Get ready for the World Cup semifinals, featuring top players, best moments, predictions, and odds, everything you need to know
Star player so far: For Spain, the influence of Pedri has been significant, with the Barcelona midfielder controlling the tempo of the game and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. His vision and passing range have been instrumental in Spain's progress, and he has also chipped in with important goals. The likes of Merino and Rodri have also made crucial contributions, but Pedri's consistency has been key to Spain's success.
Best moment so far: Spain's best moment came in the round of 16 against Portugal, when Merino's 90th-minute strike secured a 1-0 victory. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Spanish players and coaching staff, and it was a testament to the team's resilience and determination. The win over Portugal was a turning point for Spain, as it marked a shift from a sluggish start to the tournament to a more confident and cohesive unit.
As the semifinals approach, both France and Spain will be looking to build on their momentum and secure a place in the final. The two teams have taken different paths to get to this point, but they share a common goal: to become world champions. The stage is set for a thrilling encounter between two of the world's top teams, with France's attacking flair pitted against Spain's defensive solidity. The question on everyone's mind is: which team will come out on top?
Luis de la Fuente's side will need to improve their attacking prowess to stand a chance against France, who have been in impressive form. Merino, despite limited playing time, has been instrumental in producing crucial moments for Spain, including the winning goals in the round of 16 and quarterfinals. Mikel Oyarzabal has also made significant contributions, scoring four goals, although he has not found the net in the last two games. Rodri's consistent improvement will be vital, while the team awaits the return to form of the injured Yamal.
Merino's knack for scoring decisive goals has been evident, including the winner against Germany in the quarterfinals of the last UEFA European Championship. His ability to make an impact off the bench has been a key factor in Spain's campaign, and his place in Spanish football folklore is already guaranteed. The midfielder's humility was evident when he said, "I still can't quite believe it... I don't think it will happen again. We will see."
France, on the other hand, has demonstrated their dominance with a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Morocco, accumulating an xG of 3.69 and conceding just 0.14. However, Spain can draw confidence from their previous victories over France in 2024 and 2025. By controlling the tempo of the game and using possession as a defensive mechanism, Spain can limit France's opportunities to launch counterattacks.
The challenge for Spain will be to prevent France from winning the ball back and exploiting the spaces left by Spain's high defensive line. The pace of Mbappé and the vision of Olise will pose significant threats, and it will be up to Rodri to nullify these dangers. The upcoming match promises to be an intriguing encounter, with France's attacking flair pitted against Spain's defensive solidity.
Predictions for the match are varied, with some experts favoring France's talent and others believing Spain's possession-based game can stifle the French attack. Lizzy Becherano predicts a 3-1 win for France, while Jeff Carlisle forecasts a 2-1 victory for the same team. In contrast, Bill Connelly and Gab Marcotti believe Spain can emerge victorious, with scores of 2-1 and 2-1, respectively. The match promises to be a closely contested and thrilling encounter between two of the world's top teams.
France's ability to score from various outlets makes them a formidable opponent, and Spain cannot rely on another late rescue act from Merino to win. Meanwhile, England's journey to the semifinals has been marked by resilience and determination. After a strong start with a 4-2 win over Croatia, they faced setbacks, including a goalless draw with Ghana and a struggling 2-0 win against Panama.
However, England's campaign gained momentum with a thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico in the round of 16, thanks to Jude Bellingham's brace and a Harry Kane penalty. Bellingham's performances have been instrumental in England's success, scoring six goals in the tournament, including a double against Norway in the quarterfinals. His display against Mexico was particularly impressive, and his winner in extra time against Norway has made him a strong contender for the Golden Ball.
England's best moments have come from Kane's late winner against Congo DR and Bellingham's goals against Mexico and Norway. The team's ability to overcome adversity, including a red card against Mexico and a late onslaught, has been a hallmark of their campaign. In contrast, Argentina's path to the semifinals has been a rollercoaster ride, with the team facing huge problems in each of their knockout ties.
Inspired by Lionel Messi, Argentina navigated their group stage with ease but struggled in the knockout phase. They required extra time to defeat Cape Verde and came from behind to beat Egypt 3-2, with Messi scoring a crucial goal and Enzo Fernández netting a 93rd-minute winner. Messi has been the star player for Argentina, scoring eight goals and setting up another, while breaking numerous records, including becoming the World Cup's all-time top scorer with 21 goals. His performances have been instrumental in keeping Argentina's hopes of a back-to-back title alive.
As the stage is set for the highly anticipated semifinal clash between England and Argentina, experts are weighing in with their predictions. Becherano forecasts a tight encounter, with England and Argentina ending 2-2 and the South Americans emerging victorious in a penalty shootout. Carlisle, on the other hand, believes England's energy reserves will prove too much for an Argentine side that appears to be running out of steam, predicting a 2-1 win for the English.
Connelly also favors England, citing their superior finishing skills compared to Switzerland, who pushed Argentina to the limit in their previous match. Dawson expects a high-scoring affair, with both teams finding the back of the net, but ultimately tips England to prevail in a penalty shootout. Hamilton predicts a thrilling 3-2 win for England in extra time, provided they can recover from their exertions and field a relatively fit squad.
Marcotti, however, forecasts a cagey 0-0 draw, with Argentina's Emiliano Martinez proving the difference-maker in a penalty shootout. Olley believes the match will be an attritional affair, with Argentina's quality potentially edging out England's grit and determination. Ogden, meanwhile, is confident that England's superior organization and teamwork will allow them to overcome Argentina, predicting a 2-1 win for the English.
With the experts divided, one thing is certain: the semifinal clash between England and Argentina promises to be an epic encounter, with the winner advancing to the final and one step closer to lifting the coveted trophy. The stage is set for a thrilling showdown, with the world watching as these two footballing powerhouses collide.
Best moment so far: Spain's best moment came in the round of 16 against Portugal, when Merino's 90th-minute strike secured a 1-0 victory. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the Spanish players and coaching staff, and it was a testament to the team's resilience and determination. The win over Portugal was a turning point for Spain, as it marked a shift from a sluggish start to the tournament to a more confident and cohesive unit.
As the semifinals approach, both France and Spain will be looking to build on their momentum and secure a place in the final. The two teams have taken different paths to get to this point, but they share a common goal: to become world champions. The stage is set for a thrilling encounter between two of the world's top teams, with France's attacking flair pitted against Spain's defensive solidity. The question on everyone's mind is: which team will come out on top?
Luis de la Fuente's side will need to improve their attacking prowess to stand a chance against France, who have been in impressive form. Merino, despite limited playing time, has been instrumental in producing crucial moments for Spain, including the winning goals in the round of 16 and quarterfinals. Mikel Oyarzabal has also made significant contributions, scoring four goals, although he has not found the net in the last two games. Rodri's consistent improvement will be vital, while the team awaits the return to form of the injured Yamal.
Merino's knack for scoring decisive goals has been evident, including the winner against Germany in the quarterfinals of the last UEFA European Championship. His ability to make an impact off the bench has been a key factor in Spain's campaign, and his place in Spanish football folklore is already guaranteed. The midfielder's humility was evident when he said, "I still can't quite believe it... I don't think it will happen again. We will see."
France, on the other hand, has demonstrated their dominance with a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Morocco, accumulating an xG of 3.69 and conceding just 0.14. However, Spain can draw confidence from their previous victories over France in 2024 and 2025. By controlling the tempo of the game and using possession as a defensive mechanism, Spain can limit France's opportunities to launch counterattacks.
The challenge for Spain will be to prevent France from winning the ball back and exploiting the spaces left by Spain's high defensive line. The pace of Mbappé and the vision of Olise will pose significant threats, and it will be up to Rodri to nullify these dangers. The upcoming match promises to be an intriguing encounter, with France's attacking flair pitted against Spain's defensive solidity.
Predictions for the match are varied, with some experts favoring France's talent and others believing Spain's possession-based game can stifle the French attack. Lizzy Becherano predicts a 3-1 win for France, while Jeff Carlisle forecasts a 2-1 victory for the same team. In contrast, Bill Connelly and Gab Marcotti believe Spain can emerge victorious, with scores of 2-1 and 2-1, respectively. The match promises to be a closely contested and thrilling encounter between two of the world's top teams.
France's ability to score from various outlets makes them a formidable opponent, and Spain cannot rely on another late rescue act from Merino to win. Meanwhile, England's journey to the semifinals has been marked by resilience and determination. After a strong start with a 4-2 win over Croatia, they faced setbacks, including a goalless draw with Ghana and a struggling 2-0 win against Panama.
However, England's campaign gained momentum with a thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico in the round of 16, thanks to Jude Bellingham's brace and a Harry Kane penalty. Bellingham's performances have been instrumental in England's success, scoring six goals in the tournament, including a double against Norway in the quarterfinals. His display against Mexico was particularly impressive, and his winner in extra time against Norway has made him a strong contender for the Golden Ball.
England's best moments have come from Kane's late winner against Congo DR and Bellingham's goals against Mexico and Norway. The team's ability to overcome adversity, including a red card against Mexico and a late onslaught, has been a hallmark of their campaign. In contrast, Argentina's path to the semifinals has been a rollercoaster ride, with the team facing huge problems in each of their knockout ties.
Inspired by Lionel Messi, Argentina navigated their group stage with ease but struggled in the knockout phase. They required extra time to defeat Cape Verde and came from behind to beat Egypt 3-2, with Messi scoring a crucial goal and Enzo Fernández netting a 93rd-minute winner. Messi has been the star player for Argentina, scoring eight goals and setting up another, while breaking numerous records, including becoming the World Cup's all-time top scorer with 21 goals. His performances have been instrumental in keeping Argentina's hopes of a back-to-back title alive.
As the stage is set for the highly anticipated semifinal clash between England and Argentina, experts are weighing in with their predictions. Becherano forecasts a tight encounter, with England and Argentina ending 2-2 and the South Americans emerging victorious in a penalty shootout. Carlisle, on the other hand, believes England's energy reserves will prove too much for an Argentine side that appears to be running out of steam, predicting a 2-1 win for the English.
Connelly also favors England, citing their superior finishing skills compared to Switzerland, who pushed Argentina to the limit in their previous match. Dawson expects a high-scoring affair, with both teams finding the back of the net, but ultimately tips England to prevail in a penalty shootout. Hamilton predicts a thrilling 3-2 win for England in extra time, provided they can recover from their exertions and field a relatively fit squad.
Marcotti, however, forecasts a cagey 0-0 draw, with Argentina's Emiliano Martinez proving the difference-maker in a penalty shootout. Olley believes the match will be an attritional affair, with Argentina's quality potentially edging out England's grit and determination. Ogden, meanwhile, is confident that England's superior organization and teamwork will allow them to overcome Argentina, predicting a 2-1 win for the English.
With the experts divided, one thing is certain: the semifinal clash between England and Argentina promises to be an epic encounter, with the winner advancing to the final and one step closer to lifting the coveted trophy. The stage is set for a thrilling showdown, with the world watching as these two footballing powerhouses collide.
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