France play Belgium in a World Cup semi-final in St Petersburg on Tuesday:

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Where: Saint Petersburg Stadium, St PetersburgCapacity: 68,134When: Tuesday, July 10, 21:00 local (1800 GMT/1400 ET)Referee: To be announcedTactics watch

A compelling cast of players, two attacking teams propelled by great pace and a clash between neighbours to boot.

There seems very little to stop Belgium and France producing a World Cup classic in Tuesday's semi-final.

Both teams boast a rich assembly of match-winning players – Kevin De Bruyne and Eden Hazard for Belgium and Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe for the French – but have also shown a strength of character that adds to their tournament-winning credentials.

Belgium's come-from-behind win in the last 25 minutes of their second-round tie against Japan would have made Roy of the Rovers envious while France produced a venomous sting in their tale to sweep past Argentina, after also finding themselves trailing in the second half.

Both have built off a slow start at the tournament in Russia, seemingly set to peak just at the right time.

The predominant weapon for both teams is their speed going forward, catapulting players with instinctive talent into positions from where their genius can prove lethal.

Both sides will be cautious about being sucked forward and leaving space behind their defence for the opposition to launch quick counters, until someone takes the lead.

Instead the contest is likely to be about passing and probing and waiting for some magic to prise open the defence.

The midfield battle promises intrigue too, none more so than Paul Pogba muscling it out with Manchester United team mate Marouane Fellaini.

Belgium reinforced for the quarter-final win against Brazil and France will have Blaise Matudi back from suspension for Tuesday’s game at the Saint Petersburg Stadium. It means Corentin Tolisso will lose his place in what is likely the only change from the France team that beat Uruguay 2-0 in the quarter-final on Friday.

Against Japan, Belgium were harried and corralled by their opponent’s pressing and made clever changes for the next game against Brazil, where Fellaini and Nacer Chadli came in. Chadli played higher up the middle with Romelu Lukaku switched to the right and De Bruyne employed as a decoy centre forward, the so-called 'false nine'.

There will be further adjustments from coach Roberto Martinez following the suspension of Thomas Meunier, who would have been entrusted to keep Mbappe quite. Martinez will either bring back Yannick Carrasco or shift Jan Vertongen across.

Standing in the way of the rich selection of potential match winning performers on either side are two outstanding goalkeepers.

Hugo Lloris made arguably the save of the tournament to keep intact France’s half-time lead over Uruguay on Friday and Thibault Courtois’ tip-over save from Neymar near the end of Belgium’s 2-1 triumph over Brazil later the same day drew a 'Hand of God' headline in the Belgian press the next morning.

Key stats:

*Belgium have reached the World Cup semi-finals for only the second time, losing out to eventual winners Argentina in 1986.

*Roberto Martinez's side are unbeaten in 23 matches. Their last defeat in a competitive match was to Wales in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.

*Belgium have scored more goals than any other team at the tournament (14).

*Belgium have had nine different goalscorers at this year's World Cup (excluding own goals). Only Italy in 2006 and France in 1982 (10 each) have ever had more in a single tournament.

*Romelu Lukaku has scored 17 goals and made three assists in his last 13 Belgium appearances.

*Belgium full back Thomas Meunier will miss the match after being booked during the quarter-final against Brazil.

*France have progressed to the World Cup semi-final for the sixth time, reaching the final twice - in 1998 and 2006.

*Didier Deschamps' side have scored with each of their last six shots on target at the tournament.

*Antoine Griezmann has netted seven goals in his past six appearances in the knockout stages of a major tournament.

*France have conceded just four goals in their five matches in the tournament.Previous meetings: The European rivals have a long history, facing each other 73 times. France have won 24, Belgium 30, with 19 draws.