The World Cup in Russia has blown away all expectations, as the drama has been never-ending. Through the group stages we saw big names like Germany fall, with the early knockout rounds cutting Spain down to size. What we’re left with at the semi-final stage are two mouth-watering – yet somewhat unexpected – ties that are sure to get your blood pumping. Here at BitStarz, our World Cup Free Spins Promotion is adding a little a sizzle to this smoking-hot match.

This brand-new campaign is open to customers that have completed the welcome bonus package, but don’t worry if you’re new, as it’s not too late to join the action. After making an eligible deposit, all you have to do is predict the winner and you’ll get 80 free spins, while we’ll even give you 40 free spins if your chosen team falls short.

Helping you make the call that matters, here’s some information on what’s going down in the first World Cup semi-final this afternoon.

The Tale of the Tape

It can be argued that no two teams in the tournament have stronger squads than France and Belgium. Packed full of superstars – much like our Top Football Slots – both could easily field two competitive teams in this tournament – that’s just how deep the depth of quality goes. This game is likely to hinge on the performance of each team’s star player. Paul Pogba and Eden Hazard might have had indifferent seasons at their domestic clubs, but they have really shown what they’re cable of at the World Cup thus far. Antoine Griezmann and Romelu Lukaku will also be players to watch, as both have shaken defenses, scoring three and four goals respectively.

What’s also interesting is that these two teams have quite the storied past, having faced each other 73 times in the past. Belgium surprisingly shades the battle, with 30 victories over France’s 24. However, of the two teams, only France can claim to have lifted the World Cup before.

France’s Journey to the Semi-Final

France started the tournament moving at a snail’s pace, with many arguing that the team did not deserve to qualify out of what should have been an easy group. A heavily criticized and slightly controversial draw with Denmark followed two low-quality wins over Australia and Peru to ensure that Les Bleus made it to the knockout rounds.

The sleepy and disjointed performances shown during the group stage saw France written off by pundits against the Lionel Messi-led Argentina. Seeing holes in France’s game, Didier Deschamps tweaked his tactical approach, which allowed Kylian Mbappe to run wild. What followed was an unstoppable display of attacking football that saw France run out 4-3 winners. France would then book a semi-final place with a workman-like win over Uruguay, as they successfully pushed past Luis Suarez and co.

Belgium’s Journey to the Semi-Final

Belgium came into the tournament being tagged as the “New England.” While extremely talented individually, many believed that the team would face an early knockout round exit due to a lack of team cohesion. Proving the doubters wrong, Belgium strolled through the group stage, even beating England 1-0 along the way. What awaited them was a second-round tie with Japan that should have been an easy win. It turned into anything but, as Japan took the game – more importantly a 2-0 lead – to Belgium. Battling back, Belgium would win the game 3-2 thanks to a last-minute winner from Nacer Chadli.

The Red Devils would show what they’re capable off against tournament favorites Brazil in the quarter-finals. Once again, Belgium were written off prior to kick-off, but the samba skills of Brazil proved to be no match for Belgium’s brute force, with Kevin De Bruyne’s wonder strike capping off a fantastic performance.

So, Who’s Winning?

France versus Belgium presents a mouthwatering tie, so are bound to see goals if both teams stand by the free-flowing attacking football that has got them this far. Who do you think will take a massive step to towards the World Cup trophy? By making your prediction you could let your hunch lead you to a bonus bonanza.

To make sure that your prediction is eligible, you need to make a deposit of €20 or more, then select the team that you think is going to walk away with the win before the match starts. If you make the right pick, we’ll give you 80 free spins – 40 free spins if your team doesn’t win. All free spins will be credited to a customer’s account at 00:00 CEST the day following the competition of a qualifying match, so you won’t have to wait long to rock the reels!