France advanced to the World Cup semifinals on Friday after breezing 2-0 past Uruguay at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. It is the first time France have been in the last four since 2006 and sets up a mouth-watering clash against either Belgium or Brazil, who play later on Friday, in St. Petersburg on Tuesday. France took the lead in the 40th minute from the unlikely source of defender Varane, who glanced home a fine header from an Antoine Griezmann free-kick. It was only the Real Madrid players third goal for France and represented redemption for Varane, who was largely blamed for the goal which saw France lose at the quarter-final stage to Germany four years ago. Griezmann, who counts several of the Uruguay players as close friends, scored a second in the 61st minute, but it was mostly due to a howler from La Celestes goalkeeper, Fernando Muslera. The usually dependable stopper flapped at Griezmanns 20-yard shot and agonizingly saw the ball float over the line. It was Griezmanns third goal of this World Cup, but his first not from a penalty. That goal secured the victory but did not end the drama, as Uruguays frustration boiled over in the 67th minute when Kylian Mbappe fell to the floor. Uruguay skipper Diego Godin gestured with the teenager to get up, then tried to pull him from the turf, sparking a melee which involved most of the players and saw French coach Didier Deschamps come onto the pitch to try to calm tempers. Frances victory was merited as it was they who had the bulk of possession and always looked the most likely to score. Up front for La Celeste, Luis Suarez cut an isolated and agitated figure as his team desperately went in search of an equalizer as Edinson Cavani was ruled out with injury. Without Cavani, Uruguay posed little threat. Deschamps said his side can still get better despite their victory. "We had done something big against Argentina and today we have again raised our level," he told BeIN Sports. "I have a good team that still has plenty of room for improvement. "You can see our lack of experience sometimes, but we have so many qualities too. "In any case, it definitely wont be a failed World Cup now, and well wait to find out our opponents and see what happens." Soon after the victory, President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed that he will attend Frances World Cup semifinal in Russia as ally Britain pursues a diplomatic boycott of the tournament over a nerve agent attack. Macron had previously promised to attend the match if France reached the semifinals.