\n
ATLANTA (AP) \u2014 It is world cup<\/span> The lineup for the semifinals is for each generation. <\/p>\nThe past four champions and four top-ranked teams in the world. Five of the six top scorers were one goat<\/span> And one of the fiercest rivalries in soccer. <\/p>\nArgentina, Spain, France and England entered the tournament as the top four in the FIFA rankings, just two wins away from becoming world champions again. Too close to decide either matchup in the semifinals. France will play Spain in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday, while England will face Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
Not since 1990 has the World Cup’s best four been made up entirely of past winners. England and Argentina were also participating at that time, but they did not play against each other. Back then, as now, Argentina was the defending champion after defeating West Germany in the 1986 Mexico final, and lost to West Germany in the 1990 final. <\/p>\n
And if France and Argentina both advance, the final could be repeated this year and in 2022. <\/p>\n
England vs Argentina: fierce rivalry <\/h2>\n
Argentina must beat England in a match that restarts a fierce rivalry that transcends the field of football, but the tension also relates to the 1982 match. Dispute over the Falkland Islands<\/span>. <\/p>\nOn the World Cup stage, there were many flashpoints between teams on the field. Argentina national team captain Antonio Rattin His death was announced on Saturday, but<\/span> In 1966, during a quarter-final match against champions England, he became ill and was sent off. England manager Alf Ramsey tried to stop his players from swapping jerseys with their opponents after the 1-0 win.<\/p>\nFast forward 20 years to 1986. Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal<\/span> Argentina defeated England 2-1 in the quarterfinals, contributing to the trophy. <\/p>\nDavid Beckham was sent off for kicking Argentina midfielder Diego Simeone in 1998, but was predictably criticized by the English media for what appeared to be a minor collision. Argentina won on penalties in the round of 16. <\/p>\n
Beckham got his revenge four years later by converting a penalty in a 1-0 win and helping Argentina get eliminated in the group stage. <\/p>\n
France vs Spain: France’s chance for revenge coming soon<\/h2>\n
Just two years after they met in the European Championship, France and Spain will meet again in the semi-finals of a major tournament. <\/p>\n
Spain won 2-1<\/span> Lamine Yamal, then 16 years old, scored the goal and they defeated England in the final to win the Euros. <\/p>\nKylian Mbapp\u00e9 suffered a broken nose and was reduced in strength in this tournament, but emerging stars such as Michael Oliseh and Desiree Douye were still unable to make the breakthrough. <\/p>\n
Two years on, France are widely regarded as the most impressive team at the World Cup, with a dizzying array of attacking talent and Mbapp\u00e9 taking the co-top scorer title ahead of the semi-final against France. Bastille Day<\/span>.<\/p>\nSpain, by contrast, came into the tournament plagued by injuries to Yamal and fellow winger Nico Williams, and relied on late goals from substitute Mikel Merino to defeat Portugal and Belgium in their previous two rounds. <\/p>\n
The two countries have faced each other many times in the World Cup and the Euros. France defeated Spain in the Euro 84 final.<\/p>\n
Competition for the Golden Boot<\/h2>\n
Many of the world’s deadliest finishers appear in top form, making for thrilling competition within the tournament. <\/p>\n
erling haaland<\/span> may be eliminated from the race, but five of the top six scorers still remain and others could be forced into the race for the Golden Boot. <\/p>\nMbappe and Lionel Messi lead the way with eight goals each. Haaland has seven, but that number cannot be increased after Norway win the title. Lost to England in the quarterfinals<\/span>. <\/p>\nJude Bellingham and Harry Kane each scored six goals, while Ousmane Dembele scored five. <\/p>\n
Mikel Oyarzabal has scored four goals, so Spain could still challenge if they beat France in the semi-finals. <\/p>\n
There is also a race to become the all-time top scorer in the World Cup, with Messi scoring 21 goals and Mbappe scoring 20. <\/p>\n
That man, Messi <\/h2>\n
He is already considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, the GOAT, and the 39-year-old’s performance in what is likely his last World Cup only strengthens that claim. This will be Messi’s first match against England.<\/p>\n
If Messi can lead Argentina to the title, he will surpass the great Maradona, who won two World Cups with Argentina. <\/p>\n
It is also Argentina’s first consecutive championship since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. <\/p>\n
Pele, the great soccer player<\/span> was part of those Brazilian teams that won their third World Cup in 1970.<\/p>\n___<\/p>\n
James Robson is https:\/\/x.com\/James Saran Robson<\/span><\/p>\n___<\/p>\n
See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"ATLANTA (AP) \u2014 It is world cup The lineup for the semifinals is for each generation. The past four champions and four top-ranked teams in the world. Five of the six top scorers were one goat And one of the fiercest rivalries in soccer. Argentina, Spain, France and England entered the tournament as the top<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39116,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-39115","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-soccer"},"yoast_head":"\n
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