Key events
Kári Tulinius has emailed:
He wasn’t quite a discovery, as I’ve seen my share of him at Roma, but Manu Koné has been a revelation. What a World Cup he’s having, when most people, including probably him, thought he’d get the occasional cameo here and there, but nothing more. He does all the unglamorous stuff that allows the glittering stars around him to perform their wondrous feats of derringdo. In his final tournament as France manager, Didier Deschamps has finally found his water carrier.
A bit of history between England and Argentina:
All bar Henderson train for England
Jacob Steinberg
All England players apart from Jordan Henderson are training in Kansas City this morning. The big boost for Thomas Tuchel is that Declan Rice is on the mend after dealing with a bug in the build up to the Norway quarter-final. It remains to be seen if Rice is fit to start against Argentina but things are moving in the right direction.
Some breaking news for you now:
Here are all of the details for France v Spain:
Harry Jenkins has emailed and said:
Vancouver has been amazing! The city has come alive for the tournament, seeing Canada play their first game at BC Place was just an incredible experience. 56,000 people singing O Canada and a sea of Red was the highlight for me. Even though I’m English, Vancouver has been my home for 15 years and seeing the country get behind Team Canada was something else, I feel very lucky to have been a part of history.
It has been incredible to see all of the fans really get into this tournament. To my knowledge, I haven’t seen much trouble from supporters either. It’s been a very celebratory tournament.
The Football Daily is here and it is focused on France v Spain:
Closing ceremony details confirmed
FIFA have confirmed the closing ceremony of this World Cup will include several stars.
Tom Cruise, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams and IShowSpeed are all named with Jennifer Hudson performing the United States national anthem ahead of the final.
Barney Ronay
Wednesday night, Atlanta Stadium, 101 games down, three left to play, and finally it makes sense. Bring on The Countdown, that moment just before kick-off in every one of those quietly fascinating World Cup matches where suddenly the world’s most excited man is bellowing over the PA system in a state of outraged, crowing transport, like the last voice you’ll ever hear before the American century explodes in a ball of inanity, fried chicken and porn.
“NAYYYN!! EEEIGHYYT!! SEEEVEERRN!! …” the world’s most excited man shouts, prelude to some cautious rolling possession, maybe an early back-pass, and an agreeable reminder that the game itself will not be stage managed. You want quiet bathos? This World Cup will deliver the greatest goddam quiet bathos the galaxy has ever seen.
This is a treat. Have you ever wanted to watch the Football Weekly being recorded? Well you can do just that with a virtual ticket on Thursday. Get them here:
Anil Patel has shared his favourite moment of the World Cup and it could be replicated this evening:
Tonight’s referee Ivan Barton’s sending off of Miguel Almiron has been immortalised for the dance floor.
This is an absolute bop to be fair.
The hand of God might haunt some England players and supporters but Maradona’s image is inspirational for Argentina’s team. Read more:
Get in touch and let us know your favourite moment of the World Cup so far. Is it the remixed version of the referee giving Almirón a red card? Maybe it was Cape Verde’s impressive run or Belgium’s players doing the Trump dance against the USA after scoring. Give us an email.
What time is it? It’s quiz time:
Thank you Daniel, shall we start with some analysis? Here you go:
Once again I see my number up on the board which means I’m being subbed out.
On comes Sarah Rendell for her second spell (yes I know I’m mixing my sports, just go with it).
Enjoy the game everyone!
Over to you Sarah…
Tonight’s referee is Iván Barton of El Salvador, who has already made history at this World Cup.
Barton became the first official to send off a player under Fifa’s new rule against covering the mouth to conceal abusive language, dismissing Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón last month.
I might get stick for this but I like the rule. If you’re covering your mouth then you probably shouldn’t be saying what you’re saying.
Fifa has moved its video assistant referees on-site for the semi-finals, following criticism of decisions during the quarter-finals.
Until now, VAR officials had been operating from a central hub at the International Broadcast Centre in Dallas, regardless of where the match was played.
I just clocked that it’s Bastille Day in France!
Julia Riches has written in and I’m glad to say we’re on the same page:
Olise has been my player of the tournament, too. I loved watching him and Eze play at Palace, and agreed with Robyn Cowen that they should have been sold as a pair. He’s been scintillating this World Cup, and I say that as someone who supports Spain.
But don’t let us dictate the discourse. Who has been your favourite player and why is it not South Africa’s right-back, Khuliso Mudau?
Argentina have scored 17 goals at this World Cup, more than any other team.
One more against England would equal their highest total at a single tournament: 18, set on the way to winning the trophy in 2022.
But their progress has been accompanied by growing complaints about refereeing decisions, with “VARgentina” becoming the less-than-subtle nickname among their critics.
The latest flashpoint was Breel Embolo’s controversial red card during the quarter-final against Switzerland. Swiss coach Murat Yakin called the decision “unacceptable”, while former referee Christina Unkel warned that the tournament’s expanded VAR protocol risks turning reviews into full-scale re-refereeing.
England against Argentina did not especially need another layer of suspicion and grievance. It has one anyway. The internet will explode if VAR gets involved again.
The BBC is heading across the pond!
Matt Hughes, as he so often does, has the skinny:
“‘It is easy to create this division; it is an English mentality’ says Kane. People of India appreciating the assessment with a slow clap.”
You said it, Krishna Moorthy, not me.
Harry Kane has accused broadcasters and the wider media of trying to manufacture a split between Jude Bellingham and Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel described England as fortunate to beat Norway, prompting Bellingham, when the manager’s comments were put to him immediately after the match, to respond: “Whatever…” Meeow!
But Kane says far too much has been made of the exchange.
“It is easy to try and create this division,” the England captain told the BBC. “It seems like an English mentality, an English thing to do at these major tournaments.”
Kane argued that Bellingham had just emerged from a draining extra-time contest and had not heard Tuchel’s full remarks. He also insisted England’s progress has been built on unity between the players, coaches and staff.
A disagreement about one performance, then. Not yet a constitutional crisis. Phew!
Seeing loads of speculation around the future of Julián Álvarez.
According to the Independent, Arsenal are getting close to signing the Argentina striker from Altetico Madrid.
Maybe it all depends whether or not Declan Rice clatters him in a tackle tomorrow night?
France’s preparations do not apparently stop when Didier Deschamps leaves the room.
Adrien Rabiot and Jules Koundé have revealed that the players regularly gather privately at the team hotel to dissect matches, discuss tactics and work through problems without the coaching staff.
A squad full of elite footballers conducting their own evening seminars. Presumably nobody has to be reminded about the reading.
I wonder which French player is the guy who puts his hand up just before the bell sounds and says, “Sir, you forgot to give us homework.”
We all went to school with someone like this.
Are these the best two managers at the World Cup?
Probably not. But here’s an interesting couple of stats for you.
Didier Deschamps will take charge of his 26th World Cup match tonight, moving beyond Helmut Schön’s record for a manager.
At the other end, Luis de la Fuente has never lost a World Cup or European Championship match: 12 wins and one draw from 13. No manager has ever gone that long in a major tournament without defeat.
The most experienced manager in World Cup history against one who has yet to discover defeat at a major tournament. Not a bad subplot.
There’s an interesting comment below the line from ‘Flippergoogly’.
“Deschamps has Olise playing as a pedestrian. Great, chess-like decision making passing , but killing off his dribbling and ability to take the ball forwards. Maybe understandable with the speeds and skills of Frances forwards……but something as a tactic that I expect to backfire against Spain”
Let’s agree to disagree. Olise is not the methodical 10 who slowly builds, but it’s not as if he hasn’t been full of running.
I think he’s been the player of the tournament. At least my player of the tournament. I think he is the reason why France will triumph tonight. It’ll be close, but I can see the winning goal coming from a drop of his shoulder, a scything pass against the grain from his right foot, and an assist that will prove the difference.
Not sure if this is an ominous sign or not, but Matthew Dony has noted something:
So, according to Opta, it’s 52%/48% whether England stay in or leave? That seems familiar…
Hello everyone.
Good to be back after a swim at the lido – though the sun only came out after I left, so need to feel too jealous.
I’ll be with you for a couple of hours. Let’s get stuck in.
Why don’t we recap some of the articles that landed this morning:
A second dog that supports France has appeared on the news wires! And with that wholesome image I will head off and hand you back to Daniel Gallan.
Louise Taylor
Sunderland are set to make the Belgium right back Thomas Meunier their first summer signing.
The 34-year-old, a free agent after leaving Lille, is undergoing a medical on Wearside today. The former Broussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain defender, who made three appearances at this summer’s World Cup and has 83 senior international caps, will offer Regis Le Bris’s side invaluable experience ahead of their impending Europa League campaign.
Reuters has a quick snap that Beşiktaş have said they have opened negotiations for Arsenal and Belgium’s Leandro Trossard.
Brighton have signed 19-year-old Croatia defender Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham for what is believed to be a club record fee of £46m.
John Windmill has pulled together an amazing gallery here of some of the best images to come out of World Cup penalty shoot-outs. I am old enough to remember the first ever one – France v West Germany in 1982 after that assault on Patrick Battiston. A scroll through this is bound to stir some emotions – especially for those of us whose nations don’t have particularly great shoot-out track records. And yes, the Netherlands, I am also looking at you, that’s not just an England thing.
I am enjoying these pictures of France fans gathered in Dallas ahead of today’s semi-final with Spain.
There is even a little dog there lending its support to Les Bleus.
And fair play to these people repping Spain on the fringes.
Oliver Glasner has been speaking to Nottingham Forest’s website, and in a shock for those who seem to think running a Premier League team is like playing a videogame, he has revealed there is “no button to press” that will automatically make his side competitive.
PA are carrying these quotes from him:
For me it is very important that it is exciting and challenging. I really believe that us all together – the staff, the players, the fans, the leadership of the club – we can be really competitive in the Premier League which makes me excited.
There is no button to press that automatically makes it happen. It is a daily thing that will take progress over the coming weeks, which is what we have started.
The people are what is most important and that is what gives me a lot of confidence for this project. I have met great people – you can have the best stadium, the best training ground, but if you don’t have the right people, it doesn’t work.
Now we have to find the way that is best to work together. It is not just work for me, it is my life. This is a traditional club with a fantastic fanbase and a very ambitious owner that wants to take a step forward.
Jamie Jackson
Manchester City are intent on signing Ayyoub Bouaddi for €100m (£85m), Lille’s 18-year-old midfielder who impressed for Morocco at the World Cup.
Bouaddi, who is French-born, is attracting a host of suitors following his performances for Morocco this summer, and while the proposed fee is high for a relatively-inexperienced teenager, City view him as a long-term investment.
Martin Belam
Good afternoon/morning/evening. I am still laughing at Opta putting out that stat yesterday that England have the best win ratio under Keir Starmer than they’ve had under any other prime minister. Not just because it is hilariously irrelevant, but because it immediately posed the question that surely Liz Truss would have racked up better figures? It turns out very much not – during her tiny tenure at Number 10, not only did Truss manage to see off the Queen within a couple of days of meeting her, but managed to be in office for only two England games, a 1-0 defeat in Milan to Italy and a highly entertaining but frustrating 3-3 draw at home to Germany, giving her a win ratio of 0%. It is thinking about things like this that stop me being in a panic about England’s defence facing Argentina’s attack tomorrow.
With that my watch is ended, I’m handing over to Martin for the next few hours. Enjoy!
Kane for the Ballon d’Or? He has had an incredible season but how England fare at the World Cup will surely have an impact on if he can win the prestigious award:
Revenge is on the table for the semi-final between France and Spain, have a read:
