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Saturday 7 July 2018
France reaches World Cup semifinals, beats Uruguay 2-00

By STEPHEN WADE and Luis Suarez neutralized,
NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Rus- it was France that scored
sia (AP) — A shot that flew the goals.
directly at the hands of Suarez, who scored two
the opposing goalkeeper goals in the group stage,
turned into a World Cup didn't get a single touch on
goal for Antoine Griez- the ball in France's penalty
mann. area for the entire match.
The France striker scored Cavani scored both goals
the second goal in his in the 2-0 win over Portugal
team's 2-0 quarterfinal in the round of 16, but he
victory over Uruguay on sat on the bench with an
Friday, sending a seem- injured left calf he picked
ingly easy-to-save shot at a up in that match.
waiting Fernando Muslera. Four minutes after Varane
But the ball hit the keeper gave France the lead,
on the palms, bounced off Uruguay nearly equalized.
and looped over his head France goalkeeper Hugo
and into the net. Lloris dived to his right and
The victory gave France a got a hand on a header
spot in the World Cup semi- from Martin Caceres, push-
finals. The 1998 champions ing it just wide of the goal.
will next face Belgium on France's Antoine Griezmann scores his side's second goal during the quarterfinal match between "Lloris had a great save,"
Tuesday in St. Petersburg. Uruguay and France at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, in Nizhny France coach Didier Des-
Griezmann didn't celebrate Novgorod, Russia, Friday, July 6, 2018. champs said. "Apart from
what was his third goal of Associated Press that, they didn't have many
the tournament. great opportunities."
"I was playing against a lot which was similar to the one that I will discuss with the and I love Uruguayans, so MBAPPE'S CHANCES
of friends," said Griezmann, scored by Real Madrid for- players in the locker room." I have a lot of respect for Although he didn't score,
who is teammates with Uru- ward Gareth Bale against Griezmann is a Frenchman them," Griezmann said. 19-year-old France for-
guay defenders Diego Go- Liverpool goalkeeper Loris who plays professionally in France went on to reach ward Kylian Mbappe again
din and Jose Gimenez at Karius in the Champions Spain, but he has a special the World Cup final the last looked dangerous on the
Atletico Madrid, "so I think League final, in the 61st fondness for Uruguay. He two times it advanced to attack, trying to slice in
it was normal not to cel- minute. likes the traditional South the semifinals. They won from the right wing or di-
ebrate." "We all saw that it was not American drink mate, he their only World Cup in 1998 recting quick passes into
Raphael Varane gave a very common goal, but speaks Spanish like some- on home soil, and in 2006 Uruguay's defense.
France the lead with a Muslera has been a very one from the South Ameri- lost to Italy on penalties. Mbappe, who has mod-
header in the 40th minute. important pillar for all this can country and he's The match at Nizhny eled his game after Cris-
Griezmann sent in a free process and through all our been pictured wearing the Novgorod Stadium pitted tiano Ronaldo and is be-
kick from the right side and work on our way up to here, team's jersey. France's speed against Uru- ing compared to Zinedine
Varane raced across the so I'm not going to wash my Godin, who was playing guay's stubborn defense Zidane, also picked up a
area. He got his head to hands putting any responsi- for Uruguay on Friday, is and its occasional attack- second-half yellow card for
the ball and sent it into the bility on my players," Uru- also the godfather of Griez- ing threats. But with Uru- falling to the ground as if in
far corner behind Muslera. guay coach Oscar Tabarez mann's daughter. guay striker Edinson Cavani agony after a touch from
Griezmann scored his goal, said. "This is the kind of thing "I love Uruguayan culture injured and on the bench an opponent.q

WORLD CUP KICKOFF: England's 'easy' path runs through Sweden

MOSCOW (AP) — What "bloody difficult." But deemed success enough
to watch for in Saturday's when Sweden coach by some. Then goalkeeper
matchups in the World Janne Andersson was and captain Igor Akinfeev
Cup quarterfinals: asked about it, he curtly stuck out his left foot and
WHO'S WEAK? suggested any doubters stopped Spain's final kick of
England coach Gareth ask Sweden's beaten a penalty shootout in the
Southgate basically picked opponents how tough round of 16, and suddenly
his team's path toward the Swedes are to play. If Russia had pulled off one of
the semifinals by sending England wins Saturday's the bigger upsets in World
out a squad of reserves first quarterfinal in Samara, Cup history. Croatia has
that lost to Belgium in their expect Southgate to one of the most balanced
last match of the group be further hailed for his teams in the tournament
round, when both sides foresight. If Sweden wins, , but the Russians believe
had already qualified for Southgate's strategy may their quarterfinal in Sochi is
the knockout stage. His get a rougher review. winnable. If that happens,
reasoning: No one wants RUSSIA'S RUN Russia would be playing a
to play teams like Brazil The hosts came into the semifinal — maybe even
In this Wednesday, June 27, 2018 file photo Sweden's Andreas or France until they have tournament ranked 70th the final — in Moscow's
Granqvist, rear, and Mexico's Javier Hernandez, front, to. His insinuation: Teams in the world. Even after main stadium, and a
challenge for the ball during the group F match between like Sweden are weaker. drawing a favorable country where soccer
Mexico and Sweden, at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the
Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Southgate may not have group, expectations were usually takes a distant
Associated Press meant it as a slight and minimal. Advancing to back seat to hockey could
has since called Sweden the knockout stage was go bonkers. q