is France who progress, and it is Uruguay who are going home. Uruguay nil, France two.