France 2-0 Uruguay: 5 things we learned

Reuters/ANDRES STAPFF

In Nizhny Novgorod, France booked their place in the semi-finals of the World Cup, their first since 2006.

Defeating an Edinson Cavani-less Uruguay 2-0, France edged a physical encounter that was largely reduced to pot-shots and set-pieces. 

France opened the scoring after Rafael Varane headed in a free-kick. Uruguay didn't click offensively but nearly levelled shortly after with a header of their own, Martin Caceres heading into the bottom corner but Hugo Lloris made one of the saves of the tournaments to deny him. 

The game was decided in a similarly edgy second half, with Antoine Griezmann taking a punt from long range, straight at the goalkeeper: Fernando Muslera made a mess of it, and the ball spilled into the back of his own net.

Here are five things we learned: