The men in red exceeded the wildest expectations by coming within a penalty kick and a save against Croatia of making it into the semi-finals for the first time since 1966.

They lost the quarter-final shootout 4-3 after extra-time ended with the sides deadlocked at 2-2 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

It was that close — and it all ended just as the nation was starting to believe.

“We leave the tournament with tears in our eyes but our heads held high,” the team tweeted as the stadium emptied of the 45,000 or so who had lost their voices cheering them on.

They had reason to be proud.

Russia were the lowest-ranked team entering the tournament and many in the sceptical media thought they would be lucky to win a game.

They trudged off the pitch after making it to the quarter-final for the first time in 48 years.

A semi-final was within grasp and the loss stung.

But the Russian team showed heart and won what seemed like the entire nation’s gratitude.

“The champions of our hearts,” the popular Sport Express daily said in a headline.

Then it paid them the highest compliment possible by declaring: “Russia knows how to play football.”

Russia’s players react to their loss during the Russia 2018 World Cup quarter-final football match

– Empty feeling –

Fans who had been dancing in the streets after a heart-pounding shootout win over 2010 champions Spain in the last 16 last Sunday were gloomy but grateful.

The nation was mourning on Saturday — but also paying its respects.

Chants of “Mo-lod-tsy” — an almost untranslatable word of praise and thanks that roughly means “Good job, guys” — echoed across the dark streets of Moscow and other cities.

“What can I say? It’s a pity we are out of this tournament but I am very proud of my team,” said Muscovite Alexander Khramoichenkov.

“I’m very proud of Russia,” the 34-year-old said.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called the team’s performance “magnificent” after the watching the game from a VIP box with Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.

He came down into the players’ locker room and suggested that Russian football would never be its disappointing old self again.

“We will simply have a different type of football after this,” he said. “I am absolutely certain of this.”

But coach Stanislav Cherchesov — his moustache becoming the unofficial symbol of Russia’s Cinderella waltz through the tournament — seemed visibly distraught.

“I am still not myself yet,” he admitted after listening to a press conference question and then being unable to say a word.

Midfielder Roman Zobnin sounded very similar moments after he walked off the pitch.

“I have no emotions left. I left them all out there,” he said with difficulty.

“I feel empty inside.”

Ivan Rakitic scored the winning spot-kick in Sochi at the end of a draining and rollercoaster last-eight clash that finished 2-2 after extra time.

Brazilian-born Mario Fernandes kept Russia’s dream alive when he headed home in the 115th minute to level the scores and force penalties, but he and Fedor Smolov both failed to convert their spot-kicks and Croatia won the shootout 4-3.

Denis Cheryshev had put Russia in front in the first half but Andrej Kramaric and Domagoj Vida scored for Croatia before the late leveller from Fernandes.

Croatia advance to their first World Cup semi-final since 1998, against England in Moscow on Wednesday.

But it remains to be seen how quickly the team — with President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic watching from the stands — can recover from their efforts, having also been taken to extra-time and penalties by Denmark in the last round.

“At certain moments we lacked power but that’s twice in six days that we have played 120 minutes,” said skipper Modric.

“Of course this will leave a mark on you. You have to pay a price for such exertions.”

Croatia will now look to go one step further than the great side of 20 years ago, who lost to France in the last four.

“It makes us extremely proud and happy to have reached the semi-finals again,” Modric added.

“We took a difficult route. We were unlucky at previous tournaments but now we are collecting those debts this year, and hopefully we will go a step further than in 1998.”

While Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic shed tears of joy at the end, for Russia there was heartbreak. But they can be proud of their efforts, with a run to the last eight exceeding expectations for a side written off as no-hopers before the tournament.

“We just wanted to prove ourselves,” said coach Stanislav Cherchesov. “The entire country is in love with us, they know what the Russian national team is worth.”

The Russians, riding a wave of euphoria after unexpectedly knocking out Spain in the previous round, came to the Black Sea beach resort determined to carry on to a first World Cup semi-final since the break-up of the Soviet Union.

But Croatia were the favourites. They dominated the match, even if Russia contributed to another fantastic occasion in what has been an outstanding World Cup.

– Cheryshev strike –

The hosts went ahead thanks to a bolt from the blue just after the half-hour mark.

Cheryshev, back in the starting line-up, cut in from the left, exchanged passes with Artem Dzyuba and skipped away from a Modric challenge before firing home a superb shot from 25 yards.

Croatia were stunned. But the Russian lead lasted only eight minutes before they drew level, Mario Mandzukic cutting the ball back for Kramaric to head home.

Ivan Perisic hit the post for Croatia in a second half they controlled but they had to wait until the 101st minute to go in front, defender Vida heading in a corner before removing his shirt as he ran away in celebration.

However, Russia dug deep to make it 2-2, substitute Alan Dzagoev curling in a free-kick for Fernandes to head home in the 115th minute.

“For Croatia being in the semis is a great success,” said Dalic. “Of course there is some power left for the English. We do not want to stop.”

England captain Harry Kane said his team were “buzzing” and full of confidence as they reached their first World Cup semi-final since 1990 after seeing off Sweden 2-0 on Saturday.

Goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli and a string of fine second-half saves from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford were enough for England to progress to the last four.

“We’re buzzing. It’s probably not sunk in,” Kane said. “We know there is still a big game ahead but we are feeling good, confident.

“We were composed, we controlled the game. We’ve just got to keep doing what we are doing.

“We’re enjoying it, the fans are enjoying it, I’m sure we’ll see some videos later of the fans enjoying it.”

Maguire’s thumping header gave the Leicester centre-back his first international goal, just two years after watching Euro 2016 in France with his friends in the stands.

“It (the first goal) can’t come better than that. The win sends us through and that’s the main thing,” Maguire said.

“We felt like we could dominate the ball in this game. It was a little bit sloppy at the end of the second half, we felt it was a bit too open.”

Tottenham midfielder Alli nodded in only England’s third goal from open play of this World Cup so far just before the hour mark, having struggled with injury earlier in the tournament.

“It’s a great achievement for the team… Owed it to the fans back home who believed in us,” he told the BBC.

“Always nice to score, especially on occasions like this. I don’t think this was my best performance on the pitch. But it’s an amazing feeling to be going to a semi-final at a World Cup.”

Leicester defender Maguire headed in the opening goal from a corner on 30 minutes, with Alli adding a second just before the hour.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford then produced a series of crucial saves in the final half-hour to seal England’s long-awaited spot in the last four.

It was just a second England victory over Sweden in nine competitive meetings, and sets up a clash with either hosts Russia or Croatia on July 11 in Moscow for a place in the final.

Southgate stuck with the same team that overcame Colombia on penalties in the last 16, while Sebastian Larsson returned for Sweden after missing the 1-0 win over Switzerland through suspension.

Viktor Claesson drilled over for Sweden early on with an ambitious attempt from distance, while Harry Kane, the tournament’s leading scorer with six goals, dragged wide after a penetrating run by Raheem Sterling.

Sweden manager Janne Andersson had warned his side England were a match for them at set-pieces, and so it proved when Maguire connected with Ashley Young’s corner after a low-key first half hour.

Maguire outjumped the much smaller Emil Forsberg to nod low into the corner, as England scored for the eighth time in Russia from a dead-ball situation.

The lively Sterling should have doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time when he brilliantly controlled Jordan Henderson’s lofted pass, but he was unable to find a way past Robin Olsen and his follow-up was blocked by Andreas Granqvist.

Pickford had relatively little to do in a quiet first half, but the England goalkeeper produced a vital stop to claw away a Marcus Berg header minutes after the restart.

England promptly cranked up the pressure and pulled further ahead on 59 minutes when a completely unmarked Alli sent a thumping header past Olsen after a first-time cross by Jesse Lingard.

Maguire then lashed over after a scene of panic in the Sweden area as England chased a third goal, although they were twice indebted to Pickford for preserving their two-goal lead.

The Everton shot-stopper thrust out a hand to superbly keep out Claesson’s low strike from 10 yards following a neat lay-off by Berg.

Pickford then showed terrific reflexes to tip over an effort from Berg, who shot on the turn after being picked out in the area by substitute John Guidetti.

Southgate withdrew Henderson for Eric Dier in the closing stages and will have a full squad to choose from in the semi-final, injuries permitting.

World number one and French Open champion Simona Halep was knocked out of Wimbledon on Saturday, losing to Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the third round as the All England Club seeds’ carnage claimed another victim.

Defeat for Halep means that Karolina Pliskova, at number seven, is the only women’s top 10 seed to reach the fourth round.

It also further boosted Serena Williams’s chances of becoming an eight-time Wimbledon champion.

Hsieh, the world number 48, battled back from 2-5 down in the final set and saved a match point when the Romanian served for the match at 5-3 in the decider.

It will be Hsieh’s first appearance in the last 16 of a Slam where she will face Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia for a place in the quarter-finals.

“It’s my first win against a world number one,” said 26-year-old Hsieh.

“It’s amazing. I was 2-5 down in the final set but the crowd pushed me to fight.”

Romania’s Simona Halep reacts as she plays Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-Wei in their women’s singles third round match.

Two-time champion Rafael Nadal reached the last 16 for the eighth time and made sure of keeping the world number one ranking.

The second seed comfortably defeated Australian teenager Alex De Minaur 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

Nadal, the 11-time French Open champion and bidding for an 18th career major, will face either Italy’s Fabio Fognini or Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic for a place in the quarter-finals.

“It was a positive match against a player with a lot of energy,” said Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion.

“I am just happy to be in the fourth round again.”

Nadal, with Spain out of the World Cup, was heading to watch England play Sweden.

He had obviously captured the national mood.

“I’ll go and watch some football — England, it’s coming home or not?” he said in reference to a football song which is currently being sung, hummed and whistled on almost every street and in every pub.

Juan Martin del Potro made the last 16 for the first time in five years when the Argentine fifth seed defeated France’s Benoît Paire 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.

Later Saturday, three-time champion Novak Djokovic plays his first match this year on Centre Court against Britain’s Kyle Edmund.

Djokovic, the champion in 2011, 2014 and 2015, faces the home country’s last remaining singles player looking to snatch another landmark.

Victory would see him reach the last 16 of a major for the 44th time to take him second on the all-time list.

German fourth seed Alexander Zverev, who almost quit his second round match through illness, faces Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis.

Gulbis, now ranked at 138, reached the Roland Garros semi-finals in 2014 famously demolishing Roger Federer on the way.

Explosive Nick Kyrgios, fresh from a social media row with former women’s champion Marion Bartoli after she accused him of squandering his talents, plays Japan’s Kei Nishikori.

Kyrgios, the Australian 15th seed, is bidding to reach the fourth round for the fourth time.

Nishikori, seeded 24, bids to make the last 16 for a third time and record his 350th career win.

Other early winners on Saturday included Belgium’s Alison Van Uytvanck who followed her upset of defending champion Garbine Muguruza by beating Anett Kontaveit, the 28th seeded Estonian, 6-2, 6-3.

Van Uytvanck will meet fellow last-16 debutant Russian 14th seed Daria Kasatkina, who defeated Ashleigh Barty of Australia 7-5, 6-3.

Six days after winning his second Tour crown in the Queen’s Cup in Chon Buri, the 22-year-old fired a total 21 under-par-267 to settle at second along with fellow countryman Danthai Boonma and overnight leader Paul Petersen of the US. Catlin, meanwhile, birdied the final hole to avoid a play-off, signing off with an immaculate 66 on 22 under-par-266.

“I didn’t think I had a chance today! I didn’t think I could come close and I started really slow on the front nine,” said Jazz whose current form will surely boost his confidence going to the Open between 19-22.

“ I’m happy that I continued to play this well leading into The Open. After the birdie on 16, I still felt like I was too far but I hit it close on 17 and made eagle. That changed everything but I couldn’t birdie the last hole. It is okay because from no chance of winning, I actually gave myself a glimmer of hope,” added Jazz or Atiwit who has posed three top six finishes in his latest four events.

John Catlin with the trophy 

The 27-year-old Catlin held his nerve before rolling in a five-foot putt on the par-four 18th hole to edge his closest challengers Jazz and Danthai Boonma and Paul Peterson of the United States by a single shot at the Damai Golf and Country Club.

“It was crazy! It was a grind all week long. People keep making birdies and I asked myself ‘when is my birdie going to be enough!’ I finally did it on the 18th hole and that’s what I needed,” said Catlin the first player to have won more than one Asian Tour titles this year as he just celebrated his maiden victory in the Asia-Pacific Classic in China in May.

“Danthai, Peterson and I were tied after the 12th hole and suddenly on 17 we saw that Jazz was one ahead of us! Honestly I wanted someone to go ahead because I figured it would push me and put a little fire under me. That’s probably why I birdied the last hole,” added Catlin who won US$54,000 and 14 Official World Golf Ranking points. The victory also pushes him to 10th place on the Asian Tour’s Habitat for Humanity Standings.

Danthai shot a bogey free 66 to finish second on the Asian Tour for the first time since he lost to India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar in the final round of the US$300,000 Bangk BRI-JBC Indonesia Open in November 2016. However, the result gave him the much needed confidence ahead of his Major debut at The Open in two weeks.

“I played really well. I had six birdies and I was bogey free. I really tried my best. I missed a few short birdie putts on 13 and 14 but that’s golf. I was a little bit nervous but I’m still proud with how I played. I have more confidence now before The Open. I’m off next week so I will practice harder for my first Major championship,” Danthai said.

The 30-year-old Peterson was disappointed not to win the Sarawak Championship where he held the lead since the opening round. He piled the pressure on Catlin with a cool birdie finish on the last but eventually settled for second place.

“It was a tremendous week. This is the most under-par I’ve ever been in my professional career. There are a lot of positives to take from the week. It was going to take someone to play a really good round to beat me and that’s what happened. I birdied the last to try and rattle him but a great putt by him. He deserved the win,” Petersen said.

FINAL SCORES 

266 – John CATLIN (USA) 67-65-68-66.

267 – Jazz JANEWATTANANOND (THA) 66-66-71-64, Danthai BOONMA (THA) 67-66-68-66, Paul PETERSON (USA) 63-67-69-68.”

268 – Javi COLOMO (ESP) 66-67-68-67.

269 – Mark BROWN (NZL) 65-71-67-66.

270 – Scott VINCENT (ZIM) 67-69-70-64, Johannes VEERMAN (USA) 67-70-68-65, Kevin LEE (KOR) 67-65-71-67.”

272 – Peradol PANYATHANASEDH (THA) 66-69-67-70.

273 – Chikkarangappa S. (IND) 70-67-70-66, Ajeetesh SANDHU (IND) 68-71-67-67, Himmat RAI (IND) 68-67-70-68, Maverick ANTCLIFF (AUS) 69-69-67-68, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 68-68-66-71.

274 – Natipong SRITHONG (THA) 68-67-69-70.

Bartoli, who won Wimbledon five years ago, claimed Kyrgios and France’s Gael Monfils were wasting their huge potential because of bad attitudes.

Kyrgios has been in trouble for his immature behaviour on and off the court several times in his short career.

In a stinging blast, the Frenchwoman said Kyrgios’s work ethic was “just not good enough to win a grand slam”, and said it was “pathetic” to see the 23-year-old and Monfils failing to apply themselves in the right way.

“It seems like they can’t grow up, they can’t become men and they can’t take charge of their own lives,” Bartoli said.

“I truly hope Nick will be able to get it together at some point. I don’t know what he needs. He’s going to waste his life if he keeps on acting like that.”

Kyrgios, who faces Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the Wimbledon third round on Saturday, gave a furious response to Bartoli’s jibes, defending himself and Monfils, who reached the fourth round on Friday.

“Yesterday @bartolimarion had to say some nice things about @iamgaelmonfils and myself.. They’re ‘Pathetic’ ‘Children’ They ‘Can’t become men’ ‘wasting their life’ – Who are you to judge the way we go about things?” Kyrgios wrote on Instagram.

“Who are you to tell us how to do things, when u have no idea what we’ve been through?…. stop assuming you know what’s best for others when you think you’ve had a little success.

“We get it, we know you have to remain relevant, but I’ll give you a heads up, we don’t care what you have to say.”

Monfils also made clear his disdain for Bartoli when asked about her comments following his Centre Court win over Sam Querrey.

“It’s easy to criticise people when you don’t know them. So I won’t even pay any attention,” he said.

It was not meant to be like this, Tite’s side dumped out of the tournament in the quarter-finals at the hands of Belgium, losing 2-1 in Kazan.

They had come to the World Cup determined to confirm their revival following the 7-1 humiliation at the hands of Germany in Belo Horizonte, and there were plenty of reasons for optimism.

With Germany, Spain and Argentina out, and Italy not even at the party, the path looked to be clearing for Brazil to go and win their sixth title.

But instead, Tite’s side came a cropper the first time they faced another of the contenders and it is Belgium who advance to a semi-final against France.

In the four World Cups since the Selecao won the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea, they have been eliminated three times in the quarter-finals.

The run to the semis last time around as hosts is the exception, but fans had been desperate for their team to make up for their disastrous collapse in 2014.

When Neymar was cut down in the quarter-final win over Colombia in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza and stretchered off with a fractured vertebrae, the outlook was not good for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side.

Yet nobody could have predicted exactly what would follow, with a stricken Neymar absent as Brazil dramatically capitulated to the eventual winners.

They consoled themselves with the thought that, four years later, a fit Neymar would be at his peak to lead a new assault for the title on Russian soil.

Now 26 and the world’s most expensive player, Neymar was fit here, but only just. Brazil’s build-up to the tournament was dominated by his battle to recover from an operation on a broken bone in his foot.

He goes home after scoring just two goals, his greatest impact on this World Cup being his tears against Costa Rica and, above all, his theatrics.

Neymar’s response to supposed rough treatment from opposition defenders has been met with ridicule in certain quarters, and sympathy may be in short supply.

That even applies back home — “Sublime genius or pathetic farce?” read one headline, in weekly magazine Epoca.

He goes the way of fellow superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, although he will still be just 30 by the time the next World Cup comes around in Qatar in 2022.

– Tite falls short –

In four years it may be a very different Brazil — after all, Neymar was one of only six survivors in the squad from 2014.

And what of Tite? Such an impressive figure, his record since taking over following the disastrous showing at the 2016 Copa America should not simply be forgotten now.

Under Dunga, Brazil had been knocked out on penalties by Paraguay at the quarter-final stage of the 2015 Copa America, then eliminated in the group stage the following year in the United States.

It is scarcely an exaggeration to say they might not even have qualified for this World Cup had Tite not been appointed.

Even before the tournament began, it was being reported that the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) were keen to tie Tite down for the next four years, through to the World Cup in Qatar.

For now all that matters, for Neymar and the whole of a football-obsessed country, is the agony of another World Cup failure.

Soon enough they may turn their thoughts to next year’s Copa America on home soil, but nothing compares to a World Cup for the Brazilians, and another one has just slipped away.

Serena, seeded a modest 25 this year, enjoyed a 7-5, 7-6 (7/2) win over France’s Kristina Mladenovic to set up a last-16 duel with Russian qualifier — and fellow mother — Evgeniya Rodina.

Victory on Centre Court, sealed with a 13th ace, came 20 minutes after Venus, a five-time champion, had slumped to a 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 8-6 loss to Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands over on Court One.

Only two of the top 10 seeds remain in the women’s draw — number one Simona Halep, who plays her third round match on Saturday, and seventh seed Karolina Pliskova who is in action later Friday.

“I have worked really hard and it’s been a long arduous road,” said Serena, playing in just her second Slam since the birth of her daughter Olympia last September.

“At this stage of my career, it doesn’t really matter who I face, every opponent is playing their A-game.

“A lot of top players have lost. Technically I am not a top player although I have the wins of one.”

Venus, 38 and the runner-up last year, was worn down by Dutch 20th seed Bertens in a dramatic third round clash lasting two hours and 40 minutes.

Bertens faces Pliskova or Romanian world number 28 Mihaela Buzarnescu for a place in the quarter-finals.

“It means a lot. I still really can’t believe it. It was such a tough match and such a big fight so I’m really happy that I won this one,” Bertens said.

Russia’s Evgeniya Rodina

Also exiting was 10th seed Madison Keys, who had made at least the quarter-finals of her last three majors.

The American lost 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 to Rodina, ranked 120th in the world.

Keys and Venus joined the likes of defending champion Garbine Muguruza, world number two Caroline Wozniacki, two-time champion Petra Kvitova and US Open winner Sloane Stephens in falling in the first week.

Also eliminated in the first round was 2004 champion Maria Sharapova.

Keys lost nine games on the trot from 5-2 up in the first set to 0-4 down in the second.

She rallied to level the third-round match before Rodina sealed a maiden place in the last 16 of a major.

Keys fired 15 aces in the match but also committed 48 unforced errors.

“I have played the quallies and three matches this week which were all three sets,” said 29-year-old Rodina.

“She hits the ball so hard. I am a little surprised that I won, I was a little bit lucky.”

Later Friday, eight-time champion Roger Federer takes on German comeback specialist Jan-Lennard Struff.

The world number 64 has had to fight back from two sets to love down in his first two matches to beat Leonardo Mayer and 39-year-old Ivo Karlovic.

Defending champion and top seed Federer, by contrast, has made the third round without breaking sweat.

The 36-year-old Swiss has won 26 consecutive sets at the All England Club.

Federer beat Struff in the second round of the Australian Open in January in straight sets.

– Zverev, Anderson through –

German fourth seed Alexander Zverev made the third round, seeing off Taylor Fritz of the United States 6-4, 5-7, 6-7 (0/7), 6-1, 6-2 and faces Latvian qualifier Ernests Gulbis for a spot in the last 16.

Zverev had trailed two sets to one when his tie with Fritz was halted due to darkness on Thursday.

But the 21-year-old raced away with the last two sets in Friday’s bright sunshine.

“Stopping last night was not a nice feeling to go to bed with,” said Zverev who said he had vomited on Friday due to a stomach bug and came close to quitting.

Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova defied second round victim Wozniacki’s churlish prediction that she wouldn’t progress further in the tournament by reaching the last 16.

Makarova, who made the quarter-finals four years ago, beat a weary-looking Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.

She next faces Italy’s Camila Giorgi who saved a match point to beat Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2.

Giorgi last made the fourth round six years ago.

South Africa’s Kevin Anderson, seeded eight, swept past Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 on the back of 22 aces and 42 winners.

Anderson has reached the last 16 for the fourth time and goes on to face France’s Gael Monfils.

A fine header from Raphael Varane and an Antoine Griezmann shot that was fumbled by Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera gave France victory over a South American side that sorely missed injured striker Edinson Cavani.

It is the first time France have been in the last four since 2006 and sets up a mouth-watering clash against either Belgium or Brazil, who play later on Friday in St Petersburg on Tuesday.

Deschamps said his team had “again raised our level” after the 4-3 victory over Argentina in the last 16.

“I have a good team that still has plenty of room for improvement,” Deschamps told BeIN Sports.

“You can see our lack of experience sometimes, but we have so many qualities too.

“In any case, it definitely won’t be a failed World Cup now, and we’ll wait to find out our opponents and see what happens.”

France took the lead in the 40th minute from the unlikely source of Varane, as the defender glanced home a fine header from Griezmann’s free-kick.

It was only the Real Madrid player’s third goal for France and represented redemption for Varane, who was largely blamed for the goal that saw France lose at the quarter-final stage to Germany four years ago.

Griezmann, who counts several of the Uruguay players as close friends, scored a second in the 61st minute, but it was mostly due to a howler from Muslera.

The usually dependable stopper flapped at Griezmann’s 20-yard shot and agonisingly saw the ball float over the line.

It was Griezmann’s third goal of this World Cup, but his first not from a penalty.

That goal secured the victory but did not end the drama in Nizhny Novgorod, as Uruguay’s frustration boiled over in the 67th minute when Kylian Mbappe fell to the floor.

Uruguay skipper Diego Godin remonstrated with the teenager and asked him to get up, then tried to pull him from the turf, sparking a melee that involved most of the players. Deschamps even come onto the pitch to try to calm tempers.

France’s victory was merited — they had the bulk of possession and always looked the more likely to score.

They might have opened the scoring as early as the 15th minute when Mbappe mistimed a close header.

The lightning-quick Mbappe and Griezmann struck fear into the Uruguayan defence all afternoon.

In midfield, France’s N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba snuffed out any potential threat posed by Uruguay.

And up front for La Celeste, Luis Suarez cut an isolated and agitated figure.

Increasingly, Suarez vented his frustration with Argentine referee Nestor Pitana, who, coincidentally, was the official in charge of France’s quarter-final 2014 defeat.

The Barcelona star was partnered by Cristhian Stuani after a week of will-he-won’t-he speculation surrounding Cavani ended with the Paris Saint-Germain striker failing to recover from a calf strain.

Without Cavani, Uruguay posed little threat.

A tight and nervy game burst into life after Varane’s goal.

Until that point Uruguay had struggled to get into the French penalty area, but within four minutes of the goal would have been level except for an exceptional save by Hugo Lloris.

The French skipper saved superbly with one hand from defender Martin Caceres, whose header from a free kick look destined to go in.

Diego Godin could have scored from the follow-up, but that was the closest the South Americans would come to scoring all afternoon.