By D. Crossan
After a thrilling victory over Argentina, France take on Uruguay on Friday afternoon for a semi-final place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Friday, July 6, 2018
FIFA World Cup, quarter-finals
Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod
France – Uruguay 
Didier Deschamps, the France coach, must decide who will fill in for the suspended Blaise Matuidi with the two names in the equation set to be Nabil Fekir of Olympique Lyonnais and former OL man Corentin Tolisso. Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani, the Paris Saint-Germain star, is highly uncertain due to a calf problem.
Deschamps, who led Les Bleus to the UEFA Euro 2016 final, said: “I’ve prepared my team in case Cavani does play. They have other options like Cristhian Stuani, a very good forward, and Cristian Rodriguez, who has a different profile. It’s obvious that if Cavani, a world-class player who has started the competition very well, isn’t there then that will change the face of Uruguay.”
Deschamps: Being toung isn’t a handicap for Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé dazzled in the 4-3 round of 16 victory over Argentina, scoring twice and winning a penalty after an incredibly pacy surge. Deschamps commented: “What he did against Argentina was very good. It sheds more light on what he’s capable of doing. Doing it in such a big match makes it resonate in greater fashion. Being young isn’t a handicap for him. Uruguay have seen what he’s capable of and he needs to repeat what he did in our last match.”
Knocked out in the quarter-finals by Germany four years ago, 1998 champions France are among the favourites to lift the trophy on July 15. Yet Deschamps, the captain 20 years ago on home soil, has the experience to know it’s vital for France not to get ahead of themselves.
“We’ll need to be patient”
He said: “The profile of the Uruguayan team is different to Argentina. We’ll need to be patient. They’re well organised defensively and don’t concede many goals. They’re also very good in attack and especially good in transition phases. They have verticality in their play thanks to a player like Rodrigo Bentancur and they have two redoubtable forwards. We’ll need to be good in defence and attack and be aware that they’re very good at set plays. We’ll need to put a lot into it. We’re in the quarter-finals of a World Cup so of course we’re up against quality opponents.’
Uruguay’s veteran coach Oscar Tabarez said: “France are very strong and I think they respect us a lot. There are strong cultural links between the two nations and I learned French as a second language. Two great rivals will take each other on, but we’re not enemies. A team that doesn’t know how to focus on its strong points and weaknesses won’t manage to win. We don’t think it will be impossible to win.”
Probable Teams:
France: Lloris; Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez; Kanté, Pogba; Mbappé, Griezmann, Tolisso (or Fekir); Giroud
Uruguay: Muslera; Caceres (or Varela), Godin, Giminez, Laxalt (or Caceres); Nandez, Torreira, Bentancur, Vecino; Suarez, Stuani
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