France, Spain, England, and Argentina set for World Cup semi-finals

⚽ Four teams, two semi-final matches, one trophy: The World Cup semi-finals are set — France face Spain at 10pm on Tuesday at Dallas Stadium, and England take on Argentina at 10pm on Wednesday at Atlanta Stadium. The victors will then meet in the final on Sunday, 19 July at New York New Jersey Stadium. Losers will battle it out for third place on Saturday, 18 July. For the first time in World Cup history, the four semi-finalists are the same four teams ranked first through fourth in the FIFA world rankings — France, Argentina, Spain, and England, in that order.

🥅 ICYMI-

It was an intense World Cup weekend, to say the least. The action kicked off on Thursday with France doing what they did to Morocco four years ago. Mbappé missed a first-half penalty, then overcame it with a curling effort in the 60th minute and an assist for Dembélé six minutes later, to send France into the semifinals 2-0. It was his 20th career World Cup goal — moving him to within one of Messi’s all-time record — and his 12th in the knockout rounds/

On Friday, Spain had their time in the limelight. Fabián Ruiz opened the scoring in the 30th minute — off a rebound from a Courtois save — before Charles De Ketelaere equalized for Belgium nine minutes later, ending Spain’s record run of 609 consecutive World Cup minutes without conceding. Belgium lost Courtois to injury in the 73rd minute, his replacement Senne Lammens coming on only to spill a Pau Cubarsí shot in the 88th minute, with substitute Mikel Merino tapping home the final score from close range.

Last night and early this morning were the matches we’d all been waiting for. In England vs. Norway, which ended 2-1 for The Three Lions, Andreas Schjelderup fired Norway ahead in the 36th minute, but Bellingham equalized just before half-time. Kane then had the ball in the net moments later, only for it to be ruled out for offside. Norway had a second goal disallowed after VAR ruled Haaland had pushed an England player before the corner was taken, and the match went to extra time with the sides level. Norway coach Ståle Solbakken then took off an exhausted Haaland at half-time of extra time — held scoreless for the first time in this World Cup — and Bellingham settled it moments later.

Argentina’s victory wasn’t without controversies… again. Mac Allister headed home a Messi corner in the 10th minute, before Dan Ndoye equalized for Switzerland in the 67th — and then the match turned on one of the tournament’s most contentious moments. Leandro Paredes was initially booked for a foul on Breel Embolo, but VAR reviewed the decision under the “mistaken identity” protocol and determined Embolo had been falling before contact was made — handing the yellow to Embolo instead. Since Embolo already carried a booking, he was sent off, leaving Switzerland to play the final 18 minutes of regulation and all of extra time with 10 men.

**Don’t miss out on the fierce competition in the EnterpriseAM Fantasy World Cup — click on this link or use the code 2CUFGASD to join.