Di World Cup don reach semi-final stage, and we get two heavy-duty matches wey go make your heart beat fast. France and Spain go first face off on Tuesday for Arlington, Texas, before holders Argentina meet England on Wednesday for Atlanta. Di tournament wey start with 48 teams don reduce to four, and every match now be like final.
Argentina, wey be current champions, don show say dem no dey joke. Dem beat Switzerland 3-1 for extra time on Saturday for Kansas City, with Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez scoring late goals. Alexis Mac Allister don open scoring, but Switzerland equalise through Dan Ndoye before Argentina finish strong. Now dem dey aim to become first team since Brazil for 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup.
England, wey dey try to win first major trophy since 1966, don rely on Jude Bellingham wey score two goals to beat Norway 2-1 for extra time for Miami. Coach Thomas Tuchel talk say di result dey fantastic but di performance no too good. England don reach semi-final only four times before: 1966, 1990, and 2018. Dem don lose di last two, while Argentina don win all six of dia semi-final appearances.
Di match between England and Argentina get long history. E go be 40 years since dia famous 1986 quarter-final for Mexico, where Diego Maradona score di Hand of God goal and another amazing solo goal. For Lionel Messi, wey be Maradona heir, dis go be im 206th international match but first ever against England. Di match also happen against backdrop of Falkland Islands dispute, but Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni say na football match alone.
For di other semi-final, France and Spain go meet again after dia Euro 2024 semi-final wey Spain win 2-1 before go win di trophy. Lamine Yamal score exceptional goal for dat match, and now e go turn 19 on Monday, one day before di World Cup semi-final. But Yamal don carry injury come di tournament and only score once for six games. Spain captain Rodri say di boy need to calm anxiety because e want to show how important e be.
France own talisman Kylian Mbappe don score eight goals so far, including one for quarter-final win over Morocco. Mbappe dey tied with Messi for golden boot and one goal behind Messi all-time World Cup record of 21 goals. Di winner of dis match go face winner of England vs Argentina for July 19 final for MetLife Stadium outside New York City.
Spain former prime minister Mariano Rajoy don cause controversy by saying France team get no French players. Current Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemn di comment as xenophobic, and France Interior Minister Laurent Nunez call am absolutely unacceptable.
