Dave’s Dribble: Slick and quick France undo Uruguay

France are through as the first semi-final team with a decisive 2-0 triumph over Uruguay.

And they did it at a canter in what was basically a one horse race.

Goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann did the damage, with France dictating matters from start to finish…or should that be finesse?

The first half idled and misfired for 40 minutes, with loads of loose passing and neither keeper really troubled, but then ignited in the next five.

Varane broke the deadlock when he rose high to meet a Griezmann free kick and headed it downwards into the far corner with goalie Fernando Muslera nowhere in the frame (1-0).

Uruguay were stung into action and hardly had the game restarted when Hugo Lloris was forced into a spectacular save from a powerful Martin Caceres header, with Diego

Godin on the far post almost tapping in the rebound.

This was to be almost their only shot of note in the entire game.

Uruguay could have done with Edinson Cavani, a non-starter owing to injury, and especially missed by his strike partner Luis Suarez.

Both sides came out for the second period showing more purpose: Uruguay wanting to equalise and France looking for the safety net of a second goal.

Paul Pogba almost got on end of an aerial free kick, but Fernando Muslera in the Uruguayn goals punched the ball clear, but only just.

He would not repeat that feat – quite the opposite in fact – when in the 60th minute Griezmann hammered a speculative shot from distance.

Muslera attempted to catch it but instead parried it into his own net.

Commentators were scathing about the huge blunder, but perhaps the ball had more swerve on than was apparent (2-0).

France were now totally in control, gobbling up all the loose stuff, slick and silky-like, while the Uruguayans became more frustrated, culminating in some ill-tempered action and reaction that saw Kylian Mbappe and Cristian Rodriguez booked.

Griezmann was running the show – the difference between the two sides – and in the 72nd minute fed Corentin Tolisso, who had enough time and space to take aim but shot high and wide.

At the other end, Luis Suarez was the invisible man.

The final action saw a Griezmann free kick sails harmlessly over.

He was substituted as the hourglass was running – a well-deserved rest for the match winner and dare we say it, the form team looking at the road ahead.