Luxury semi-finals in the World Cup
The draw provided a dream table for the semifinals of the biggest soccer World Cup in history: Argentina against England and France against Spain. All four teams have been world champions at some point. Argentina holds the current title, with a 39-year-old Lionel Messi who continues to shine.
The semifinals bring together four of the top five in the FIFA ranking and five of the tournament’s six top scorers: Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Ousmane Dembélé.
On Tuesday, in Dallas, Spain—the current European champion—faces France, owner of the most lethal lead in the last month in North America. The next day, Argentines and English will clash in Atlanta.
“We will go to compete once again as we always do, against a power, a great team,” Messi said after beating Switzerland 3-1.
It will be the first time that Messi plays against England in an official or friendly match. “It’s special because it’s a big team,” he added. The Argentine captain has eight goals, the same as Mbappé.
The last time the four semi-finalists wore stars on their shirts was in Italy 1990. Then, Maradona’s Argentina sought to retain its crown, but lost to West Germany in the final. The Qatar 2022 duel could be repeated if France and Argentina advance.
Historical rivalry
Argentina and England revive a rivalry marked by intense sporting duels and, off the field, by the tension of the Malvinas War. Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni asked to focus only on football:
“It’s a football game,” he said.
On the field, the antecedents are memorable: 1966 (controversy at Wembley), 1986 (Maradona’s “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century”), 1998 (Beckham’s expulsion) and 2002 (England’s revenge penalty). England arrives with figures like Bellingham and Kane, although with physical problems. Argentina advances with difficulties, supported by Messi.
France-Spain, early finish
Two years after their duel in the Euro Cup, France and Spain meet again. Spain won that semifinal 2-1, with a goal from Lamine Yamal, then 16 years old. Mbappé played with a broken nose. Today, France is seen as the most feared team. Spain overcame injuries to Yamal and Nico Williams, and goals from Mikel Merino took them to the semi-finals.
“If anyone they should fear, it’s us,” declared Lamine Yamal.
