Soccer - France beat Uruguay 2-0 to reach semi-finals

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 France's Raphael Varane celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff

NIZHNY NOVGOROD, Russia (Reuters) - Raphael Varane's glancing header and a goalkeeping blunder that gifted Antoine Griezmann a soft goal gave France a 2-0 victory over Uruguay in the first World Cup quarter-final on Friday and a set up a last-four tie with Brazil or Belgium.

Varane's 40th-minute header from a Griezmann free kick was only the second goal Uruguay had conceded all tournament. The South Americans went close to equalising just before the break only for Martin Caceres's goal-bound header to be brilliantly turned onto a post by goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

But it was an error by Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera that settled it when he tried to palm a routine long-range, swerving Griezmann shot after 61 minutes but misjudged it and allowed it to slip past him.

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 France's Raphael Varane celebrates scoring their first goal with Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff

Uruguay, hard-hit by the absence of injured key striker Edinson Cavani, showed plenty of commitment trying to find a way back but France controlled the ball well to secure their Saint Petersburg semi-final slot.

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 France's Raphael Varane scores their first goal REUTERS/Darren Staples

(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Christian Radnedge)

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 France's Raphael Varane in action with Uruguay's Matias Vecino and Jose Gimenez REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 Uruguay's Nahitan Nandez in action with France's Lucas Hernandez REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 Uruguay's Luis Suarez looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Darren Staples

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 Uruguay's Lucas Torreira looks dejected after the match REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 Uruguay's Fernando Muslera fumbles the ball as France's Antoine Griezmann scores their second goal REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 France fans REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 France's Paul Pogba in action with Uruguay's Cristian Rodriguez REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 Uruguay's Martin Caceres in action with France's Olivier Giroud REUTERS/Darren Staples

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 Uruguay's Martin Caceres reacts after missing a chance to score REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 France's Hugo Lloris in action with Uruguay's Diego Godin REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 Uruguay's Martin Caceres reacts after missing a chance to score as France players celebrate with Hugo Lloris REUTERS/Carlos Barria

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 France's Raphael Varane celebrates scoring their first goal with Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe REUTERS/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 France's Raphael Varane scores their first goal REUTERS/Darren Staples

Soccer Football - World Cup - Quarter Final - Uruguay vs France - Nizhny Novgorod Stadium, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia - July 6, 2018 Uruguay's Martin Caceres reacts after missing a chance to score REUTERS/Damir Sagolj