World Cup Semi-Finals: France vs Spain, England vs Argentina

The World Cup has reached the semi-final stage, with four nations remaining: France, Spain, England, and Argentina. Each team is two wins away from the world title, and the margin for error is minimal. Here is a guide to the last-four ties.

France vs Spain: European Heavyweights Collide

The match will take place at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday at 20:00 BST. France and Spain, two of Europe's strongest squads, face off in a fixture that has all the ingredients for a classic. Kylian Mbappe has dominated headlines after France's 2-0 quarter-final win over Morocco, taking his tournament tally to eight goals. He is one behind Lionel Messi in the race to become the World Cup's all-time top scorer. However, France's strength lies in their depth across the pitch. Ousmane Dembele sealed the quarter-final victory with his fifth goal of the tournament, while Michael Olise leads the competition with five assists. That depth could prove vital for the two-time winners against a Spain side that beat them 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.

Spain's best football may still be ahead of them. Their star attraction, Lamine Yamal, has yet to fully announce himself at the World Cup, scoring only once—against Saudi Arabia in the group stage. Mikel Oyarzabal, with four goals, has blanked in the past two matches, forcing Spain to rely on late substitute Mikel Merino to edge past Portugal and Belgium in the knockout rounds. Spain, aiming to add to their 2010 triumph, will hope Yamal, who turns 19 on the eve of the tie, delivers a performance that justifies his talent.

Key Stats

France will play in their eighth World Cup semi-final, equaling Brazil, with only Germany (12) featuring in more. Spain are on the longest unbeaten run in their history, having avoided defeat in 36 matches since a 1-0 loss to Colombia in March 2024, with 27 wins and nine draws. This will be just the second World Cup meeting between the sides; France came from behind to win 3-1 in the last 16 in 2006.

England vs Argentina: A Rivalry Renewed

The match will be held at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday at 20:00 BST. This is England's second World Cup semi-final since 2018, but defending champions Argentina stand in their way of a first final appearance in 60 years. The fixture is fraught with passion and rivalry, falling 40 years after Diego Maradona's infamous performance that eliminated England in the 1986 quarter-finals.

Argentina now have another superstar number 10 in Lionel Messi, who has never faced England. Messi became the World Cup's all-time top goalscorer this tournament and has eight goals, the same as Mbappe, who leads the Golden Boot race on assists. England have their own iconic 10 in Jude Bellingham, who has scored twice in each of their past two knockout games—the first player to achieve that feat since Maradona in 1986. Captain Harry Kane is level with Bellingham on six goals. Neither team has been at their free-flowing peak, battling to victories in the knockout stages to reach this point.