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France fans celebrate outside the stadium in St. Petersburg. Reuters
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Belgium and France line up prior to the match. Getty Images
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France's Samuel Umtiti heads the ball to score the opening goal. AP Photo
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France's Samuel Umtiti header flies towards Belgium's Thibaut Courtois' goal to make it 1-0 to France. Reuters
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Belgium's Thibaut Courtois can only watch as the ball hits the back of the net. AP Photo
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France's Samuel Umtiti celebrates scoring the opening goal. Reuters
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France's Samuel Umtiti celebrates with teammate Olivier Giroud after scoring his team's first goal. Getty Images
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President of France Emmanuel Macron celebrates as King Philippe of Belgium looks on. Reuters
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Belgium's Thibaut Courtois in action with France's Olivier Giroud. EPA
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France's Hugo Lloris makes a save. Reuters
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France's Kylian Mbappe in action. Getty Images
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France's Antoine Griezmann and Hugo Lloris celebrate after winning the game 1-0. EPA
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Belgium assistant coach, and former France striker, Thierry Henry congratulates France's Kylian Mbappe on his side's triumph. AP Photo
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Dejected Belgium players after the final whistle. AP Photo
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Belgium's Toby Alderweireld looks on while France celebrate their win. Getty Images
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France fans celebrate outside the stadium in St. Petersburg. Reuters
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Belgium and France line up prior to the match. Getty Images
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France's Samuel Umtiti heads the ball to score the opening goal. AP Photo
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France's Samuel Umtiti header flies towards Belgium's Thibaut Courtois' goal to make it 1-0 to France. Reuters
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Belgium's Thibaut Courtois can only watch as the ball hits the back of the net. AP Photo
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France's Samuel Umtiti celebrates scoring the opening goal. Reuters
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France's Samuel Umtiti celebrates with teammate Olivier Giroud after scoring his team's first goal. Getty Images
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President of France Emmanuel Macron celebrates as King Philippe of Belgium looks on. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KCNCHVBBX2IE26NWFJTEPPZLWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=a9efcce0e5d7e2b59ec00a0dd8c673fb6ba89d8d78b0fa38249f617767ea6ad0&width=400&height=225)
Belgium's Thibaut Courtois in action with France's Olivier Giroud. EPA
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France's Hugo Lloris makes a save. Reuters
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France's Kylian Mbappe in action. Getty Images
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France's Antoine Griezmann and Hugo Lloris celebrate after winning the game 1-0. EPA
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Belgium assistant coach, and former France striker, Thierry Henry congratulates France's Kylian Mbappe on his side's triumph. AP Photo
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Dejected Belgium players after the final whistle. AP Photo
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Belgium's Toby Alderweireld looks on while France celebrate their win. Getty Images
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France fans celebrate outside the stadium in St. Petersburg. Reuters
Imperious France have all the tools to deliver a second World Cup trophy
The Umtiti-Varane axis in defence, the discipline of Pogba in midfield, the searing pace and skill of Mbappe and a knack of scoring set-piece goals make Deschamps' side heavy favourites in Sunday's final, regardless of whether it's Croatia or England they face
![Ian Hawkey](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F96f52b9a-4555-4c17-8cff-6fc2526824d5.png?smart=true&auth=687abaf05f4cc86a26f3998a06318c496c949aa829c6b4f450a8511e4a3a5557&width=70&height=70)
Ian Hawkey
11 July, 2018
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