France and Belgium face off in the first semi-final of the 2018 World Cup in what promises to be one of the games of the tournament.
France are here after seeing off Argentina and Uruguay in the knockout stages with Kylian Mbappe continue to rise as one of the games ascending stars. Belgium have moved through the gears in Russia with the performance to dump Brazil out last time out one of the very best of the last three weeks.
Coaches Didier Deschamps and Roberto Martinez have their detractors but have delivered here and are now 90 - or 120 - minutes away from a shot at immortality. It should be a thriller.
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"I don't think I quite realise what's happening to me," Pavard said. "I'm profiting from every moment." His surprise is like many of those who have been following his career. A once little known right-back for Bundasliga side Stuttgart, he is now an influential part of a team that are favourites to win their second World Cup.
In 29 matches for France the right back has not lost a game, something he is in no mood to stop. "I hope that I'll stay undefeated through 31 games and that we'll lift this cup," said Pavard, known for his penetrating play and gritty defending on France's right flank.
Pavard's first game for France in November showed a glimpse of the partnership with 19-year-old forward Kylian Mbappe that has since flourished at the World Cup. In that 2-0 victory over Wales, Pavard collected a pass from Mbappe on the right and shot at goal, hitting the post. He tried it again in France's first game at the World Cup against Australia, but his long-range shot went skyward. "I killed a pigeon," he later joked on television.
Against Argentina in the round of 16, it all came together with a spectacular strike to level the score at 2-2. France went on to win 4-3. That night, Pavard said he was so excited that he couldn't sleep. Among the fans in the crowd was his girlfriend, former Miss France Rachel Legrain-Trapani. "Completely out of this world," she said of his goal, speaking to French broadcaster TF1. "It came out of nowhere. We all screamed with joy."
"I don't want to offend Martinez but he, of course, benefited from Wilmots' work, despite the fact that Wales eliminate the team," Deschamps said.
"He changed things a bit, put his own stamp on the team, but he had great potential with this group of players. I don't know if he's going to do it, but I congratulate him on being in a semi-final even though he's going to face us."
"Belgium didn't arrive here by chance. They played a great game against Brazil with a specific game plan," the 49-year-old Deschamps told a news conference on Monday. "Will they do something similar for us? Probably.
"Their team is geared forward. They keep that particular quality, but against Brazil, Martinez intensified the midfield... and the Brazilians couldn't use those corridors.
"They attack very fast. So I've made sure that my players are prepared for any scenarios from the beginning of the match and during the match as well if it changes."
A Russian journalist asked Deschamps for his thoughts on the performance on the Russia team, which reached the quarterfinals against most expectations. But Deschamps was only interested in talking about France vs. Belgium.
Pressing the translation device against his ear, a startled-looking Deschamps paused and asked the FIFA official sat nearby "are you sure he's asking me this question? I should speak about Russia? Really?"
The FIFA official intervened, saying another question should be asked — at which point Deschamps — still sounding baffled — spoke again.
"We're on the eve of a (semifinal) match. I've already spoken about Russia. I don't really see the point, whether it's for the French journalists, the foreign journalists, Belgian journalists, or others."
Deschamps then added: "Right, let's move on."
"This time, in an international match, it is much higher. He is facing his home nation. From the time he became an assistant to Roberto Martinez [Belgium manager], he did know that can happen.
"It is a difficult situation – bizarre – it is not easy for him."
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What time does it start?
The game kicks off at 7pm in St Petersburg
Where can I watch it?
The match is being shown live on BBC1. You can also watch it via the BBC Sport website.
How they got here?
France have warmed to this tournament rather than exploded into it with their group stage progression characterised by what have been rather than what did actually come to be. Australia were seen off but only via a late own goal before Peru fell to Mbappe's first goal in Russia. The less said about the Denmark snoozefest the better before Les Bleus showed what is possible with a supreme performance to see off Argentina in the last-16 with that man Mbappe coming of age on a balmy summer afternoon in Kazan. Next the quarter-final and another solid if unspectacular display as Uruguay were sent packing thanks to goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann (and a monumental howler from Fernando Muslera).
Belgium themselves have flattered to deceive at times with Panama and Tunisia negotiated without too much trouble before England were also seen off, albeit with a second team in Nizhny Novgorod. Japan threatened to end the dream in the last-16 before Nacer Chadli's last-gasp, extra-time winner saved them. The quarter-finals saw Brazil ousted in a performance to put the whole world on notice as the five-time winners were sent home thanks to vintage displays by De Bruyne and Hazard.
Head-to-head
These two have met some 73 times down the years, the first of which coming way back in 1904 (a 3-3 draw for those wondering). They haven't met competitively since the 1986 World Cup - a 4-2 win for Michel Platini's side - while the last time they faced each other was back in 2014 when the Belgian's triumphed 4-3 with Hazard scoring what proved to be the winner.
Odds
France 29/20
Belgium 11/5
Prediction
France 1-3 Belgium: This is one of the match-ups of the tournament with the two, pound-for-pound best squads going toe to toe in St Petersburg. Both offer an abundance of threat going forwards and while Les Bleus possess the more sturdy defence that fearsome Red Devils front three are in the form of their lives. Expect De Bruyne to have a big game with Romelu Lukaku perhaps the difference maker.
