ST. PETERSBURG — The threads connecting Belgium and France were always there, even as they were stretched by two years of qualifiers, a group stage, exotic venues like Kazan and Rostov-on-Don, and knockout-round opponents like Lionel Messi and Neymar.
Their journey here, to the threshold between Europe and Russia and the threshold of a World Cup final, was never inevitable. The French were favored, but often didn’t appear to be playing their fluid best. The Belgians faced a two-goal, second-half deficit against Japan, and then a second-half onslaught by Brazil.
But they endured. And as a result, these half-siblings, which already share bits and pieces of their history, border, language and flag—not to mention significant and intriguing soccer ties—will share the field here at Krestovsky Stadium in Tuesday’s semifinal.