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..::Football IV::..
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Icardi drops huge hint he's staying at Inter following Juventus rumours
Mauro Icardi has dropped a huge hint that he will stay at Inter Milan.The Argentina striker has been heavily linked with an exit from the Serie A giants this summer, with Juventus and Real Madrid continually mooted as potential destinations.However, Icardi has now issued a cryptic update on his Instagram page, posting two photos, one with the caption "to be continued".
The 25-year-old has spent five years at Inter, having joined the club from Sampdoria in 2013, and the club are keen to reward their captain with a new contract.
The club’s chief executive Alessandro Antonello also recently confirmed that there had been no offers from Serie A rivals Juventus for Icardi.Antonello told Rai Gr Parlamento: "Icardi is the captain of Inter and there's a contract in place.
"There's a willingness on both sides to discuss a renewal, we'll meet in the next few weeks to go down that road and hope for the satisfaction of both parties."Offers? So far none have arrived."
Icardi enjoyed an excellent season in Italy, scoring 29 goals in just 34 games in Serie A.
However, he was left out of Argentina's final squad for the 2018 World Cup, despite being included in the preliminary list of 30 players. Cristian Pavon was selected ahead of Icardi, however, in the final 23.Argentina then flattered to deceive in Russia, only just escaping their group after a 1-1 draw with Iceland, a 3-0 loss to Croatia and a narrow 2-1 victory over Nigeria.
A 4-3 defeat to France in the knockout stages eliminated Lionel Messi and Co in the last 16, with Les Bleus now in the semi-final, where they will face Belgium.
Mauro Icardi has dropped a huge hint that he will stay at Inter Milan.The Argentina striker has been heavily linked with an exit from the Serie A giants this summer, with Juventus and Real Madrid continually mooted as potential destinations.However, Icardi has now issued a cryptic update on his Instagram page, posting two photos, one with the caption "to be continued".
The 25-year-old has spent five years at Inter, having joined the club from Sampdoria in 2013, and the club are keen to reward their captain with a new contract.
The club’s chief executive Alessandro Antonello also recently confirmed that there had been no offers from Serie A rivals Juventus for Icardi.Antonello told Rai Gr Parlamento: "Icardi is the captain of Inter and there's a contract in place.
"There's a willingness on both sides to discuss a renewal, we'll meet in the next few weeks to go down that road and hope for the satisfaction of both parties."Offers? So far none have arrived."
Icardi enjoyed an excellent season in Italy, scoring 29 goals in just 34 games in Serie A.
However, he was left out of Argentina's final squad for the 2018 World Cup, despite being included in the preliminary list of 30 players. Cristian Pavon was selected ahead of Icardi, however, in the final 23.Argentina then flattered to deceive in Russia, only just escaping their group after a 1-1 draw with Iceland, a 3-0 loss to Croatia and a narrow 2-1 victory over Nigeria.
A 4-3 defeat to France in the knockout stages eliminated Lionel Messi and Co in the last 16, with Les Bleus now in the semi-final, where they will face Belgium.
Fernando Torres to join Sagan Tosu in Japan
Fernando Torres has confirmed that he will sign for J-League club Sagan Tosu.The former Liverpool and Atletico Madrid striker left the Spanish club at the end of the 2017-18 season, following his emotional return to his boyhood team.
Torres had been in negotiations with Sagan Tosu several weeks ago , though talks reportedly fell through. However, a breakthrough in negotiations has seen the 34-year-old finally rubber-stamp his move to Japan.
Sagan Tosu are currently 17th in the J-League, just one place above bottom spot, having won just three of their 15 games so far this season.Torres scored 10 goals in his final season at Atletico, including netting twice against Eibar in his final ever La Liga appearance .
The Japanese side appear to have gazumped the likes of the Australian A-League, with Torres reportedly lowering his wage demands in order to secure a transfer.Both Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC had been linked to a potential move, with the Sky Blues recently pocketing around $2 million in the transfers of both Bobo and Adrian Mierzejewski.
Torres was also heavily linked with a move to the United States or China.
But he has decided to follow his former Spain team-mate Andres Iniesta, who has joined Vissel Kobe, to Japan after confirming he received a multitude of offers."We have had proposals from all continents," Torres told the media on Tuesday."My new team will be the Japanese side Sagan Tosu.
"Sagan Tosu were one of the first clubs to be interested in me, they have convinced me with the project."I think Japan and the Japanese League is going to be a great experience, they have made a great effort and they believe that I can be one of the solutions so that the team returns to the place where it has to be.
"I've had offers from France, Germany, even some options from Spain, but at no time did it go through my head to go to a European team, I wanted a new challenge in a totally different place."One of the most decorated players in Europe, Torres won the Europa League in 2017-18 with Atletico, along with the FA Cup, the Champions League and the Europa League with Chelsea.
Capped over 100 times by Spain, Torres was also in La Roja's squad as they won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, and also featured in the 2010 World Cup-winning squad.
Fernando Torres has confirmed that he will sign for J-League club Sagan Tosu.The former Liverpool and Atletico Madrid striker left the Spanish club at the end of the 2017-18 season, following his emotional return to his boyhood team.
Torres had been in negotiations with Sagan Tosu several weeks ago , though talks reportedly fell through. However, a breakthrough in negotiations has seen the 34-year-old finally rubber-stamp his move to Japan.
Sagan Tosu are currently 17th in the J-League, just one place above bottom spot, having won just three of their 15 games so far this season.Torres scored 10 goals in his final season at Atletico, including netting twice against Eibar in his final ever La Liga appearance .
The Japanese side appear to have gazumped the likes of the Australian A-League, with Torres reportedly lowering his wage demands in order to secure a transfer.Both Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC had been linked to a potential move, with the Sky Blues recently pocketing around $2 million in the transfers of both Bobo and Adrian Mierzejewski.
Torres was also heavily linked with a move to the United States or China.
But he has decided to follow his former Spain team-mate Andres Iniesta, who has joined Vissel Kobe, to Japan after confirming he received a multitude of offers."We have had proposals from all continents," Torres told the media on Tuesday."My new team will be the Japanese side Sagan Tosu.
"Sagan Tosu were one of the first clubs to be interested in me, they have convinced me with the project."I think Japan and the Japanese League is going to be a great experience, they have made a great effort and they believe that I can be one of the solutions so that the team returns to the place where it has to be.
"I've had offers from France, Germany, even some options from Spain, but at no time did it go through my head to go to a European team, I wanted a new challenge in a totally different place."One of the most decorated players in Europe, Torres won the Europa League in 2017-18 with Atletico, along with the FA Cup, the Champions League and the Europa League with Chelsea.
Capped over 100 times by Spain, Torres was also in La Roja's squad as they won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, and also featured in the 2010 World Cup-winning squad.
'Don't be like Liverpool!' – Man Utd must be patient with Mourinho, says BosnichManchester United have been urged to show patience with Jose Mourinho by Mark Bosnich, with the club's former goalkeeper telling the Red Devils not to be drawn into regular changes like rivals Liverpool.
In his second season in charge at Old Trafford, Mourinho failed to deliver a trophy, but United finished second behind record-breaking rivals Manchester City in the Premier League.
That came a campaign after Mourinho led United to a Europa League and EFL Cup double.
Bosnich, who had two spells at United, says the Portuguese tactician needs more time and the club should avoid following Liverpool's lead, the Merseyside giants having made numerous changes in their bid to win a first league title since 1990.
"Just stand by him [Mourinho]. Give him the opportunity, he is second against a team in Man City who can afford anyone and get anything," he told Omnisport and Goal."Sometimes, even after such dominance, you have got to be patient.
"You don't want to fall in a situation like Liverpool, after all those years of dominance and then all of a sudden you want to chop and change."Stick with this guy, he is a winner and he will bring the glorious times back."People can say what they want. In modern-day football, after we saw the experience with Barcelona, that started with Pep Guardiola, out of something good can come something bad, and vice-versa.
"But, after that, just like after the Leicester thing with chairman saying 'well why can’t we do that', we saw a lot of people say 'why can’t we play like that?' So, I think a lot of teams suffer for the comparison, that’s one of the greatest club sides that anyone has ever seen playing in a way that no one has ever seen before."Bosnich recalled similar impatience at United under the great Sir Alex Ferguson, who led the club to 13 league titles in 27 years.
The former Australia international believes Ferguson's tale is a reminder that managers need backing."What everyone has got to realise is that not last season but the season before, they won three trophies [United also won the Community Shield]. That is an amazing achievement no matter where you are at," Bosnich said of Mourinho's United.
"This season? Okay, no trophies but far more points than last season and in second place. It takes time.
"People have short memories. I was at Manchester United in 1990, I think Fergie had only been there for four years, there was a game against Crystal Palace in the season that they won the FA Cup. Half the crowd sat down because he left Mark Hughes on the bench. They were calling for 'Fergie out'.
"He went onto win the FA Cup, ironically against Crystal Palace that year. The rest, as they say, is history."
'England finally have a goalkeeper who saves' - Capello hails Pickford as key for World Cup 'favourites'
Jordan Pickford is a key figure in England's run to the World Cup semi-finals according to Fabio Capello, who said the team "finally discovered a goalkeeper who can make saves".
Pickford only made his full England debut in November 2017, just seven months before the World Cup in Russia, but he made crucial saves in the team's round-of-16 penalty shoot-out victory over Colombia.
The Everton shot-stopper had another solid performance in England's 2-0 quarter-final victory over Sweden, keeping his first clean sheet of the tournament, and Capello praised the 24-year-old's positioning and reactions.
Capello, who managed England to 28 victories and six defeats between 2008 and 2012, told Gazzetta dello Sport that Gareth Southgate's side "have got some fast guys and a great manager".
"Southgate has realised that with two central defenders they would have gone home, so he's put three in there and he's finally discovered a goalkeeper who can make saves," he continued.
"He's got an array of talented players, but he had the intuition of putting [Harry] Maguire at the heart of the three-man defence, he chose Pickford and he has managed the tension levels."Pickford has a feel for the position and is reactive."
Looking ahead to England's semi-final clash with Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium, Capello backed his former employers to prevail.
He also claimed Southgate's side are capable of beating France, should they win their semi-final against Belgium, saying: "It's going to be France vs England, and in that case I would pick England as favourites."
Jordan Pickford is a key figure in England's run to the World Cup semi-finals according to Fabio Capello, who said the team "finally discovered a goalkeeper who can make saves".
Pickford only made his full England debut in November 2017, just seven months before the World Cup in Russia, but he made crucial saves in the team's round-of-16 penalty shoot-out victory over Colombia.
The Everton shot-stopper had another solid performance in England's 2-0 quarter-final victory over Sweden, keeping his first clean sheet of the tournament, and Capello praised the 24-year-old's positioning and reactions.
Capello, who managed England to 28 victories and six defeats between 2008 and 2012, told Gazzetta dello Sport that Gareth Southgate's side "have got some fast guys and a great manager".
"Southgate has realised that with two central defenders they would have gone home, so he's put three in there and he's finally discovered a goalkeeper who can make saves," he continued.
"He's got an array of talented players, but he had the intuition of putting [Harry] Maguire at the heart of the three-man defence, he chose Pickford and he has managed the tension levels."Pickford has a feel for the position and is reactive."
Looking ahead to England's semi-final clash with Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium, Capello backed his former employers to prevail.
He also claimed Southgate's side are capable of beating France, should they win their semi-final against Belgium, saying: "It's going to be France vs England, and in that case I would pick England as favourites."
OFFICIAL: Cristiano Ronaldo agrees to join Juventus
Real Madrid have confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo will leave the club to join Juventus.
The Serie A champions swooped to sign the Portugal captain after he indicated that he was considering leaving Madrid after their Champions League final win in May.
On Tuesday, Juventus president Andrea Agnelli flew from Pisa to Greece to meet Ronaldo, who is on holiday in Kalamata, and his agent Jorge Mendes arrived from England later on to join them.
Ronaldo is said to have agreed a four-year contract that will see him pocket €30 million (£26.5m/$35m) per season and Madrid have since confirmed that they have allowed him to make the move to Turin in a transfer that will cost €100m (£88m/$117m) plus €12m (£10.5/$14m) in additional charges.
“Real Madrid CF communicates that, in response to the will and request expressed by the player Cristiano Ronaldo, he has agreed to transfer to Juventus FC.”Ronaldo, 33, reached global superstar status after becoming the world's most expensive player when he joined Madrid from Manchester United in 2009.
During his nine-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu, Ronaldo won 15 trophies, including two La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey crowns.He helped Madrid to La Decima in the Champions League final with Atletico Madrid in 2014 and played a crucial role in Los Blancos winning the competition in each of the last three seasons.
And the Santiago Bernabeu club thanked the star for all he had done during his time there, adding to their statement: "Real Madrid wants to express its gratitude to a player who has proved to be the best in the world and who has marked one of the brightest times in the history of our club and world football.
"Beyond the conquered titles, the trophies achieved and the triumphs achieved in the playing fields during these 9 years, Cristiano Ronaldo has been an example of dedication, work, responsibility, talent and improvement... For Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo will always be one of the great symbols and a unique reference for the next generations."Real Madrid will always be your home."
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, will now have the chance to win a European league title with a third club after completing a shock move to Turin.Madrid, meanwhile, have already denied making bids for Paris Saint-Germain duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe as they prepare for the 2018-19 season under new coach Julen Lopetegui.
The former Spain coach takes over from Zinedine Zidane after the Frenchman surprisingly decided to resign after Madrid beat Liverpool in Kiev.
Real Madrid have confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo will leave the club to join Juventus.
The Serie A champions swooped to sign the Portugal captain after he indicated that he was considering leaving Madrid after their Champions League final win in May.
On Tuesday, Juventus president Andrea Agnelli flew from Pisa to Greece to meet Ronaldo, who is on holiday in Kalamata, and his agent Jorge Mendes arrived from England later on to join them.
Ronaldo is said to have agreed a four-year contract that will see him pocket €30 million (£26.5m/$35m) per season and Madrid have since confirmed that they have allowed him to make the move to Turin in a transfer that will cost €100m (£88m/$117m) plus €12m (£10.5/$14m) in additional charges.
“Real Madrid CF communicates that, in response to the will and request expressed by the player Cristiano Ronaldo, he has agreed to transfer to Juventus FC.”Ronaldo, 33, reached global superstar status after becoming the world's most expensive player when he joined Madrid from Manchester United in 2009.
During his nine-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu, Ronaldo won 15 trophies, including two La Liga titles and two Copa del Rey crowns.He helped Madrid to La Decima in the Champions League final with Atletico Madrid in 2014 and played a crucial role in Los Blancos winning the competition in each of the last three seasons.
And the Santiago Bernabeu club thanked the star for all he had done during his time there, adding to their statement: "Real Madrid wants to express its gratitude to a player who has proved to be the best in the world and who has marked one of the brightest times in the history of our club and world football.
"Beyond the conquered titles, the trophies achieved and the triumphs achieved in the playing fields during these 9 years, Cristiano Ronaldo has been an example of dedication, work, responsibility, talent and improvement... For Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo will always be one of the great symbols and a unique reference for the next generations."Real Madrid will always be your home."
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, will now have the chance to win a European league title with a third club after completing a shock move to Turin.Madrid, meanwhile, have already denied making bids for Paris Saint-Germain duo Neymar and Kylian Mbappe as they prepare for the 2018-19 season under new coach Julen Lopetegui.
The former Spain coach takes over from Zinedine Zidane after the Frenchman surprisingly decided to resign after Madrid beat Liverpool in Kiev.
'Real Madrid has conquered my heart' - Ronaldo thanks fans in open letter
Cristiano Ronaldo thanked Real Madrid for an "absolutely wonderful" nine years at the club after revealing the time was right to start a new chapter of his illustrious career with Juventus.
The Spanish giants released a statement to confirm they had accepted Ronaldo's request to move to Italy in a deal worth €100m (£88m/$117m) plus €12m (£10.5/$14m) in additional charges.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner said his farewells to Madrid in a letter published on the La Liga club's website.
----------------------------------------
"These years at Real Madrid, and in this city of Madrid, have been possibly the happiest of my life," the 33-year-old said.
"I only have feelings of enormous gratitude for this club, for this sport and for this city. I can only thank all of them for the love and affection I have received. "However, I believe that the time has come to open a new stage in my life and that is why I have asked the club to accept transferring me. I feel that way and I ask everyone, and especially our followers, to please understand me.
"They have been absolutely wonderful for nine years. They have been nine unique years. It has been an exciting time for me, but also hard because Real Madrid is very demanding, but I know very well that I will never forget that I have enjoyed football here in a unique way."I have had fabulous team-mates on the field and in the dressing room, I have felt the warmth of an incredible crowd and together we have won three Champions Leagues in a row - and four in five years.
"Real Madrid has conquered my heart, and that of my family, and that is why more than ever I want to say thank you: thanks to the club, the president, the directors, my colleagues, all the technicians, doctors, physios and incredible workers that make everything work and that are pending every detail tirelessly.
"Thank you infinitely once more to our fans, and thanks also to Spanish football. During these nine exciting years I have had great players in front of me. My respect and my recognition to all of them."Ronaldo became the world's most expensive player when he joined from Manchester United in 2009, going on to become Madrid's all-time leading scorer.
Despite his impending departure, the Portugal international admitted he would never forget his time in Spain."I have reflected a lot and I know that the time has come for a new cycle," he continued.
"I'm leaving but this shirt, this badge and the Santiago Bernabeu will continue to always feel my own wherever I am.
"Thanks to all and, of course, as I said that first time in our stadium nine years ago: Hala Madrid!"
----------------------------------------
Cristiano Ronaldo thanked Real Madrid for an "absolutely wonderful" nine years at the club after revealing the time was right to start a new chapter of his illustrious career with Juventus.
The Spanish giants released a statement to confirm they had accepted Ronaldo's request to move to Italy in a deal worth €100m (£88m/$117m) plus €12m (£10.5/$14m) in additional charges.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner said his farewells to Madrid in a letter published on the La Liga club's website.
----------------------------------------
"These years at Real Madrid, and in this city of Madrid, have been possibly the happiest of my life," the 33-year-old said.
"I only have feelings of enormous gratitude for this club, for this sport and for this city. I can only thank all of them for the love and affection I have received. "However, I believe that the time has come to open a new stage in my life and that is why I have asked the club to accept transferring me. I feel that way and I ask everyone, and especially our followers, to please understand me.
"They have been absolutely wonderful for nine years. They have been nine unique years. It has been an exciting time for me, but also hard because Real Madrid is very demanding, but I know very well that I will never forget that I have enjoyed football here in a unique way."I have had fabulous team-mates on the field and in the dressing room, I have felt the warmth of an incredible crowd and together we have won three Champions Leagues in a row - and four in five years.
"Real Madrid has conquered my heart, and that of my family, and that is why more than ever I want to say thank you: thanks to the club, the president, the directors, my colleagues, all the technicians, doctors, physios and incredible workers that make everything work and that are pending every detail tirelessly.
"Thank you infinitely once more to our fans, and thanks also to Spanish football. During these nine exciting years I have had great players in front of me. My respect and my recognition to all of them."Ronaldo became the world's most expensive player when he joined from Manchester United in 2009, going on to become Madrid's all-time leading scorer.
Despite his impending departure, the Portugal international admitted he would never forget his time in Spain."I have reflected a lot and I know that the time has come for a new cycle," he continued.
"I'm leaving but this shirt, this badge and the Santiago Bernabeu will continue to always feel my own wherever I am.
"Thanks to all and, of course, as I said that first time in our stadium nine years ago: Hala Madrid!"
----------------------------------------
France Starting Line-up
Lloris
Pavard
Varane
Umtiti
L.Hernandez
Pogba
Kante
Matuidi
Mbappe
Giroud
Griezmann
&
Belgium Starting Line-up
Courtois
Alderweireld
Kompany
Vertonghen
Chadli
Fellaini
Dembele
Witsel
De Bruyne
Hazard
Lukaku
Hoda fight ekak yanawa
lukaku sadda nethiwa hitiye 2nd eke game ekata bahi wage 
France 1 Belgium 0: Umtiti heads Les Bleus into World Cup final
Samuel Umtiti was the unlikely hero as France reached the World Cup final for the third time in 20 years courtesy of a 1-0 win over Belgium in St Petersburg on Tuesday.
Defender Umtiti headed home a corner from Antoine Griezmann in the 51st minute to settle the all-European tie, booking Les Bleus a trip to Moscow and a clash against either Croatia or England.
Goalkeepers Hugo Lloris and Thibaut Courtois both made smart saves to make sure an intriguing game remained scoreless at the interval.However, Umtiti popped up with the game's telling moment early in the second half, nodding the ball home to score his third international goal.
Belgium pushed hard for an equaliser but Roberto Martinez watched on as his team suffered their first defeat in 25 outings, ending their hopes of winning the tournament for the first time in history as their so-called golden generation came up short.
Beaten finalists at Euro 2016 on home soil, France will aim to go one better in Russia and emulate the successful squad of 1998 which included Didier Deschamps, who could emulate Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer by winning the World Cup as both a player and manager.
With Thomas Meunier suspended, Belgium shifted to a back four as Martinez selected Nacer Chadli on the right.Still, the change in shape did not appear to bother the tournament's top-scorers in an absorbing first half, both teams threatening a breakthrough as they refused to be overawed by the occasion.
Eden Hazard twice went close, narrowly missing the target with a low, left-footed drive before seeing a curler with his right deflected over by the head of centre-back Raphael Varane.Lloris' full-length dive kept out a first-time strike from Tottenham colleague Toby Alderweireld, while Courtois reacted quickly to block Benjamin Pavard's attempt from a tight angle at the other end.
While the full-back at least hit the target, Olivier Giroud failed to test Courtois when presented with a clear sight of goal by Kylian Mbappe's volleyed cross, poking his attempt well wide under pressure.However, France needed just six minutes after the break to edge ahead.
After Vincent Kompany's block turned away Giroud's shot, Griezmann's inswinging delivery to the front post was turned in by Umtiti, who beat Marouane Fellaini to head beyond Courtois.
Martinez - who had seen his team rally from a two-goal deficit in their last-16 tie against Japan - reacted to the goal by sending on Dries Mertens in place of Mousa Dembele.The substitute offered a threat from Belgium's right wing too, with one teasing cross from the flank seeing Fellaini narrowly miss the target with a header as he looked to make amends for his part in the opener.
Axel Witsel did test Lloris from distance but France succeeded where Brazil had failed in the last round, standing firm to stifle their neighbours in a nervy finish and book a trip to Moscow.
Samuel Umtiti was the unlikely hero as France reached the World Cup final for the third time in 20 years courtesy of a 1-0 win over Belgium in St Petersburg on Tuesday.
Defender Umtiti headed home a corner from Antoine Griezmann in the 51st minute to settle the all-European tie, booking Les Bleus a trip to Moscow and a clash against either Croatia or England.
Goalkeepers Hugo Lloris and Thibaut Courtois both made smart saves to make sure an intriguing game remained scoreless at the interval.However, Umtiti popped up with the game's telling moment early in the second half, nodding the ball home to score his third international goal.
Belgium pushed hard for an equaliser but Roberto Martinez watched on as his team suffered their first defeat in 25 outings, ending their hopes of winning the tournament for the first time in history as their so-called golden generation came up short.
Beaten finalists at Euro 2016 on home soil, France will aim to go one better in Russia and emulate the successful squad of 1998 which included Didier Deschamps, who could emulate Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer by winning the World Cup as both a player and manager.
With Thomas Meunier suspended, Belgium shifted to a back four as Martinez selected Nacer Chadli on the right.Still, the change in shape did not appear to bother the tournament's top-scorers in an absorbing first half, both teams threatening a breakthrough as they refused to be overawed by the occasion.
Eden Hazard twice went close, narrowly missing the target with a low, left-footed drive before seeing a curler with his right deflected over by the head of centre-back Raphael Varane.Lloris' full-length dive kept out a first-time strike from Tottenham colleague Toby Alderweireld, while Courtois reacted quickly to block Benjamin Pavard's attempt from a tight angle at the other end.
While the full-back at least hit the target, Olivier Giroud failed to test Courtois when presented with a clear sight of goal by Kylian Mbappe's volleyed cross, poking his attempt well wide under pressure.However, France needed just six minutes after the break to edge ahead.
After Vincent Kompany's block turned away Giroud's shot, Griezmann's inswinging delivery to the front post was turned in by Umtiti, who beat Marouane Fellaini to head beyond Courtois.
Martinez - who had seen his team rally from a two-goal deficit in their last-16 tie against Japan - reacted to the goal by sending on Dries Mertens in place of Mousa Dembele.The substitute offered a threat from Belgium's right wing too, with one teasing cross from the flank seeing Fellaini narrowly miss the target with a header as he looked to make amends for his part in the opener.
Axel Witsel did test Lloris from distance but France succeeded where Brazil had failed in the last round, standing firm to stifle their neighbours in a nervy finish and book a trip to Moscow.
