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France, Belgium Advance To World Cup Semifinals

/ CBS New York

(CBS Sports) -- Friday was the first day of quarterfinal matches and the first two teams are through to the semifinals.

France Beats Uruguay, 2-0

France is the first 2018 World Cup semifinalist after seeing off Uruguay on Friday in the quarterfinals, 2-0. Facing one of two South American teams to make it to the quarterfinals, the Europeans managed to do something no other team at the World Cup had been able to do -- score multiple goals against the best defensive team around. Raphael Varane scored in the first half, then Antoine Griezmann scored in the second half on an all-time blunder, as Paul Pogba and company move on to face either Brazil or Belgium.
The winning goal came just 40 minutes in, as Griezmann played a free kick into the box that Varane put away with class. For a France team that hadn't looked that sharp this cup, even in a 4-3 win over Argentina, they put together arguably their best performance of the tournament, especially defensively, to move on. Meanwhile, this looks like the end of an era for Uruguay, in what could be the last World Cup for some of its stars. Luis Suarez is 31, as is Cavani, while Diego Godin and Muslera are 32. It's safe to say, at the next World Cup this team will likely look a whole lot different, with some heavy shoes to fill.

Belgium Knocks Out Brazil, 2-1

Belgium knocked off World Cup favorite Brazil 2-1 on Friday in the quarterfinals, moving on to the semifinals to face France. Kevin De Bruyne's winner sets up what is guaranteed to be an all-European semifinal on both sides of the bracket.

Belgium took a commanding 2-0 lead in the first half, looking sharp in the middle in the process, and Roberto Martinez's team was able to hold on late as Brazil looked likely to follow up its first goal in the match with an equalizer. An inspired, world-class Thibaut Courtois made numerous key saves, including one in the 94th minute to keep Neymar out.

The victory means Belgium will play in the semifinals for the second time in history and the first time since 1986.

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First published on July 6, 2018 / 3:45 PM EDT

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