World Cup 2018: The secret to France success revealed… Adil Rami’s magic moustache
Antoine Griezmann started the custom that has taken Les Bleus to the final two in Russia
SUPERSTITIOUS France players believe Adil Rami's moustache has lead them to the World Cup final.
Les Bleus beat Belgium on Tuesday night to reach the final two in Russia, seeing their tradition grow in importance.
It began with striker Antoine Griezmann feeling Rami's facial hair ahead of their group stage games.
France progressed as group winners, and the custom continued with Rami becoming the Samson of this side.
Each player in Didier Deschamps' squad now touches the 32-year-old centre-back's moustache and beard before each game.
Griezmann was spotted touching the tashe during the warm-up for the quarter-final against Uruguay in Nizhny Novgorod last week.
France eased through with a 2-0 win.
And in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday the Atletico Madrid forward was once again reaching for Rami's beard in the tunnel.
Marseille defender Rami, currently dating Pamela Anderson, hasn't even featured on the field in Russia but his importance to the team's mentality appears to be growing.
Samuel Umtiti, the impressive young Barcelona centre-back, is keeping the veteran Rami out the side and with good reason.
France have not conceded since the last-16 stage, and Umtiti's header six minutes into the second half against Belgium sent Les Bleus into the final.
Should England reach Sunday's final, it may simply take a razor to win their first World Cup in 52 years.