Varane’s header sends France into World Cup Semifinals
By Real Madrid central defender Raphael Varane nodded a majestic header and a goalkeeping error by Fernando Muslera ended Uruguay’s World Cup campaign and sent France into the semi-finals of the World Cup. They will face the winner of Belgium versus Brazil.
France have returned to a World Cup semifinal for the first time since 2006 after an efficient and intelligent display saw them beat a Uruguay team that struggled without the injured Edison Cavani.
After a slow and scrappy start in which Kylian Mbappe missed a glorious chance, sending his free header well over the bar, France broke the deadlock.
Antoine Griezmann whipped in a free kick and Raphael Varane timed his diagonal run perfectly to send his header in at the back post. Before halftime, Hugo Lloris made a superb reflex save to deny Martin Caceres with Diego Godin somehow blazing the rebound over.
With Uruguay pressing for an equalizer, Fernando Muslera made a game-changing error that all but ended the contest. Griezmann’s hopeful shot from outside the area swerved a bit but should have been saved. Instead, Muslera flapped and the ball spun into the net.
The goal saw tensions rise as Mbappe saw yellow for some theatrics, but Uruguay’s frustration quickly faded into disappointment as their World Cup dream slipped away.
Anthony Nlebem, reporting from Moscow/Russia