
Antoine Griezmann likes to sip yerba mate from a gourd and hang out grilling meat with his Uruguayan chums, but his loyalties were not open to question as he claimed a goal and an assist to ease France closer to their World Cup dream.

Griezmann's quandary had dominated pre-match narratives since he admits to such deep affection for Uruguay and its culture, reinforced by his close friendship with Atletico Madrid team-mates Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez.

Godin is godfather to his daughter and he embraced his opponents with such emotion in the tunnel before kick-off that French eyebrows might have been raised had he not provided such an emphatic contribution to the win.

Raphael Varane scored to give France the lead late in the first-half in their World Cup quarter-final clash with Uruguay

The central defender jumps for joy after scoring the 41st-minute goal that handed France the lead in Nizhny Novgorod

Varane stole a march on the Uruguay defenders to dispatch Antoine Griezmann's right-sided cross into the back of the net

The perfectly-placed header was the third goal Varane has scored for the France national team and came at a perfect time

Varane celebrates with team-mates Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe after opening the scoring for France in the quarter-final

Olivier Giroud celebrates with Varane while Griezmann grabs a drink after France take the lead in Nizhny Novgorod

The Uruguay defenders react with dismay after France take the lead five minutes before the end of the first-half

MATCH FACTS AND PLAYER RATINGS Uruguay (4-3-1-2): Muslera 5; Caceres 6.5, Gimenez 6.5, Godin 6, Laxalt 6; Nandez 5 (Urretaviscaya 73, 5), Torreira 6, Vecino 6; Bentancur 6 (Rodriguez 59, 5); Suarez 6, Stuani 6 (Gomez 59, 5) Subs not used: Campana, M. Silva; Varela, Sanchez, De Arrascaeta, G. Silva, Pereira, Coates Booked: Bentancur, Rodriguez Manager: Oscar Tabarez 6 France (4-2-3-1): Lloris 7; Pavard 6.5, Varane 7, Umtiti 6.5, Hernandez 6; Kante 7, Pogba 6.5; Mbappe 6 (Dembele 88), Griezmann 7.5 (Fekir 90), Tolisso 7 (Nzonzi 80); Giroud 6. Subs not used: Mandanda, Areola; Kimpembe, Lemar, Rami, Sidibe, Thauvin, Mendy Goals: Varane 40; Griezmann 61 Booked: Hernandez, Mbappe Manager: Didier Deschamps 7 Referee: Nestor Pitana (Argentina) 6 Attendance: 43,319 Advertisement

Griezmann created the opener for Raphael Varane five minutes before half-time and settled this quarter-final by firing in the second from distance with the help of a goalkeeping howler by Fernando Muslera.

As France move to St Petersburg, Uruguay head for home with veteran manager Oscar Tabarez talking riddles about his own future, but surely planning to enjoy a deserved rest from the rigours of the touchline.

'I have a contract, but I am not going to speak about it,' said the 71-year-old. 'It is not for me to decide, I'd be acting against my principles. We always dream and we dream on. This defines our country, things never end. We must look to the future.

'When I speak about dreams it doesn't mean I expect to be there.

'It has been a huge honour to be national team coach.'

Uruguay won their first four games in Russia, but were not the same attacking force without Edinson Cavani and rarely threatened France from open play.

Cavani injured a calf muscle having scored twice against Portugal on Sunday, and after days of cloak and dagger around his fitness, was not even on the bench. Without him, Uruguay's self-belief was damaged and with it their famous fighting spirit.

Luis Suarez bustled around, barging into people and trying to disturb the rhythms of the game but this task was beyond them and they knew it.

Gimenez was sobbing on the pitch even before the fourth official had held up the board to declare five minutes of stoppage time.

Cristhian Stuani, who replaced Cavani, made a bright opening, but France took control. There was none of the flamboyance they displayed against Argentina, but France proved able to grind out an ugly win when needed.

France playmaker Griezmann lines up the swerving shot from distance that Fernando Muslera spilled into his net

Uruguay goalkeeper Muslera looks on in horror after he fumbles Griezmann's viciously swerving shot into his own net

The long range strike by Griezmann proved too hot for Muslera to handle as he pushed the ball into the back of his own goal

By the time Muslera had turned around to attempt to recover the calamity, it was too late with the ball over the goalline

France celebrates Griezmann's second goal on 61 minutes, which put them firmly in control of the quarter-final showdown

It was an horrendous moment for Muslera, who reacts with dismay after conceding a soft second goal in the quarter-final

Games are rarely fluent involving Uruguay, specialists in wind-up artistry, making it tense and fractious with plenty of niggle.

Kylian Mbappe was unsettled and sparked a mass confrontation when he over-reacted to a crafty nudge from Cristian Rodriguez.

It was 2-0 at the time and Nahitan Nandez had already shoved an elbow into Corentin Tolisso's ear and Lucas Torreira dropped studs over the ball on Benjamin Pavard.

Mbappe hit the Neymar button, rolling around to exaggerate his pain, and a skirmish exploded with Suarez in the thick of it.

Argentinian ref Nestor Pitana, not a popular appointment with Uruguay, eventually settled the dispute with yellow cards for Mbappe and Rodriguez.

The contest was won and Didier Deschamps was concerned about needless suspensions.

'Things got a bit hot,' said Deschamps, who pulled Paul Pogba aside to keep him out of trouble. 'I didn't want him to lose his temper and get a booking. You can't fall for the provocation.'

France had done the hard work when they stood firm in the midfield battle in the early stages and made a vital breakthrough.

Rodrigo Bentancur felled Tolisso with a clumsy challenge from behind and Griezmann clipped the free-kick into the penalty area with his left foot. Varane timed his run perfectly, dashing away from Matias Vecino and across the front of Stuani to rise and glance a header inside the post. Muslera had little chance with this one.

Uruguay responded with a positive flurry of intent, forcing Hugo Lloris into a splendid save.

Hugo Lloris made a superb one-handed save to deny Martin Caceres and preserve France's one-goal lead going into half-time

Diego Godin fires the follow-up over the bar after Lloris had denied Caceres with the initial effort on Friday afternoon

The France goalkeeper dives out to punch the ball clear as Uruguay striker Cristhian Stuani reaches for it inside the box

Les Bleus captain Lloris stretched out to clear the ball away from danger as Uruguay threatened an opening goal

Uruguay goalkeeper Muslera comes out to ensure the ball clears his crossbar as his defenders watch on in Nizhny Novgorod

Tempers flare during the second-half after France's Kylian Mbappe goes down and Uruguay's players protest to the referee

A number of players from both sides became involved in the pushing and shoving as Mbappe lay on the floor holding his face

Again it was from a set-piece, expertly delivered by Torreira and won convincingly in the air by Martin Caceres. Lloris stretched out across his line and blocked the header with a firm right hand.

Godin blazed the rebound over and there would not be a clearer chance. Tabarez made changes but Uruguay were two adrift before they could make an impact.

Griezmann was about 25 yards out as he took a short pass from Tolisso and was given all the time and space he required to take aim.

Uruguay and France players scramble to get on the end of a high ball during the first-half of their contest in Nizhny Novgorod

Uruguay defender Jose Gimenez heads the ball towards goal alongside fellow defender Diego Godin in the opening half

Matias Vecino of Uruguay attempts to intercept a byline cross by the French right-back Benjamin Pavard on Friday

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez falls to the turf clutching his right calf after a challenge from a France player during the first-half

France striker Olivier Giroud sends Uruguay's Lucas Torreira flying as they contest the ball during the opening minutes

His strike was sweet and straight and there may have been a wobble in flight but Muslera really should have saved easily.

Instead the goalkeeper pushed his palms at the ball and helped it into the net. Griezmann took little delight in the goal, perhaps embarrassed to see it slither in as well as sorry for his friends.

'When I started, someone from Uruguay taught me the good and bad of football,' said the France striker. 'They are a tough team, they remind me of my club side, Atletico, because everyone works hard in attack and defence.

'It's a pleasure to watch. I love Uruguayan culture. I have respect for Uruguay and it was normal not to celebrate my goals.'

Rodrigo Bentancur manages to spin away from France's Griezmann in pursuit of the ball in midfield in Nizhny Novgorod

Midfielder Paul Pogba challenges Stuani close to the touchline as France try and win the midfield battle against Uruguay

Referee Nestor Pitana from Argentina gestures a word of warning in the direction of France midfielder N'Golo Kante

Uruguay fans fly the flag ahead of kick-off as their side attempted to make it through to the World Cup semi-finals in Russia

French fans make their voices heard in Nizhny Novgorod as the first of the four World Cup quarter-finals gets underway