France and Spain to clash in World Cup semifinals as England faces Argentina
The four semifinalists—France, Spain, England and Argentina—are former champions, with France and Spain meeting Tuesday and England taking on Argentina Wednesday.
France and Spain will meet in Dallas on Tuesday, marking the third consecutive summer the two sides have faced each other in a major tournament. Both entered the World Cup as top-ranked favorites and have progressed without serious difficulty, although Spain’s counter-pressing style will test France’s attacking firepower. France’s recent tactical shift to a 4-2-3-1 formation has produced a potent front line built around Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and Michael Doué, while Spain relies on possession dominance and a disciplined press led by Rodri and Luis de la Fuente’s midfield.
"Spain won’t concede territory and will force France to defend long possessions for the first time in this tournament," the analysis notes.
Spain’s younger talent, Lamine Yamal, has struggled to replicate his earlier form, contributing only one goal and limited chances, whereas France’s midfield creator Olise has provided the most assists for his side. Both squads possess depth, with France able to draw on bench players such as Rayan Cherki and Bradley Barcola, and Spain fielding versatile options like Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Merino.
The second semifinal pits England against Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday. England’s path has featured comeback wins, including a dramatic extra-time victory over Norway, while Argentina has relied on late heroics and occasional VAR interventions to overturn deficits. England’s manager Thomas Tuchel emphasizes pressing and possession, a strategy that should give the Three Lions more ball control than Argentina, which has shown defensive frailties on the right flank.
"If Argentina’s centre-backs follow Harry Kane into midfield, it could open space for England’s Bellingham and Gordon," the preview observes.
Lionel Messi remains Argentina’s standout, matching Mbappé with eight goals and leading the tournament in expected assists, while Jude Bellingham provides England with a blend of box-to-box work and occasional goal-scoring. Set-piece proficiency could also influence the outcome, as both teams have scored and conceded from dead-ball situations throughout the competition.
Both semifinals are expected to be tightly contested, with the winners advancing to the final on Sunday.