Harsh World for Allies Ahead of Brussels Summit; France, Belgium Vie for Spot in Final Game of World Cup.
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Hello there and welcome to CNN world sport. I'm Don Riddell. Breaking news as we begin this show. Within the last few minutes, Real Madrid have said that their megastar striker Cristiano Ronaldo is leaving and that he's expected to be unveiled at the Italian Champions Juventus later this Tuesday. The transfer fee is reportedly 105 million pounds. That's around $139 million U.S. dollars. We'll have more on this for you as more details throughout the day. Within the next couple of hours, we're anticipating an absorbing World Cup semifinal between France and Belgium in St. Petersburg. Two of the most exciting teams at this tournament going head to head with many of Europe's top players on show. It's Belgium's so-called golden generation against a team hoping to emulate France's World Cup triumph from 1998. The man who captained Les Bleus back then, Didier Deschamps is now hoping to lead them to glory, of course, once again. But he will face stiff competition from neighbors Belgium. Who are bidding for their first World Cup title ever. The winner will go on to play either England or Croatia on the final on Sunday. The second semifinal will be played on Wednesday. Here's a quick look at how tonight's opponents match up. France have an enormous amount of talent in their ranks, especially up front. The likes of Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe have both scored three goals each so far at this tournament after a rather lackluster group stage. France sensationally have dumped Argentina out in the last 16 and then they beat Uruguay to get here. Belgium, meanwhile, have been equally impressive, especially in the latter stages. They are the highest-ranked team left and they're the top scorers in Russia this year. Having dumped Brazil out in the last round, expectation is now high for this generation of players to lead Belgium to their first world title. Our man Alex Thomas is in St. Petersburg for the game. Alex, great to see you. Some people think this really should have been the final, it has all the makings of a classic. What kind of encounter are you expecting?</s>ALEX THOMAS, CNN WORLD SPORT: Yes, I would completely agree with that I would go as far to say, Don, whichever team emerges victorious here, France or Belgium are going to be huge favorites to lift that trophy. Maybe it's win this game and the title is yours. Although clearly England and Croatia fans are not going to agree with me on that point. But so many dreams have been dashed on this long journey to this point where we're left with just four games and four teams remaining in this World Cup. Don, we've seen Brazilian fans in the past, Argentinians aboard. There's all those who bought tickets expecting to see their side here, only for them to have gone out in an event that has seen so many surprises, so many ups and downs for many of the big teams. And we've been taking a look around this historic city of St. Petersburg built on its series of islands. You know, it's the perfect venue for a head of a match between two teams that can change football history. Take a look.</s>THOMAS: The former Windsor Palace, birthplace of the Russian revolution. France also know about kicking out the monarchy. But these days prefer to kick around a football. And two decades after their first World Cup triumph, Les Bleus, are just one win away from a chance to do it again.</s>HUGO LLORIS, FRANCE GOALKEEPER (through translator): I think Belgium are the most complete team in all the possible aspects of the game during this tournament. Because they have defense, they have attack, counterattack. They defend in the air, they are strong in everything. They have everything they need to be a great team and they are a great team. It's a fantastic generation. And to beat them, we will have to play a great match.</s>THOMAS: In the heart of the original city center is the St. Peter and Paul fortress. And defense is often seen as a key priority for French coach, Didier Deschamps. His dilemma, stay cautious against prolific Belgium or free up his own potential match winner Kylian Mbappe.</s>DIDIER DESCHAMPS , FRANCE MANAGER (through translator): I have made sure my players are prepared for any scenarios for the beginning of the match. Any compositions and during the match as well if that changes. This is not specifically to Belgium. It can happen with any opponent.</s>THOMAS: Belgium's golden generation of players is as eye-catching as the dome above Saint Isaac's Cathedral. Lukaku, De Bruyne and Hazard in particular, living up to their pretournament billing. They've gone a step here than the quarterfinal defeat of Brazil in 2014 and Euro 2016 with the possibility of more to come.</s>ROBERTO MARTINEZ, BELGIUM MANAGER: With respect immensely. The quality of France, think they understand in between the two squads are clear. Many players play against each other in the leagues regularly. Some of the players share dressing rooms. So, I think this is the perfect game in order to be focused and as good as you can be for this semifinal.</s>THOMAS: Don, despite being European neighbors, France and Belgium haven't played each other in the World Cup since 1986. That was the last year Belgium got to the semifinals. France have been in this position five times before. The two teams that know each other so well, you've got Eden Hazard for Belgium playing against his Chelsea teammate in Olivier Giroud. And of course, the issue of Thierry Henry, France's top goal-scorer of all time. In that team with Deschamps that lifted the World Cup in 1998 and the European championship in 2000. But Henry on the Belgium bench and cheering on, not his native country, but a country that just lives next door to France. So, a very strange situation in many ways, Don, but that's going to be an interesting game.</s>RIDDELL: Some fascinating dynamics for sure. Alex Thomas, thanks very much. OK the role of the coaches in both of these semifinals will be crucial, and it's rather a surprise to see many of them at this stage of the tournament. For further analysis, our Christina MacFarlane has been speaking to the international football writer, Antony Kastrinakis.</s>CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN WORLD SPORT: Roberto Martinez has been called a tactical genius during this World Cup, which is not perhaps something he was called in his club playing days or indeed as a coach. What has he done differently? Why has he earned that tag during this World Cup?</s>ANTONY KASTRINAKIS, INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL WRITER: His first match was a friendly against Spain. About two years ago. They lost 2-0. Belgium had 28 percent possession. They had basically, the new process that came in around 2006. They wanted to play 4-3-3. What Roberto said after that match was with the players we've got, we cannot play 4-3-3. We can only play -- and he switched it to three at the back and he plays 3-4-3. Since then they've flourished. They've gone further than they have this golden generation. Before Roberto he has more than earned his spurs and more than shall we say rebuilt his reputation with them. A much more difficult job than at Everton. Because obviously, he left Everton. I wouldn't call it exactly a failure, but a disappointment, a letdown. And now obviously until yesterday when Luis Enrique was appointed Spain boss. He was basically the public and the media and Spain were clamoring for him to be appointed as the new Spain boss.</s>MACFARLAND: Well, his opposite number, Didier Deschamps, obviously aim to be the first man to win as a player and as a coach since Franz Beckenbauer, of course, for Germany. He has been criticized though throughout the tournament for not getting enough out of his players, do you think that's been justified?</s>KASTRINAKIS: No. Deschamps is -- you just look at his record as a manager. Forget his record as a player, which basically second to very few. He won the Euro, he won the World Cup and the Euro as captain of France. And he was the only captain of a French club to lift of the Champions League with Marseille in '93. But his record as manager and I want to take a bit of time on this, on a call, he took to the Champions League final where he lost to Mourinho in 2004. That was a miracle. He knocked out the galactical of Real Madrid. Then he took Juventus back to Serie. And then of course he won the title with Marseille for the first time in 18 years when he went to become boss of Marseille. The biggest club in France and he won the title. Not on unlimited resources. And he took charge of France and yes, it's been a process, he is a winner. The most important thing with Deschamps is not that he's a tactical genius, but that you have Deschamps. Given the pre-match talk, the guy won the World Cup and one the Euro, he's going to be addressing those players, an absolute legend. He took them to the final two years ago on home soil. It could have easily gone the other way. So, you cannot say he's been a failure as a manager.</s>RIDDELL: Great insight there from Antony Kastrinakis. With the World Cup final likely to overlap with the Wimbledon men's tennis final. Some think that's going to be a problem for tennis. But Roger Federer sees it differently.</s>ROGER FEDERER, EIGHT TIME WIMBLEDON CHAMPION: Every point, wow, oh, my god. Love the team. 15-30.