Players to watch:
Having scored the only goal the last time these two sides faced each other, Luis Suarez will probably be Uruguay’s main threat again. With Edinson Cavani gone the attacking responsibility will fully fall on Suarez. The Barcelona striker has scored 53 goals in 102 games for Uruguay. With Cavani gone Suarez will also have to show that he has learned from his past mistakes. In 2010 he missed the semifinal because of a last-minute handball against Ghana and in 2014 he was banned by FIFA for biting Italian opponent Giorgi Chiellini in a group stage match – Uruguay would later go out in the round of 16 against Colombia.
Edinson Cavani limped off after scoring both goals in their 2-1 last 16 win over Portugal, and unless he can make a speedy recovery, Suarez will have to inspire Uruguay to victory without the help of the in-form Paris Saint-Germain star.
This will be an odd match for Antoine Griezmann as he will be facing one of his closest friends. The French striker can often be spotted with Uruguayan teammate Diego Godín on the streets of Madrid, and the Uruguayan defender is even the godfather to Griezmann’s daughter Mia. On Friday, however, Griezmann will not only play against his teammate, but the two will likely be directly pitted against one-another as Griezmann will try to add to his two World Cup goals to see his country go through to the next round.
Suarez scored 25 goals in Barcelona’s triumphant 2017/18 La Liga campaign but has only managed two in four World Cup games so far, which is respectable, but modest by his lofty standards.
Indeed, his tally so far has been topped even by 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe, who netted the winner in the group stage against Peru and a brace in France’s 4-3 last 16 wins over Argentina.
All eyes are on the PSG youngster, who has drawn comparisons with Les Bleus legend Thierry Henry. If he can repeat his sensational performance against Argentina, France will be a difficult team to stop.