ADRIAN DENNIS/Getty Images The penultimate phase of the 2018 FIFA World Cup gets under way on Tuesday as France take on Belgium in the first of our semi-finals, before England face Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow for the second final spot. Belgium have had the longest wait between semi-final appearances of the four teams left, with 22 years having passed since they finished fourth in Mexico, while upcoming foes France were World Cup runners-up in 2006. England may be the favourites to win their last-four meeting, but it's the Croatians who last made a semi-final—when they came third at France 1998—while the Three Lions' second and most recent trip to the semis was in 1990. We take a look at this week's World Cup semi-final slate and provide an information guide on how to view the last four as they battle for a spot in the Moscow final. Semi-Final Schedule Video Play Button Videos you might like Tuesday, July 10 France vs. Belgium, 9 p.m. local time/7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET, ITV (UK)/Fox (U.S.) Wednesday, July 11 Croatia vs. England, 9 p.m. local time/7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET, BBC (UK)/Fox (U.S.) Visit Fox Soccer Match Pass for live-stream services in the U.S., or ITV Hub and BBC iPlayer in the UK. Preview Gareth Southgate has rallied a youthful and impassioned England team on an unlikely path to Russia's final four, but on Wednesday they face a Croatia side that's displayed incredible grit to reach this point. The obvious downside of their penalty shootout wins over Denmark and Russia is in the stamina used. The physical and mental drain of one more shootout result than England in their last two matches could be telling, although the Evening Standard's Tom Collomosse argued against that narrative: The Three Lions are a team that relies on the the sum of its parts, but there's little understating the importance of striker Harry Kane, top scorer in the competition with six goals. Croatia rely on the team, too, considering their nine goals are spread among eight players, Luka Modric being the only one to score twice. Coach Zlatko Dalic backs his defence, which has failed to keep a clean sheet in its last three outings, to stop Kane, via Sky Sports News: Southgate and Dalic both assumed their national team roles just last year but have worked swiftly to lift pride in their countries as one pre-tournament underdog prepares to take its place in the Moscow decider on Sunday. Two days before the 20th anniversary of their famous romp over Brazil to lift the 1998 World Cup, France take on the side that recently bested the Selecao to reach Tuesday's semi at the St. Petersburg Stadium. The top half of the bracket was always viewed as the tougher side of this World Cup, and statistician Simon Gleave pointed to the victor of this match going on as the favourite heading into the final: Both Belgium and France will be as healthy as one can hope for travelling to St. Petersburg, neither having been forced to play more than the regulation 90 minutes in any matches en route to the last four. We should therefore hope for a potential match of the tournament between two vibrant, in-form giants of the world scene. Each boast attacking lineups of the highest quality, with Romelu Lukaku, who has four goals in Russia, leading the line for the Red Devils, while scorer of three Kylian Mbappe looks to do more damage for Les Bleus, per OptaJean: Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen is unlikely to start in Roberto Martinez's defence come Tuesday, but the Barcelona centre-back highlighted the threat of France's leading scorer, via Goal: N'Golo Kante's influence for Didier Deschamps' side has been telling thus far, and it's debatable as to whether they would have come this far without him, so it will be intriguing to see Martinez's plan in overcoming the Chelsea anchor. Both Belgium and Croatia are targeting their maiden appearances in a World Cup final, while the more seasoned nations in that regard, England and France, are looking to revive the glory of previous wins.<doc-sep>Four teams and four games left at Russia 2018 but first it’s France v Belgium and Croatia v England<doc-sep>Matthias Schrader/Associated Press England and Croatia joined France and Belgium in the 2018 FIFA World Cup semifinals with victories during Saturday's action in Russia. The Three Lions scored once in each half and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford came up with a couple of clutch saves to prevent a late Sweden surge in their 2-0 win over the Blagult. Meanwhile, the Vatreni ended Russia's hopes of winning the World Cup with a triumph on penalty kicks. Let's check out the complete set of results from Saturday and look ahead to the tournament schedule for next week's semifinals. That's followed by a recap of the quarterfinal fixtures. To view the updated bracket, visit the event's official website. Saturday's Quarterfinal Scores England defeated Sweden, 2-0 Video Play Button Videos you might like Croatia defeated Russia, 2-2 (4-3 after penalties) Semifinal Schedule France vs. Belgium: Tuesday, July 10 at 2 p.m. ET (7 p.m. BST) Croatia vs. England: Wednesday, July 11 at 2 p.m. ET (7 p.m. BST) England 2, Sweden 0 Leicester City defender Harry Maguire picked an opportune time to score his first international goal as he outjumped the Swedish back line to head home an Ashley Young corner to give England a 1-0 lead at the half-hour mark. Although the match was competitive leading up to that opening goal, the Three Lions still looked in control during the run of play and never relinquished their advantage on the scoreboard. Dele Alli increased the lead in the 59th minute with a header of his own off a pinpoint cross from Jesse Lingard. Sweden did amplify its attacking pressure over the final 30 minutes as a last-gasp attempt to mount a comeback. Pickford, who's impressed throughout the tournament despite the lack of a clean sheet before Saturday, rose to the occasion to keep the Blagult at bay. England was the better side. It played a composed brand of football that should translate well to the business end of the tournament. WhoScored.com passed along the final match statistics: Manager Gareth Southgate and the Three Lions received support from England Prime Minister Theresa May on Twitter after the win: Southgate deserves a boatload of credit for getting England to play such a tactically sound brand of football, especially over the past 12 months. It's carried into the World Cup and put the national team in position to win the event for the first time since 1966. Croatia 2, Russia 2 (4-3 on penalties) Croatia outlasted Russia in a dramatic quarterfinal that finished with penalty kicks after the sides exchanged goals in both regulation and extra time. It's the second World Cup semifinal appearance for the Croatians. As expected, it was an electric atmosphere at Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, with the host nation looking to move within two victories of raising the World Cup on home soil. The massive crowds weren't limited to the venue. TalkSport showcased the reaction in the capital, Moscow, when Denis Cheryshev scored in the 31st minute to give the Russians a 1-0 lead: Croatia answered less than 10 minutes later, as Andrej Kramaric leveled the score. ESPN Stats & Info spotlighted the quick counterattacking goal by the Vatreni: The score remained deadlocked throughout a tightly played second half to force extra time. Domagoj Vida shocked the crowd as he was on the receiving end of a well-placed Luka Modric corner, and his ensuing header somehow found its way through a maze of players in the box into the net. With hope fading, Russia sent shockwaves through the crowd as a late free-kick opportunity led to Mario Fernandes' equaliser, which came on a perfectly placed header into the corner in the final minutes of extra time. The final whistle blew to send the match to penalty kicks. There, Ivan Rakitic played the role of hero as Croatia earned its berth in the semis on his final conversion from the spot for the second straight game. Now the question for Croatia isn't whether it has the talent to win the World Cup, but rather if it has enough energy left after back-to-back extra-time matches to open the knockout stage. England's pace will be a serious test for what could be a fatigued back line Wednesday.<doc-sep>World Cup 2018 on the BBC Host: Russia Dates: 14 June - 15 July Live: Coverage across BBC TV, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website with further coverage on Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. BBC Sport football expert Mark Lawrenson is making a prediction for every match in Russia. Lawro picked the winner in three of the four quarter-finals and six of the eight last-16 ties. He enjoyed a 46% success rate in the group stage, correctly guessing the outcome of 22 of the 48 games. Before the tournament, Lawro correctly chose 14 of the 16 teams that reached the first knockout stage, including Brazil - his pick to win the tournament - and England, who he thought would go out in the quarter-finals. Lawro was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan in Moscow. Games Score Lawro's prediction Tuesday, 10 July France v Belgium 1-0 2-0 Wednesday, 11 July Croatia v England x-x 1-2 (aet) Tuesday, 10 July France 1-0 Belgium Lawro's prediction: 2-0 Match report Wednesday, 11 July Croatia v England (Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow. 19:00 BST KO) I was at both of Croatia's matches in the knockout stages - their penalty shootout wins over Denmark and Russia. They have got good players right through their team and, without a doubt, they will be the best team that England have played at this World Cup - I am ignoring the meaningless match against Belgium. So I think Gareth Southgate's side will have to raise their level from what we have seen so far. But this just strikes me as one of those games that I really do think England will win by hook or by crook. Croatia have had extra time in their past two matches, and some of their players looked out on their feet near the end against Russia. I just have a feeling that England will find a way to win. Sometimes I think these things are written - and the way this tournament has opened up for England is one of the reasons it feels like this is their time. I think their players will realise they will never ever have a better chance of getting into a World Cup final, and also of winning the thing. While England's results have been a lot better than their performances, that is not a bad thing in a tournament like this. Plus I think they have got a lot left in the tank. One of the areas where they can improve is by creating more chances in open play. We know they are capable of doing it - it just has not happened yet. So I do think they will find a way to the final - and if they make it back to Moscow four days later, I think they will win it. Lawro's prediction: 1-2 (aet)<doc-sep>
FABRICE COFFRINI/Getty Images England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup by beating Sweden 2-0 on Saturday. Goals from Harry Maguire and Dele Alli settled the quarter-final tie at the Samara Arena. Croatia await the Three Lions for Wednesday's semi-final at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, after beating hosts Russia 4-3 in a penalty shootout. They drew 2-2 after extra time, but Ivan Rakitic tucked in the key spot-kick to send the Blazers into the last four. Quarter-Finals Results Uruguay 0-2 France Brazil 1-2 Belgium Sweden 0-2 England Russia 2-2 Croatia (Croatia won 4-3 on penalties) Semi-Finals Schedule Tuesday, July 10 France vs. Belgium, 9 p.m. local time (7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET) Wednesday, July 11 Video Play Button Videos you might like Croatia vs. England, 9 p.m. local time (7 p.m. BST/2 p.m. ET) Russia went in front when Denis Cheryshev scored a beauty from outside the box to add to a growing collection of classy long-range strikes from the midfielder during the tournament: One of the rare free-flowing moves Croatia put together yielded an equaliser when Andrej Kramaric headed in from a Mario Mandzukic cross. The goal maintained Croatia's prolific run, with the goals shared among a host of players: Domagoj Vida became the eighth Croatia player to score at these finals when he put the Blazers 2-1 up in extra time, before Mario Fernandes equalised to make penalties necessary. It was left to Rakitic to settle things in the shootout, not long after Fernandes had shot wide. England needed 30 minutes to break down typically stubborn resistance from Sweden's sound defence. Ironically, the goal didn't come from any elaborate or stylish passage of play to stretch Sweden out of shape between the lines. Instead, the Three Lions took the direct route, with Leicester City centre-back Maguire powering in a header from an Ashley Young corner. Conceding from set pieces may be rare for Sweden, but scoring from them is becoming natural for England: Gareth Southgate's men grabbed a deserved lead against a Sweden side offering little in attack. Caution has been the Swede's watchword throughout the tournament, and it's a fact some made light of: There were still a few dissenters about England's performance, though. Or more accurately, not everybody was impressed by Alli, whose passing and movement in midfield had been erratic during the first half: Alli proved his critics wrong two minutes before the hour mark when he met Kieran Trippier's cross with a deft header to put England firmly in the ascendancy. The scoreline stayed the same for the remainder, with Alli, Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane continuing to menace Sweden's defence, while Jordan Pickford made a string of smart saves to preserve England's clean sheet. Southgate can now turn his attention to scouting Russia's and Croatia's strengths and weaknesses as he begins plotting ways to guide England to a first final since 1966. Getting past a technically adept Croatia side won't be easy, but the Three Lions have the strength at the back, along with the pace and power in forward areas, to overpower Modric and Co. if they are at their best.