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France reach semi-finals after beating Uruguay

France were promoted to World Cup favourites after they became the first team through to the semi-finals after a 2-0 win over Uruguay in Nizhny Novgorod.

Raphael Varane broke the deadlock shortly before the half-time interval and the game was settled by a shocking mistake from the usually reliable Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who let a long-range Antoine Griezmann effort past him. 

Didier Deschamps' side, who started the competition as 13-2 shots, were trading at 5-2 after the victory as they awaited the winner of the evening semi-final between Brazil and Belgium. Les Bleus are available at 11-10 to reach the final.

Griezmann was voted the man of the match and is 16-1 with Sky Bet to claim the Golden Ball with teammate Kylian Mbappe clipped to 3-1 favourite to be named as the best player of the tournament.

Betway have also cut Mbappe to sign for Real Madrid by the end of the summer transfer window with the teenager 9-4 from 7-1 to head to the Bernabeu with Paris St-Germain 4-11.

It was ultimately a comfortable tie for France, but they did need a fine save from Hugo Lloris to maintain their lead and their skipper was promoted to the 11-4 market leader by Sky Bet in the Golden Glove market for the best goalkeeper at the finals.

Uruguay, 30-1 at the outset, missed the injured Edinson Cavani but can be proud of reaching the last eight with the South Americans trading at 7-2 ante-post to be eliminated at the quarter-final stage.

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