After 100 matches at this year’s World Cup, we’re now down to the final four – and what a prospect these semifinals are for football fans around the globe. With France taking on Spain at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday at 9 PM CET and England facing Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday at the same hour, expect nothing less than drama and see-sawing emotions. And that’s just for the neutrals, as the four nations look to progress to the World Cup final on Sunday, July 19.
Now, let’s break it down. We’ve got four previous champions battling it out, the four top-ranking teams in the world, and five of the six top scorers in the tournament. Oh, and don’t forget the ‘GOAT’ himself – Lionel Messi – and one of the bitterest rivalries in football history. It’s a showdown for the ages!
Back in 1986, Argentina were the defending champions after beating West Germany in that unforgettable final in Mexico, but they fell short in the 1990 rematch. Could we be looking at a repeat of that drama if both France and Argentina advance this year? The stakes are high!
Looking at the squads, France is buzzing with confidence. They’ve been the most impressive team of the tournament, showcasing a dizzying array of attacking talent. Kylian Mbappé, the joint leading scorer with eight goals, is set to lead the charge on Bastille Day. On the flip side, Spain has struggled with injuries, particularly to their young stars Yamal and Nico Williams. They’ve been relying on late goals to scrape past Portugal and Belgium in the knockout rounds. Can they dig deep against the French?
The history between these two nations adds spice to the matchup. France defeated Spain in the Euro 84 final, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Argentina and England? Now that’s a rivalry that goes beyond the pitch, with echoes of the 1982 Falklands conflict lingering in the air. There have been so many flashpoints between these teams on the World Cup stage. Remember Antonio Rattin? The Argentine captain was sent off in a heated quarterfinal against England in 1966, and England’s manager back then was adamant about not allowing shirt swaps after their victory. Fast forward to 1986, and Diego Maradona delivered a performance that even Lionel Messi can only dream of replicating.
Speaking of Messi, this year marks a significant milestone in his career. After 205 appearances for Argentina and a staggering 125 goals, he’s looking to add to his legacy. Meanwhile, Erling Haaland and Norway may have exited the tournament after their defeat to England, but five of the six top scorers are still in the mix. Besides Messi and Mbappé’s eight goals each, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane from England have six apiece, while Ousmane Dembélé from France has five. And let’s not forget about Mikel Oyarzabal from Spain, who has four goals and could still pose a threat if Spain overcomes France.
And here’s the kicker – the all-time top scorer record at World Cups is heating up too. Messi currently sits at 21 goals, with Mbappé hot on his heels at 20. The golden boot race is wide open, and we’re just getting started!
So, what will happen in these semifinals? Will history repeat itself or will we see new legends emerge? The excitement is palpable. Gelişmeleri takip ediyoruz…
Kaynak: Orijinal Haber