Semifinal record for Belgium, France

BELGIUM

*Belgium's only previous semifinal appearance came at the 1986 finals, where Diego Maradona turned on the second half magic and ensured for Argentina a place in the final with both goals in a 2-0 victory.

*In that tournament, Belgium squeezed through the first round in third place in their group after losing to hosts Mexico, before needing extra time to beat the Soviet Union in the last 16 and penalties to overcome Spain in the quarterfinals.

*Defender Eric Gerets rated the class of 2018 as more talented footballers than his 1986 team mates but said he did not believe they had the same fighting spirit until he saw their 2-1 win over Brazil in Friday's quarterfinal.

*After losing in the 1986 semifinal, Belgium faced France in Puebla for the bronze medal in the third place playoff and were beaten 4-2 after extra time despite taking an early lead.

*Belgium made it to the last eight at the last World Cup in Brazil but their hopes of a semifinal spot were snuffed out by one early Gonzalo Higuain goal for Argentina.

*There are 15 players from the 2014 Belgian squad who have returned for the tournament in Russia, having picked up considerable experience in the meantime.

FRANCE

*Just Fontaine's record of 13 goals in a single tournament from the 1958 finals still stands as he helped propel the French to their first-ever semifinal, where they lost 5-2 to Brazil in Stockholm, with teenager Pele scoring a hattrick.

*France lost on post-match penalties to West Germany in Seville in the 1982 semifinal, best remembered for an unpunished kung-fu style challenge by goalkeeper Harold Schumacher on France's Patrick Battison that saw the Frenchman stretchered off 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute with a cracked vertebra and damaged teeth.

*Four years later in Mexico, France were again semifinalists but once more thwarted by the Germans, losing 2-0 in Guadalajara.

*France won the World Cup when they hosted the 1998 finals, beating Croatia in the semifinal 2-1 with both goals from defender Lilian Thuram.

*Didier Deschamps captained France that year as they lifted the trophy for the first time. He is now chasing the double of winning the World Cup as both a player and a coach.

*France's fifth semifinal appearance came in 2006, when Zinedine Zidane's penalty was enough to beat Portugal 1-0.