THE LOWDOWN — THE FULL HISTORY
THE FINAL FOUR
A five-and-a-half-minute preview of both 2026 World Cup semi-finals: France against Spain in Dallas, England against Argentina in Atlanta.
CONTROL, OR CHAOS — France, with Mbappé, Dembélé and Olise, the deepest attack in a generation, against a Spain side unbeaten in four years and with one goal conceded in six matches. Mbappé has never beaten Lamine Yamal: five meetings, five defeats. Since 2012, Spain have won every knockout that mattered between them. It is played on Bastille Day, and it is Deschamps' last dance.
OLD KING, OR NEW — Days after the death of Antonio Rattín, whose 1966 sending-off at Wembley gave football the red card, England and Argentina renew the game's oldest grudge. Messi, 39 and the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, chases one last final. England bring Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, and have not beaten Argentina in a World Cup knockout in sixty years.
THE QUESTION
Four teams. One trophy. Who lifts it?
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THE TERRACES — DISCUSSION
The argument also lives in the YouTube comments ↗.