MOSCOW: France retook the lead over Croatia in the World Cup final with a controversial VAR penalty from Antoine Griezmann.
Ivan Perisic, who had equalised just moments earlier for Croatia, was penalised for handball after a lengthy VAR review, and Griezmann slotted the spot-kick into the corner to put France 2-1 ahead.
MOSCOW: France and Croatia go into Sunday´s World Cup final in Moscow with the same starting line-ups as in their semi-final wins over Belgium and England respectively.
Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann support Olivier Giroud in attack in France´s 4-2-3-1 formation, while Ivan Perisic and Ivan Strinic, who had been pre-match injury doubts, have been passed fit for Croatia.
Perisic was the star of Croatia´s 2-1 extra-time victory over England at the same Luzhniki Stadium on Wednesday, scoring his country´s equaliser and then setting up the winner for Mario Mandzukic.
Saint Petersburg: Belgium achieved their best World Cup finish as goals from Thomas Meunier and Eden Hazard secured a 2-0 victory over England in Saturday´s third-place playoff in Saint Petersburg.
Meunier, who missed the semi-final loss to France due to suspension, scored after just four minutes before Hazard grabbed a late second as Belgium eclipsed the side that came fourth at the 1986 edition.
Belgium have now defeated England twice in a fortnight, having waited 82 years to beat them before winning 1-0 in their group stage encounter.
MOSCOW: England manager Gareth Southgate named an unchanged starting line-up for Wednesday´s World Cup semi-final against Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.
It is the same team, captained by six-goal top scorer Harry Kane, as that which started in the 2-0 win over Sweden in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Goals from centre-back Harry Maguire and Dele Alli in Samara took England through to the last four of the World Cup for the first time since 1990.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic makes one change to the team that beat hosts Russia on penalties in the quarter-finals, with Andrej Kramaric making way for Inter Milan midfielder Marcelo Brozovic.
Sochi, Russia: Croatia beat Russia 4-3 on penalties on Saturday to set up a World Cup semi-final against England after a dramatic match full of twists and turns.
The game finished 2-2 after extra-time following a late equaliser by Russia´s Mario Fernandes.
Denis Cheryshev struck a stunning opener from distance to give the hosts the lead in the 31st minute but Croatia equalised through Andrej Kramaric just eight minutes later.
Sochi, Russia: The World Cup quarter-final between hosts Russia and Croatia went to penalties on Saturday after the match finished 2-2 in extra-time following a dramatic late equaliser by Mario Fernandes
The winner will face England in the semi-finals in Moscow on Wednesday.
Sochi, Russia, July 7, 2018 (AFP) -The World Cup quarter-final between Russia and Croatia went to extra-time on Saturday after the sides were locked at 1-1 at the end of normal time.
Denis Cheryshev struck a stunning opener from distance to give Russia the lead in the 31st minute but Croatia equalised through Andrej Kramaric just eight minutes later.
The winners will play England in the semi-finals in Moscow on Wednesday.
Russia 1 Croatia 1 at half-time in World Cup quarter-final
Sochi, Russia: Host nation Russia and Croatia were locked at 1-1 at half-time in their World Cup quarter-final in Sochi on Friday as they compete for the right to play England in the semis.
Denis Cheryshev struck a stunning opener from distance to give Russia the lead in the 31st minute but Croatia equalised through Andrej Kramaric just eight minutes later.
SAMARA, Russia: Harry Maguire and Dele Alli scored as England comfortably defeated Sweden 2-0 in Samara on Saturday to reach the World Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1990.
Leicester defender Maguire headed in the opening goal from a corner on 30 minutes, with Alli adding a second just before the hour.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford then produced a series of crucial saves in the final half-hour to seal England´s long-awaited spot in the last four.
It was just a second England victory over Sweden in nine competitive meetings, and sets up a clash with either hosts Russia or Croatia on July 11 in Moscow for a place in the final.
SAMARA, Russia: England were 1-0 up against Sweden at half-time of their World Cup quarter-final in Samara on Saturday.
The game started in cagey fashion with both sides testing each out before Harry Maguire powered in a header from a corner in the 30th minute.
SAMARA, Russia: England coach Gareth Southgate named an unchanged side for Saturday´s World Cup quarter-final against Sweden following their penalty shootout victory over Colombia in the last round.
Captain Harry Kane is the tournament´s leading scorer with six goals, although Sweden have kept clean sheets in three of their four matches in Russia.
Sebastian Larsson is back from suspension to take his place in the Sweden midfield. Emil Krafth makes his first start of the competition with right-back Mikael Lustig suspended.
Belgium on Friday defeated World Cup favourites Brazil 2-1 to set up a semi-final against France in Saint Petersburg.
A Fernandinho own goal in the 16th minute followed by a superb Kevin De Bruyne strike just after the half-hour put Belgium in the driving seat. Brazil made efforts to take the game and pulled a goal back through Renato Augusto to minimize the lead, but it was too little, too late.
KAZAN ARENA, Russia: Versatile defender Marcelo returned to the starting line-up and midfielder Fernandinho was handed his first World Cup start in four years on Friday for Brazil´s quarter-final clash with Belgium.
Marcelo was sidelined from Brazil´s 2-0 last-16 win over Mexico in Samara after suffering back spasms in a 2-0 win over Serbia.
But the the 30-year-old Real Madrid player is fully fit, offering Brazil attacking options down the left flank for a game Belgium´s "Golden Generation" of players must win if they are to fulfil expectations of reaching the latter stages.
Coach Tite´s second change sees Fernandinho replace Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro, the Manchester City midfielder handed his first start in Russia.
Nizhny Novgorod, Russia: France became the first team to reach the World Cup semi-finals as goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann gave them a deserved 2-0 victory over Uruguay on Friday.
It is the first time France have been in the last four since 2006 and sets up a mouth-watering clash against either Belgium or Brazil, who play later on Friday, in St Petersburg on Tuesday.
France took the lead in the 40th minute from the unlikely source of defender Varane, who glanced home a fine header from an Antoine Griezmann free-kick.
It was only the Real Madrid player´s third goal for France and represented redemption for Varane, who was largely blamed for the goal which saw France lose at the quarter-final stage to Germany four years ago.
Griezmann, who counts several of the Uruguay players as close friends, scored a second in the 61st minute, but it was mostly due to a howler from La Celeste´s goalkeeper, Fernando Muslera.
The usually dependable stopper flapped at Griezmann´s 20-yard shot and agonisingly saw the ball float over the line.
It was Griezmann´s third goal of this World Cup, but his first not from a penalty.
That goal secured the victory but did not end the drama in Nizhny Novgorod, as Uruguay´s frustration boiled over in the 67th minute when Kylian Mbappe fell to the floor.
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia: Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani was ruled out of the World Cup quarter-final against France in Nizhny Novgorod on Friday because of injury.
Cristhian Stuani, a former Middlesbrough striker, was drafted in to replace Cavani after he failed to recover in time from the calf muscle injury he sustained in the 2-1 win over Portugal last Saturday, when the Paris Saint-Germain forward scored both goals.
Cavani was listed as "injured" in the official FIFA starting line-ups.
France also had to make a change, bringing in Corentin Tolisso because of Blaise Matuidi´s suspension. Matuidi picked up a second yellow card for the tournament in France´s thrilling 4-3 victory over Argentina.
Bayern Munich midfielder Tolisso is preferred to Lyon´s Nabil Fekir. It is only Tolisso´s 12th start for his country.
SAINT PETERSBURG: England midfielder Fabian Delph is on his way back to Russia to prepare for Saturday´s World Cup quarter-final against Sweden after flying back home to attend the birth of his third child.
Delph was supported by England manager Gareth Southgate in his decision to leave the camp before Tuesday´s tense last-16 victory over Colombia on penalties.
"I´ve just experienced the most amazing 24 hours," Delph posted on Instagram.
"Watching my brothers come through a tough game both mentally and physically, I kicked every ball and felt every bit of emotion with the players, staff and fans.
"At 07:52 Me my wife and 2 beautiful daughters welcomed their baby sister into the world."
Jordan Pickford became the first England goalkeeper since David Seaman, against Argentina in Saint-Etienne in 1998, to save a spot-kick in a shootout at a major tournament as the national team forced their way into the last eight.
Japan captain announces retirement
Japan captain Makoto Hasebe announced Tuesday he is retiring from the national team, a day after the Samurai Blue were knocked out of the World Cup by Belgium.
England beat Colombia 4-3 to reach quarter-finals
MOSCOW: England beat outstanding Colombia 4-3 on penalties in a thrilling last 16 World Cup match at Spartak Stadium in Moscow on Tuesday.
England's captain Harry Kane gave his team the lead from the penalty spot in the 57th-minute but the Three Lions were pegged back right at the death when Yerry Mina rose highest at a corner.
Eric Dier had the best chance of extra-time but he contrived plant a free-header well over.
England blinked first in the penalty shootout with Jordan Henderson seeing his effort saved by David Ospina but Colombia missed the next two.
This is a live blog for Fifa World Cup 2018 being updated round the clock for latest news and analysis. For detailed coverage check: Fifa World Cup 2018
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