France sweat over Tchouaméni as the World Cup's top four square up
On Monday the World Cup took a breath. No matches, just two days of team hotels, physio tables and press-conference sparring before the semifinals. And what is left standing is almost absurd: France, Argentina, Spain and England, the four best-ranked teams on the planet, every one of them a former champion. Nobody gatecrashed the party.
A final four with no gatecrashers
Draw it up in a lab and you get this. It is the first World Cup where the semifinal spots are filled by the top four ranked sides: France first, Argentina second, Spain third, England fourth. ESPN reckons it is only the third time every semifinalist has already won the thing, after 1970 and 1990. France look the part too, six wins from six and 16 goals scored, though the bracket still has to be played rather than seeded.
France count the walking wounded
The one crack is in France’s treatment room. Aurélien Tchouaméni, out with a muscle problem picked up in training on 3 July, has missed the last two games and is a major doubt for Spain. Kylian Mbappé rolled his ankle against Morocco and got hooked in the 77th minute, then swore he was “completely fine,” which is precisely what you would say either way. The good news for Didier Deschamps: knockout yellow cards are wiped before the semis, so Barcola, Olise and Koné open the round with a clean slate.
Yamal picks his moment
Spain’s Lamine Yamal, who turned 19 on Monday, is not doing quiet confidence. He called France “the most important match” of his career and, asked whether he feared them, gave the birthday answer: “I said no. We are European champions.” Over in the England camp, Harry Kane spent his podium time swatting away reports of a dressing-room split and backing Jude Bellingham. Nothing settles a squad quite like insisting it was never unsettled.
Semifinals: France play Spain on Tuesday in Arlington, England meet Argentina on Wednesday.
See who the bracket has reaching the final on the live table.
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