The final four of the 2026 World Cup is set, and it’s a rather stacked final four that includes the two finalists from the last Euros and the two finalists from the last World Cup. Despite all the shocks and surprises and drama of this World Cup, the four semifinalists are just about the four favorites that were always expected to get there.
That’s not to say that they had gotten there without their fair share of drama; certainly in Argentina’s case. The defending champions have produced some of the most
entertaining games of the knockout rounds, and while last night’s semifinal against Switzerland didn’t exactly reach the heady heights of the Cape Verde or Egypt matches in terms of pure cinema, it still featured one of the best goals scored at this World Cup in Julián Alvarez’s winner in extra-time.
Credit to Switzerland for managing to hold Argentina to just one goal during the 90 minutes; things might have ended differently for them had Breel Embolo not collected one of the silliest red cards of the tournament with a most egregious dive in the second half that was rightfully awarded a second yellow after VAR review. Down to ten, the Swiss managed to hold out to extra-time, but could not get to the penalties.
Enzo Fernández lasted the 90 but was taken off for extra-time. Valentín Barco continues to not feature.
Argentina will take on England in the second semifinal on Wednesday after the Three Lions outlasted an absolutely shattered Norway (and Erling Haaland) in the Miami heat and humidity. Norway took the lead on a did-he-mean-it strike from Andreas Schjelderup but Jude Bellingham dragged them back into it on the stroke of half-time (possibly assisted by bit of camera rigging in the sky: the Cable of God?).
The two teams slogged it out for the rest of regulation and the game might have stayed at that stalemate forever had Norway’s goalkeeper not spilled a catchable shot, which Bellingham was following up and took advantage of for his brace. Youngest player to score a brace in a World Cup knockout match since Pelé! Pretty good.
Thomas Tuchel was not at all pleased with the football played by his team, but praised the team’s effort, determination, and attitude. The conditions were brutal, and in some ways, it was literally the survival of the fittest. But England did survive and now they will face Argentina in a massive showdown, with the winners going on to play the winners of France and Spain in next weekend’s final. Exciting!
Reece James did not start for England but did end up playing nearly an hour of football after coming on halfway through the second half. He seems to have come through unscathed, thankfully. Trevoh Chalobah continues to not feature.
