Talking tactics: One key battle to watch in each semi-final match

Following 60 matches of drama-filled action in Russia, the World Cup is about to host two tantalising tussles between France and Belgium, and England and Croatia.

Here, theScore looks into each fixture and decides where they could be won and lost.

Eden Hazard vs. Raphael Varane

While people were drooling over Romelu Lukaku's work off the right flank against Brazil - continually dragging Miranda down the channels he was exploring behind Marcelo - Kevin De Bruyne's industry through the middle, and Marouane Fellaini's subduing of the South Americans' midfield, Hazard was putting in another superb showing as an inside-forward.

The Chelsea attacker was surprisingly the second most dominant Belgian in the air in the quarter-final and, unsurprisingly, led the match with nine dribbles. While De Bruyne has sometimes been stifled by Roberto Martinez's tactics, Hazard has flourished in a starting XI that is built around him.

On Tuesday, Hazard will be pitted against one of the finest defenders at this tournament in Varane. The scholarly centre-back has been a composed presence at the back for France, regularly choosing sensible short passes and quietly marshalling his teammates. But, in the semi-final meeting with Belgium, he should face his toughest assignment yet.

Varane's task is made harder with Benjamin Pavard to his right. The technically gifted Pavard, 22, is on course to be one of the leading defenders in Europe, but he is more familiar with playing in the middle of VfB Stuttgart's backline. If he becomes distracted by overlapping runs from Nacer Chadli or Yannick Carrasco in his position of right-back, or is simply eviscerated by Hazard, the onus is on Varane to quell the fleet-footed Walloon's careering runs from the left.

Will Varane be too busy tempering Hazard and leave gaps through the middle for De Bruyne and Lukaku to exploit? The omnipresent N'Golo Kante will be key when dropping to lay hurdles in Hazard's meandering path.

Mario Mandzukic vs. Kyle Walker

Due to fans' judgments being clouded by which team was the victor in the 2017 Champions League final, Mandzukic's stupendous acrobatic goal for Juventus in the showpiece against Real Madrid is fading from view.

Not only is he capable of those party tricks, he can also be an irrepressible frontline force. He has won more headers at the World Cup than Harry Kane, captain of set-piece savant England, he has played more key passes than Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, and Willian, and has performed more tackles than Jan Vertonghen. He is an oft-overlooked all-action forward capable of troubling any defender.

And in Wednesday's semi-final, he will be looking to pit himself against Walker.

The principle reason for fielding Walker in a back-three is to have his pace to throw spike chains in front of counter-attacks. Colombia's upfield surges were repeatedly cordoned off by Walker in England's round of 16 tilt, and Sweden's Emil Forsberg was a peripheral figure until he was substituted in the 65th minute. It must be noted, though, that Walker was robbed of possession in the aforementioned Colombia match, almost resulting in a goal for the Cafeteros.

Walker is still a novice and positionally suspect in a back-three, and that will be challenged by Mandzukic's blue-collared graft. Even if Mandzukic is selected in a central role, his tendency to drift left will force Walker and his teammates into difficult decisions. Will John Stones feel a need to assist Walker and therefore leave Harry Maguire fending for himself against the likes of Andrej Kramaric and Eintracht Frankfurt's versatile menace Ante Rebic? Can Croatia catch Walker flat-footed or out of position with balls to the back post, giving Mandzukic a chance to bullet a header at Jordan Pickford's goal or nod across the six-yard box?

If there is something to lessen English nerves going into this semi-final, it's that Mandzukic, along with many of his compatriots, looked fatigued during their penalty shootout victory over Russia on Saturday.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)