Improbable poster of a semi-final world a month ago, France and Belgium will be face-to-face on Sunday, with the key to a place in the final of the 2018 World Cup. A duel between two selections that build up.

"It's more than a neighbor, a little more than a friend, even." In the columns of the JDD, Sunday, July 8, Prime Ministers Édouard Philippe and Charles Michel set the tone. To the Frenchman , who predicts a 3-1 win, the Belgian responds : "Who likes to chastise well". The tone is given, diplomatically.

This semi-final France - Belgium, which launches the final stretch of the World Cup 2018 , Tuesday, July 10, in St. Petersburg, has a family quarrel: two brothers who will dispute, at loggerheads, the favors of a conquest. A four-year romance with the most coveted trophy in the world of football, which the Blues, unlike their neighbor to the North, have already lived twenty years earlier.

The weight of experience in the face of the passion of youth? Not really, if we look at the numbers. The youngest youngest nation on the starting line of this World Cup-2018 with an average age of 26.4 years, France even accuses a deficit of a few months on a Belgian group that reaches the 27 year mark.

In terms of living on the lawn, the report is even more glaring. If we compare the two eleven aligned during the quarter, the Red Devils claimed no less than 73 selections on average, against just 41 for the Blues. A gap that remains relative however since if we are confined to compare the data found in major international competitions, the balance equilibrium: 10.7 for French holders against 11.3 for their Belgian counterparts.

Devilishly effective

The Spaniards, who came out of Russia in the round of 16 despite 25 shots, 75% possession and a record of 1,031 successful passes, can testify: the numbers are one thing, football is another. A maxim that did not fail to inspire the Belgians, at the time of facing the last "favorite" still in contention, at the quarter-finals stage. A Brazil who shot 26 times in goal, held the ball more than his opponent, but who suffered the pragmatism of this intractable Belgium .

And that's one of the things that strikes the most when you look at the profile of these Red Devils: in front of the goal, they are surgical. The attack by Spain's Roberto Martinez - whose offensive elements are led by the French Thierry Henry - has already found the net 14 times, five times more than the Blues and better than any other selection this summer in Russia.

More worrying still for Didier Deschamps and his men, the danger can come from absolutely everywhere. Behind the inevitable Lukaku, four achievements on the clock, Hazard ahead with two goals a slew of soloists: Mertens, De Bruyne, Januzaj, Batshuayi, Chadli, Fellaini and Vertonghen.

Two defenses in question

The blue defensive foursome should have a job, Sunday night. But this offensive imbalance of the Belgians could also be the main French asset. The 3-4-3 drawn by Martinez and worn by his side often exposes the three central, Kompany, Alderweireld and Vertonghen. An experienced trio - more than 30 years of average age - but no longer really canes to close the spaces behind his back, especially if a Mbappé as inspired as against the Argentine adventures.

French side, defense also raises a lot of thought. The question of whether Varane, Umtiti, Pavard and Hernandez could hold the house replaced another question: for how long? As young (23.25 years average) as unskilled (90 total selections including 47 for Varane alone), the rearguard of the Blues has surprised since the beginning of the world. Varane turned into a boss in the line, followed by a strong Umtiti if not brilliant, and on the sides, Hernandez and Pavard have also provided guarantees. A beautiful copy, however, ratcheted of a France - Argentina completely crazy who saw Lloris go get the inflates three times in his nets.

Still, when the Blues took three, they were able to score four. And it is in this offensive force that the men of Didier Deschamps will have to draw to get a new final, twelve years after the 2006 German World Cup. Mbappé, of course, but also Griezmann, Giroud and Pogba will be strong assets face to the Red Devils, just like Kanté, at the peak of his art in the midfield. Before the media, Lucas Hernandez has promised in any case: "You will see eleven dogs on the field" in front of Belgium. To drool with impatience.