France beat Belgium to reach 2018 World Cup final

France defender Samuel Umtiti wheels away in celebration after scoring the opening goal of his side's

France is heading to the World Cup final for the first time since 2006, as it tries to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its 1998 win with another one.

Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba lead an immensely talented French team, and it will face off against the winner of England and Croatia.

Mbappe has been incredible so far equaling Pele's World Cup record

France hasn't given up a goal in its last two matches, and has goal-scoring ability to boot. It's an incredibly well-rounded team, and anyone going against it will have its hands full.

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez: "It was a very tight game. There weren’t many big moments to decide the game. I felt we started in the second half with better tempo and were looking stronger, but that’s when we conceded from a corner.

"The difference between defeat and winning was down to one dead ball situation. That’s how close the game was. France wanted to exploit their pace on the counter attack with Mbappe and Griezmann – we coped with that well. We have to give a lot of credit to how France defended – some of their attacking players were defending deep. They gave us a lot of respect that way. Hugo Lloris had a save that could have gone into Dries Mertens’ path. That was the difference - a bit of luck

"I’m proud of my players. We gave everything we have got. You have to congratulate France and wish them well for the final."

France coach Didier Deschamps: "Finals have to be won because we have still not got over the one we lost two years ago."

France lost the final of Euro 2016 at home to Portugal. The side which started that final was:

Lloris; Sagna, Koscielny, Umtiti, Evra; Sissoko, Pogba, Matuidi, Payet; Griezmann, Giroud.

So just six survivors in tonight's XI.