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Four top-ranked soccer teams in the world make up World Cup semifinals
It’s a World Cup semifinal lineup for the ages.
Four previous champions and the four top-ranking teams in the world. Five of the six top scorers, one GOAT and one of the bitterest rivalries in soccer.
Argentina, Spain, France and England went into the tournament as the top four in FIFA’s rankings and are two wins away from being crowned champion of the world again. It’s just too close to call either semifinal matchup: France will play Spain in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday and England will face Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Not since 1990 has the final four of a World Cup been made up entirely of previous winners. And this year could also see a repeat final from 2022 if France and Argentina both advance.
Argentina must overcome England in a match that resumes a fierce rivalry that goes beyond the soccer field, with tensions also relating to the 1982 conflict over the Falklands Islands.
Roll the clock forward and in 1986 Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand of God” goal helped Argentina to a 2-1 win against England in the quarterfinals on the way to lifting the trophy.
France and Spain meet again in the semifinals of a major tournament, just two years since going head-to-head at the European Championship.
Spain won 2-1 with a then-16-year-old Lamine Yamal on the score sheet and went on to lift the Euros by beating England in the final.
It has become a thrilling competition within the tournament as many of the world’s most lethal finishers have all turned up in peak form.
Erling Haaland may be out of the race, but five of the six top scorers are still standing and others could yet force their way into the race for the Golden Boot.
Mbappé and Lionel Messi lead the way with eight goals each. Haaland has seven, but he cannot add to that number after Norway was eliminated by England in the quarterfinals.
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have six each, while Ousmane Dembélé is on five.
There’s also the contest for the all-time top scorer at World Cups overall with Messi on 21 goals and Mbappé on 20.
Messi is already considered by many to be the greatest of all time — the GOAT — and his performances at what is likely his last World Cup, aged 39, have only strengthened that argument. This will be Messi’s first ever game against England.
If Messi can lead Argentina to the title, he would surpass the great Maradona by winning two World Cups for his country.
Argentina would also become the first back-to-back champion since Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
Soccer great Pelé was part of those Brazil teams and also went on to win a third World Cup in 1970.
(AP Photo Charlie Reidel)
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