Samuel Umtiti of France celebrates with teammates after scoring

France and Belgium face off in the first semi-final of the 2018 World Cup in what promises to be one of the games of the tournament.

Coaches Didier Deschamps and Roberto Martinez have their detractors but have delivered here and are now 90 - or 120 - minutes away from a shot at immortality. It should be a thriller.

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What time does it start?

The game kicks off at 7pm in St Petersburg

Where can I watch it?

The match is being shown live on BBC1. You can also watch it via the BBC Sport website.

How they got here?

France have warmed to this tournament rather than exploded into it with their group stage progression characterised by what have been rather than what did actually come to be. Australia were seen off but only via a late own goal before Peru fell to Mbappe's first goal in Russia. The less said about the Denmark snoozefest the better before Les Bleus showed what is possible with a supreme performance to see off Argentina in the last-16 with that man Mbappe coming of age on a balmy summer afternoon in Kazan. Next the quarter-final and another solid if unspectacular display as Uruguay were sent packing thanks to goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann (and a monumental howler from Fernando Muslera).

Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Show all 25 1 /25 Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Players vie for a header during the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final football match between Uruguay and France at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod on July 6, 2018. (Photo by Johannes EISELE / AFP) (Photo credit should read JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Uruguay back row from L: Uruguay's defender Jose Gimenez, Uruguay's midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, Uruguay's midfielder Matias Vecino, Uruguay's goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, Uruguay's forward Cristhian Stuani, Uruguay's defender Diego Godin, front row from L: Uruguay's defender Diego Laxalt, Uruguay's defender Martin Caceres, Uruguay's midfielder Lucas Torreira, Uruguay's midfielder Nahitan Nandez and Uruguay's forward Luis Suarez pose for a team picture prior to the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final football match between Uruguay and France at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium in Nizhny Novgorod on July 6, 2018. (Photo by Martin BERNETTI / AFP) (Photo credit should read MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Fernando Muslera - 4 out of 10 Had shown signs of nerves before his awful blunder that sealed his side's elimination. Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Martin Caceres - 6 Failed to show his usual willingness to get forward, but proved dangerous at set-pieces. Almost headed an immediate equaliser following Varane's opener. Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Jose Gimenez - 7 Began the game by raking his studs down Giroud's achilles and ended it in tears. Was decent in between. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Diego Godin - 6 As imperious as ever in defence but blew a big chance to equalise at the other end. Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Diego Laxalt - 6 Kept busy by the presence of Mbappe and Pavard on his flank, but battled well throughout. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Lucas Torreira - 6 The Arsenal-bound midfielder caused early trouble for the French with some testing dead ball deliveries into the box. Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Nahitan Nandez - 7 A tenacious presence on the right, he was Uruguay's most dangerous outlet until France took charge. AFP/Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Matias Vecino - 6 Often drifted off the left flank to battle with Pogba, and showed himself to be a danger when Uruguay broke forward. AFP/Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Rodrigo Bentancur - 6 Showed moments of great skill behind the forwards, but also ill-discipline. Picked up his second booking of the tournament for a needless foul that would have ruled him out of a semi-final. Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Cristhian Stuani - 5 In for the injured Cavani but failed to provide the same attacking impetus. Let down by his link up play. FIFA via Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Luis Suarez - 6 Never stopped chasing lost causes, but made no impact up front and failed to register an attempt on goal. Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings France NIZHNY NOVGOROD, RUSSIA - JULY 6, 2018: France's Antoine Griezmann, Benjamin Pavard, Corentin Tolisso, N'Golo Kante, Kylian Mbappe (l-R front), Paul Pogba, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Hernandez, Olivier Giroud, Raphael Varane and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris (L-R background) pose for a group photograph ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Quarterfinal football match against Uruguay at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. Mikhail Japaridze/TASS (Photo by Mikhail Japaridze\TASS via Getty Images) Mikhail Japaridze/TASS Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Hugo Lloris - 8 The captain earned his clean sheet and produced an incredible one-handed save to deny Caceres just before half-time. Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Benjamin Pavard - 7 Impressed again with his desire to get forward, even after taking a battering from Suarez while performing defensive duties. FIFA via Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Raphael Varane - 8 Recovered after a shaky start to dominate, and even opened the scoring with a fine headed goal. AFP/Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Samuel Umtiti - 7 Another who felt the presence of Suarez but gave as good as he got in a physical battle. AFP/Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Lucas Hernandez - 6 Given a tough time by the direct nature of Nandez on the wing, he grew in confidence in the second half. FIFA via Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Paul Pogba - 6 Often looked uncomfortable as Uruguay allowed France little room to operate. FIFA via Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Ngolo Kante - 7 As reliable and effective as ever in midfield, making a number of important interceptions. Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Kylian Mbappe - 6 After all the hype, he fluffed an early effort when unmarked that threw him off stride. Nevertheless, there were still moments of pace and skill to admire. Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Antoine Griezmann - 7 An understated performance yet still ended the game with a goal and an assist. Produced a number of good deliveries for teammates. Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Corentin Tolisso - 6 In the side for the suspended Matuidi, it took time to make an impression. Fancied his chances from distance. Getty Images Uruguay vs France: Player ratings Olivier Giroud - 6 Despite an early knock, he kept Godin and Gimenez busy enough so others could create. AFP/Getty Images

Belgium themselves have flattered to deceive at times with Panama and Tunisia negotiated without too much trouble before England were also seen off, albeit with a second team in Nizhny Novgorod. Japan threatened to end the dream in the last-16 before Nacer Chadli's last-gasp, extra-time winner saved them. The quarter-finals saw Brazil ousted in a performance to put the whole world on notice as the five-time winners were sent home thanks to vintage displays by De Bruyne and Hazard.

Head-to-head

These two have met some 73 times down the years, the first of which coming way back in 1904 (a 3-3 draw for those wondering). They haven't met competitively since the 1986 World Cup - a 4-2 win for Michel Platini's side - while the last time they faced each other was back in 2014 when the Belgian's triumphed 4-3 with Hazard scoring what proved to be the winner.

De Bruyne starred as Belgium saw off Brazil last time out (AFP/Getty Images)

Odds

France 29/20

Belgium 11/5

Prediction