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DALLAS STADIUM — Long after the final whistle — as the lawnmowers came out to maintain the grass and broadcast crews were in the middle of their stand-ups — Spain fans remained. They were dancing and singing and chanting. “Ole! Ole! Ole!” rang throughout the stadium where their team had just delivered a commanding performance, defeating mighty France, 2-0, to book a spot in the program’s second-ever World Cup final. This was the third straight summer Spain has knocked France out in the semifinals of a major tournament: There was the 2-1 victory at Euro 2024, then a thrilling 5-4 win in last year’s Nations League, and now Tuesday’s triumph behind goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro in front of 70,176 fans at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. La Roja are riding a 37-game unbeaten streak, and there’s an overwhelming sense that it will keep growing. “It’s a dream come true,” an elated Porro said after the match via interpreter. “I couldn’t even dream of this. I’m so happy. I’m so happy because of the team’s attitude from beginning to end. We gave it our all in order to go through to the final.” Despite being Europe’s defending champion, Spain has been a bit overshadowed by other narratives at this World Cup. The spotlight, instead, has mostly been on Lionel Messi and Argentina’s improbable comebacks, England giving fans reason to believe again, Kylian Mbappé racing Messi for the Golden Boot and Erling Haaland capturing hearts of soccer fans everywhere. Spain hasn’t relied on flair or dramatic moments to get results. Instead, it’s been ruthlessly efficient, disciplined and organized, using an aggressive high press to neutralize one of the world’s most dangerous attacks. Mbappé, who entered the semifinal with eight goals, managed just three shots and none on target. Spain has outscored its seven opponents, 13-1, and posted its record sixth shutout of this World Cup against a French side that had recorded 16 goals. This squad is so dominant, it didn’t even need a heroic performance from teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, who is still waiting for his big moment. Yamal, who turned 19 on Monday, made a clever play to force a penalty in the first half that put Spain ahead early before having a goal called offside later on. They have such a wealth of depth that world-class players like Pedri, Nico Williams and Mikel Merino can come off the bench. “We did it with discipline, being organized, with sacrifice, with commitment, with effort,” said Spanish manager Luis de la Fuente, who was late to his press conference because the team received a congratulatory call from King Felipe VI, the King of Spain. “I think that what we do best as Spanish football players is interpret and read the game. They know how to behave in defensive and offensive phases and in the midfield. “And that’s the fruits of our labor in the academies — all the coaches in Spain, we really value what we’re doing at that level. And this is another example that, in spite of being happy, we want more. And we want to take this World Cup and claim this title. That would be a really amazing achievement.” Spain’s control of the game frustrated France to the point that Les Bleus never even had a chance to mount a comeback. There have been plenty of examples this tournament of teams finding late goals and ways back into matches. France famously did it in the World Cup final four years ago and desperately hoped to do it again. But this time, France failed to capitalize on an empty net in the 81st minute. Mbappé let his aggravation get the best of him when he was shown a yellow card in the 86th after colliding with goalkeeper Unai Simon, and three minutes later, he sent a free kick from just outside the box sailing over the crossbar. And now, the French superstar has to return to his Spanish club Real Madrid. France, No. 1 in FIFA’s rankings entering the semifinals, was a popular pick to win it all and expected to reach its third straight World Cup final. It will play in the third-place match instead. “We were below our standards,” French manager Didier Deschamps said via interpreter. “We should have been at our maximum and give it our all, and we did not, unfortunately.” Spain will await the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between Argentina and England. De la Fuente said he doesn’t care who wins. He’s friends with Lionel Scaloni, but thought the Three Lions were a favorite before the tournament began. “When you’re facing a team like us,” de la Fuente said, “we’re unbeatable. And that’s how we’re feeling right now.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

CITIZENS BANK BALLPARK (Philadelphia) – There was no “aha” moment for Justin Verlander. In announcing his retirement from a spectacular baseball career, Verlander slowly came to the conclusion earlier this season that his physical health was preventing him from accomplishing everything he wanted from the game. Verlander, the oldest active player in MLB at age 43, is at peace with his decision to call it a career. “I feel good about it,” he told me on Monday at Citizens Bank Park during All-Star Game festivities. “I’m in a good mental space. I do feel like it’s the right time. And if I want to control my own destiny, which I do, I want to leave the game when I’m ready to go, and not have the game force me out.” After this season, Verlander will retire as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history. “It’s tough. It’s hard to see him go,” Braves All-Star left-hander Chris Sale told me. “Since I’ve been in the big leagues, to be completely honest with you, I think pound for pound, if he’s not the best pitcher in the league, he was damn close. “You’re talking about a guy with three Cy Youngs, MVP. You look at what he’s done in the regular season, look at what he’s done during the postseason, look at his All-Star appearances. He’s got about as impressive as a trophy case that you’re going to see.” Verlander is the last of an era that blended dominance, durability and championships. He’s the active leader in strikeouts (3,554), wins (266), games started (556), complete games (26), shutouts (nine), and innings (3571.1). He’s a three-time Cy Young award winner, a two-time ERA title winner, and the 2011 American League MVP. He’s a two-time champion and the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year award winner, plus a 10-time All-Star. As decorated as Verlander’s career has been — let’s not forget that, in a handful of years, he will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer — he still believes he fell short of a couple of milestones. “There’s a couple things that I would love to have been able to check off my career,” Verlander said on Monday at Citizens Bank Park. “And that would be 300 wins and 4000 strikeouts. But those are both a ways off. And everything would have to go absolutely perfect. One thing I think I’ve done really well in my career is to be objective of myself. “That’s allowed me to adapt when I need to and be successful on the mound, and what I’ve been doing this year is trying to find that again. I know what I need to do mechanically to be healthy and compete at this level. And my body’s not letting me do that. So the adjustments that I need to make to be the pitcher that I expect myself to be, some parts of my body can’t quite keep up. So I feel good about the decision.” Verlander has made just one start for the Detroit Tigers so far this season. He described dealing with his injuries this year, including hip pain and a hamstring strain, as “plugging holes in a leaky boat.” He may not know that, throughout it all, his peers have admired his dogged determination to do whatever it takes to get back on the mound. Reigning National League Cy Young award winner Paul Skenes said he admires Verlander’s consistency across a 24-year career. “He’s a legend,” Skenes told me. “I think he’s been in the league as long as I’ve been alive. He’s the greatest pitcher of his generation. I think he shaped the game in a lot of different ways. He’s been really good for a really long time. It’s an honor to share the field with him. It’s an honor to meet him. “It’s a heck of a career winding down. I don’t want to see him retire. I don’t want to see him not in this game anymore. But it’s been special to watch as a fan for a really long time, and now as a player.” Dodgers All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman joked that “a lot” of Verlander’s 3,554 career strikeouts “were me.” It may have felt that way to Freeman, facing Verlander’s cutthroat dominance, but he has only struck out two times in nine career plate appearances against Verlander. “I’ve been facing him for a long time,” Freeman told me. “We’ve had some great interactions. Just one of the best pitchers of all time. First-ballot Hall of Famer. To pitch for as long as he has, as good as he has, that’s special. Those guys don’t come around very often. Hopefully he can get back on the field one last time this year and be healthy. But what a tremendous career.” Verlander’s greatest legacy is being the ultimate workhorse of his generation. His massive career volume and incredible counting stats — including 12 seasons with 200-plus innings pitched — may never be surpassed by a modern starter. He learned to pitch deeper into games by watching older pitchers, in particular, refuse to leave the mound until they felt and knew they were exhausted. “Personally, I think you need veterans to fight for it, and show that it’s OK to be out there and fight for that,” Verlander said. “If you’re at 95 pitches, and you’re feeling good and fresh, your body is recovering, it’s OK to fight for that next inning and throw 110 (pitches) if you want. I was raised, I got to see guys do that. “Luckily, I was pretty good right out the gate. I felt empowered by watching other people want the ball. All these guys point to their predecessors, and it’s getting harder and harder in this game to fight for that. The analytics, they’re monitoring everything.” These days, there are pre-planned pitch limits for starters stemming from various data based on optimal recovery times. And the reason pitchers need more rest built into their seasons is the pressure to throw the ball harder. Shoving triple-digit heaters every five days requires extreme physical exertion, and it leads to greater wear and tear on the body, which can lead to injuries and surgeries. Verlander said his career would likely be different if at age 17 he went to Driveline Baseball, which is a data-driven training facility used by many active players to help increase pitch velocity, among other things. Verlander wasn’t a hard thrower out of high school. His fastball topped out at 93 mph when he was a teenager. He said it wasn’t until he went to college, started working out, and “things weren’t rushed” before he found his fastball. Suddenly, after his body matured, the ball started coming out of his hand at 98, 99, and 100 mph naturally. “In today’s world, if I’m a parent that doesn’t know anything about baseball, which my family did not, and you find out your son has a God-given talent, what do you do? Today, you go online, and you get help. We had to get help. “My dad bought a ‘How to Pitch for Dummies’ book. I’m not joking. Literally, he’s like, OK. Step one, you step back with your left foot. Step two, you turn this way. We were like, doing that in my front yard because he learned I could throw rock really far. Like, we should try this baseball thing. “So, I think as a parent now, the first thing you would do is probably say, I need to go to Driveline, or one of these velocity-building camps. And it’s a trickle down from what you’re expecting at this level.” In the future, Verlander would like to be involved in the game in some way to try and encourage pitchers to get back to basics, prioritize personal and unique pitching mechanics, and maybe focus less on increased velocity as the only answer to being dominant in the major leagues. Verlander believes pitching mechanics are supposed to be “like the gait of a horse.” All horses run differently, so just let the horse run. But, for now, Verlander is following the advice of the legends that came before him. “At the end of your career, I think, one of the things I’ve heard from people is sometimes you wish you were able to take things in a little bit more. It’s such a blur while you’re in it. And then you get towards the end, and it’s like, man, I wish I had enjoyed X, Y, and Z a little bit more. “And so to have the opportunity to come back in this situation and really absorb it, and know it’s your last time, it’s a really special feeling.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

Close your eyes and picture Spain in a World Cup final. You see Andrés Iniesta ghosting into the box in Johannesburg. You see Xavi conducting, David Villa finishing, Sergio Ramos flying down the right, Iker Casillas saving Spain’s life against Arjen Robben. That team won everything from 2008 to 2012 and changed how the sport thinks about itself. It was the team with the most recognizable style: Tiki-Taka. This Spain is not that Spain. And after Tuesday at Dallas Stadium, it doesn’t need to be. Luis de la Fuente’s side dismantled France, 2-0, in the semifinal, and “dismantled” is being kind to France. A Mikel Oyarzabal penalty, won by Lamine Yamal, opened it in the 22nd minute. Pedro Porro, a right back, played a give-and-go with Dani Olmo and slotted the second in the 58th. Kylian Mbappé and the most feared attack in the tournament were held to almost nothing. It was a suffocation, administered the Spanish way. Here’s the number that should terrify Argentina or England on Sunday: 1. That’s how many goals Spain has conceded in six matches. Italy arrived at the 2006 final with the same figure (granted, an own goal by Cristian Zaccardo against the USA) and left with the trophy. Championship teams are usually built on this exact foundation, and nobody noticed Spain was building it because everyone was too busy waiting for the fireworks on the other end. Because let’s be honest about what we all expected: We thought Lamine Yamal would be one of the big stars of this tournament. Instead, the 19-year-old has just one goal through seven games, perhaps lingering remnants of the injury he suffered during the La Liga season prevent him from achieving his very best. Read that again. Spain is in a World Cup final, and its biggest star’s sole goal came way back in the group stage. If you’d offered that scenario in May, you’d have been looked at like you had three heads. There’s still no true signature Yamal moment, as it’s doubtful we’ll be gushing over that goal against Saudi Arabia in 20 years. He’s been dangerous, he won the penalty Tuesday, he had a finish chalked off for offside. But the eruption hasn’t come. Even more impressively, Spain hasn’t needed it. That’s the point. This team hasn’t even played its best soccer yet, and it’s one win from the trophy. One of the stars has been Rodri, who controlled the France match from start to finish and has been the tournament’s Mr. Reliable. The captain doesn’t do highlight reels. He doesn’t go viral on TikTok. He doesn’t frost his tips. What Rodri does is 90 minutes of making the game look easy while the opponent slowly runs out of ideas. And the defense deserves flowers. Pau Cubarsí, still a teenager himself who wouldn’t legally be able to celebrate these victories here in the USA with a beer, treated the France front line like a training exercise. Unai Simón has been unbeatable. Marc Cucurella looked unfazed against the generational opponents running at him. The fullbacks bombed forward against that legendary French counterattack all night and never once looked worried about the space behind them. Pedro Porro’s goal was the reward. That takes either arrogance or total structural trust. With this Spain, it’s the latter. Remember where this program was. From 2014 onward, the World Cup became a house of horrors: a group-stage exit as defending champions, then back-to-back round of 16 eliminations on penalties, the last one against Morocco in 2022. A generation of Spanish teams passed the ball beautifully and went home early. Euro 2024 broke the spell. Sunday can bury it. The golden generation had more individual talent. No rational soul disputes that. But that team needed extra time to win its final. This one has been so efficient, so ruthless in the back, that its best attacking player has taken a back seat to scoring, and it barely matters. Villa, Xavi, Iniesta, Ramos, Casillas. Those names built a legacy. They created an international dynasty. On Sunday for the final, the new kids on the block get the chance to start their own. And if Yamal finally picks that stage for his big moment, this story writes its perfect ending.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

A spot in the World Cup final is on the line when Argentina and England meet on Wednesday at Atlanta Stadium. The mindset and the motivation between the two nations and their fans are different as Argentina desperately wants to defend its title while England is looking to join the world’s elite and win its first title since the 1966 World Cup. The winner of the second World Cup semifinal will face Spain, which beat France, 2-0, on Tuesday in the first semifinal match. Here is everything you need to know for Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal. England vs. Argentina: How To Watch All eyes are on Lionel Messi in every game he plays. He has won a World Cup, Copa Américas, Champions League titles and every domestic league in which he has participated. But there is one thing Messi has never done: played against the English national team. These teams have a storied rivalry at the World Cup. In the quarterfinal of the 1966 World Cup, England defeated Argentina 1-0 in a game that saw Argentina’s captain, Antonio Rattín, have to be escorted off the field by police after a disputed red card. Coincidentally, Rattin died at 89 years old last week on the same day as Argentina’s quarterfinal win over Switzerland. Then in 1986 in Mexico City, we saw Diego Maradonna’s infamous “Hand of God” incident when he punched in a long ball past English goalkeeper Peter Shilton and the handball was missed by Tunisian referee Ali Ben Nasser. Argentina ended up winning, 2-1, and it is still widely one of the most talked about moments in World Cup history. Then in the round of 16 at the 1998 World Cup, England again disputed the officiating, as David Beckham was sent off and Alan Shearer had a goal disallowed. Argentina prevailed on penalties after a 2-2 draw. After having been eliminated by Argentina in two of the last three World Cups, England got revenge in a group stage matchup in 2002 with a 1-0 win. The goal was scored by Beckham via a penalty after Michael Owen was fouled by Mauricio Pochettino. That result led to Argentina’s shocking failure to advance out of group play. On Wednesday, the teams will write another chapter in their intense World Cup rivalry, and both teams should feel confident about arriving at this stage. Lionel Messi is the 2026 World Cup’s leading goalscorer with eight goals. He now has 21 career World Cup goals, making him the tournament’s top scorer. But in this tournament, he has assists in each of the last two games to also give him a record 10 career World Cup assists. What is perhaps the best news for Argentina is that Lionel Scaloni’s team has been developing a more balanced attack as the tournament has progressed. Messi scored the team’s first five goals of this World Cup. Since then, he scored three of the team’s next 12 goals. That balanced attack makes La Albiceleste far more difficult to stop. For England, the story is similar in that Harry Kane is not doing as much heavy lifting as he was at the beginning of the tournament. Since England’s lackluster 2-1 win over DR Congo in the round of 32 where Kane rescued England with two late goals, Jude Bellingham has sprung to life and been one of the tournament’s best players in the round of 16 and the quarterfinals. Bellingham scored two goals in a 3-2 win over Mexico and then two goals again in a 2-1 win over Norway. In doing so, Bellingham became the first player to score two or more goals in consecutive World Cup knockout games since Maradona accomplished the feat in 1986, which coincidentally included the “Hand of God” against England. Against Argentina, England will need Bellingham to also get wingers Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka involved to isolate Argentina’s fullbacks and create space. Meanwhile, Argentina’s midfield trio of Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul will need to control the pace of the game and contain Bellingham. Central defenders Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez will also need to be on their game to stop Kane and the multitude of scoring options England has. England should be considered the favorite with more depth and players in their prime years. But even at age 39, Messi can win games by himself. Players To Watch The Real Madrid playmaker is in excellent form with two goals in each of his last two knockout games. He is finding space and is finishing with clinical precision. With Bellingham playing this well, England is far less reliant on Kane, and that helps the Three Lions immensely. At age 39, Messi continues to put up numbers that show why most people consider him to be the greatest player of all time. Against England, it will be another huge test and one of the big takeaways is how he will hold up after playing 330 minutes in his last three games.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

In what was billed as a blockbuster between arguably the two best teams in the world, Spain defeated France 2-0 in surprisingly convincing fashion. Spain took advantage of French mistakes, used slick passing to maintain possession, and pressed relentlessly to down the French at Atlanta Stadium. Spain was in control from the opening whistle and scored first through a penalty drawn by Lamine Yamal that was converted by Mikel Oyarzabal in the 22nd minute. Then in the second half, right back Pedro Porro found an opening to move into the box and beat Mike Maignan. The results for Spain under head coach Luis de la Fuente are phenomenal. The team has not lost a game in its last two major tournaments. At Euro 2024, Spain won all seven of its games en route to the title. At this World Cup, Spain has won six games and drew once (take a bow, Cape Verde). Spain now enters Sunday’s final as the favorite. 1. Spain’s System Is On Full Display From the opening whistle, it was clear that France was in for a far different test than anything else it has faced at this World Cup. Spain is always an excellent possession-based team that can make its opponents chase the game for long stretches due to its passing. France knew what it was going to face. Spain defeated France each of the three times the teams played this current decade. First was a 2-1 win in the Nations League final in 2021. Then it was a 2-1 win in the semifinals of Euro 2024. Then last year in the Nations League semifinal, Spain won a wild 5-4 decision. Entering this game, France had a lot of momentum with both Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé scoring and assisting in droves. On top of that, Michael Olise was the tournament’s most impactful midfielder. But the story of this game is how France was so overwhelmed when it could not maintain possession or handle the press. France was clearly frustrated chasing the game as much as it did. It could not focus and play to its strengths and get the ball to Mbappé or Dembélé in dangerous areas. Spain played its system to perfection. On both sides of the ball, the entire team was perfectly in synch with each other. Offensively, Yamal was a nightmare for France even if he did not score. Both goals originated from his side of the field. He had a goal called back on a close offside, and he demanded a lot of respect. Defensively, Spain again showed why they are so difficult to score against. Spanish defenders were always shutting down passing lanes and forcing turnovers. It was a double-edged sword. Spain was brilliant, but France also lacked the resolve to figure out solutions. Les Bleus became frustrated and let Spain do whatever they wanted. 2. Rodri Led An Immense Spanish Spine The biggest strength for Spain was its spine, specifically its central defender pairing and central midfield pairing. In the midfield, Rodri and Fabian Ruiz were excellent at winning and maintaining possession. The chemistry they displayed on both sides of the ball was on another level. Rodi was the best player on the field in this game. He was everywhere on both sides of the ball. He won 7/11 of his ground duels. He won 4/4 of his aerials. He drew three fouls. In central defense, Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte continued to frustrate opponents. Cubarsí is just 19 years old and the season he has had with Barcelona and now leading Spain into the World Cup final with six clean sheets makes him one of the most promising and accomplished teenage players in the world. But with the midfield and defenders so well-connected, it puts less pressure on the attack. Spain does not need to score goals in droves. It can control games and be patient until the moment comes. 3. France’s Cheap Giveaways And Mistakes Proved Costly What was also apparent in this game is how France struggled to often make important passes. There were many times when midfielders could not get the ball into the attack and saw passes intercepted by Spanish defenders. Michael Olise was particularly guilty of this, and that was surprising given how well he had been playing entering into this game. But he was a big reason why Dembélé and Mbappé saw such little of the ball. But Olise was far from the only culprit. Lucas Digne’s foul on Lamine Yamal to concede a penalty was a mental error that cannot be made at such a level. France’s fullback and wingers were never able to get forward to get numbers into the attack. 4. Oyarzabal Scores Big Goals In Big Moments Mikel Oyarzabal is not Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, or Harry Kane – but he is perfect for this Spain team. Since 2025, he now has 17 goals in 19 games. In 2024, he scored the winner against England in the final of Euro 2024. In this game, he took the penalty in the 22nd minute and hit an unstoppable shot. Oyarzabal is interesting because he is the center forward for maybe the best national team in the world. He doesn’t play for one of the best clubs in the world, such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, or Paris St. Germain. He plays for Real Sociedad, where he has spent his entire professional career. But Oyarzabal is a testament to this Spanish team that it is about the system and the players that fit that system. It’s about the right players, not necessarily the best players. Oyarzabal is a perfect fit for this team, and he scores the big goals.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

If Lamine Yamal wins the World Cup on Sunday, he legally wouldn’t be allowed to partake in any celebratory champagne with Spain teammates in the United States. At the age of 19, Yamal will be playing in a World Cup final after helping La Roja defeat France in Tuesday’s semifinal. How does his age compare to previous legends who also played in the final? Let’s take a look: Pelé | Brazil Pelé was 17 years and 249 days when he helped Brazil win its first World Cup in 1958. Pelé had burst onto the international scene at the tournament in Sweden, scoring six goals in all – including in the final over co-hosts. Pelé remains the youngest goalscorer in a World Cup final. Of course, his status only grew as he led Brazil to titles in 1962 and 1970. Diego Maradona | Argentina Maradona was 25 years old when he and Argentina won the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. But he could have joined Pelé as another 17-year-old champion had he been selected to Argentina’s squad in 1978. Despite already being a teen phenom, he was left of that squad by then-coach César Luis Menotti who felt the youngster wouldn’t be able to handle the pressures of a home tournament. Good thing it worked out in the end. Ronaldo | Brazil Another Brazilian legend, another World Cup champion before the age of 18. Although Ronaldo didn’t actually play at the 1994 World Cup, he was part of the squad that won it all at the Rose Bowl. At the age of 17 years and 298 days, Ronaldo was just two months older than when Pelé got his first in 1958. After losing the final in 1998 to hosts France, Ronaldo would win his second career title in 2002 by beating Germany. Kylian Mbappé | France Mbappé burst onto the scene at the 2018 World Cup for France and instantly became a global phenom. At 19 years and 207 days old, he helped Les Bleus lift its second World Cup ever. He made history during that match against Croatia by scoring France’s fourth goal, becoming only the second teenager in history to score in a World Cup final, joining Pelé’s performance in 1958. Lionel Messi | Argentina When compared to other players on this list, Messi was a late bloomer when it came to playing in the World Cup final. He was 27 years old when he and Argentina fell to Germany in the 2014 final in Brazil. Of course, Messi finally helped Argentina get over its World Cup drought by winning the 2022 title at age 35.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

In a World Cup semifinal like this, there’s so much to unpack. I have already written about the historical, emotional and psychological aspects of England’s World Cup matchup against Argentina, so I want to dive into the tactical elements of this highly anticipated semifinal too. On paper, and based on what I have seen from both sides at this tournament thus far, the similarities are possibly stronger than the differences. And even though I think the journey for the Three Lions has been tougher (arguably a tougher group, a hostile, altitude-defying win against Mexico right before facing the heat and humidity of Miami amidst Erling Haaland’s Norway) the fact is that very little separates both of these sides. They are two giants of the game who have shown examples of their genius and their vulnerable state. There’s also the overall record as England dominates in this area, having only lost twice from its 14 fixtures against Argentina. But one of those losses was in the dramatic match in 1986 to Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” and his “Goal of the Century.”  Then there was the 1998 result – which was David Beckham’s sending-off after kicking Diego Simeone – that ended as a draw after extra time, but resulted in an England loss after a penalty shootout. The fact is that this one is hard to predict. It’s a contradiction due to a sense of familiarity due to the rivalry, but there’s also detachment because they have not faced each other at the World Cup in 24 years. Let’s also remember that England has never faced Lionel Messi – and that’s a statistic that lives within itself. To stop him is to gamble on your own fate, so I am not even attempting to tell you how Thomas Tuchel plans on doing the almost impossible, especially when England has never even attempted to do it. In terms of parallels, let’s focus on the individual side of things and the World Cup superstars as there is a high dependency on them. Both have high-octane, attacking options that contribute significantly higher than anyone else. For England, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have six goals each, making it the first time in men’s World Cup history that any team has had two players net six or more goals in the same tournament. England has scored 13 goals in total, 12 of them from the aforementioned Kane and Bellingham, so the reliance on either is monumental. But the same can be said of Argentina and Lionel Messi. La Albiceleste has 17 goals in the competition, more than any other team and one short of its record of 18, which was achieved back in 1930. But eight of these aforementioned 17 goals have come from Messi. Alongside Kylian Mbappé, Messi became the second player on record (since 1966) to earn 10 or more goal contributions in more than one World Cup. But I think ultimately, this match is decided in two areas: the midfield and on the flanks. Declan Rice and Eliot Anderson’s battle with the line of Leandro Paredes and Enzo Fernández will test out the stealth and momentum from the center, where much of the action will take place. And out wide? Argentina is a very narrow team and winger Anthony Gordon, who attempted more dribbles (10) against Norway than any other English player since Darius Vassell in 2002 (per Opta), could have another strong day against right-back Nahuel Molina. More so on the other side — whether it’s Noni Madueke or his Arsenal teammate Bukayo Saka — against the 33-year-old left-back Nicolás Tagliafico. Lionel Scaloni surely has to find room for defensive midfielder Nico González. England should have most of the possession, and I think it’s important for Argentina to use it wisely when it does have the ball. Argentina keeper Emiliano Martínez, excellent with direct, long passes, will be needed once again to find the likes of attacking stars like Julián Alvarez, Messi, Thiago Almada and Lautaro Martínez. But all in all, we know that this is a game that will far supersede tactics or analytical thinking. This is a match made of emotion and steel-minded determination. There will be situations where the actual gameplan can determine a conclusion and I think, overall, on paper, England has enough to win this one. This isn’t a match written on paper. It’s carved out on the pitch from blood, sweat and undying effort. From the moment the first whistle goes, therefore, we can throw everything out of the window and just marvel at a true battle where we won’t know the outcome until we find out the answer to the only true, remaining question: who is willing to sacrifice everything for a chance of glory? We’ll have to wait and see.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

England will take on Argentina in the World Cup semifinals on Wednesday, July 15, at Atlanta Stadium, with both nations competing for a place in the final. It is an intercontinental rivalry shaped by memorable World Cup encounters and intensified by political tensions away from the pitch. The two countries have not faced each other since 2005, while this will also mark the first time in Lionel Messi’s illustrious career that he has played against England. The Three Lions possess one of the most talented squads in the tournament, while Argentina is filled with players who understand what it takes to win at the highest level. Below is our combined England-Argentina XI ahead of Wednesday’s World Cup semifinal: Formation: 4-4-2 Goalkeeper Both Premier League goalkeepers have been between the posts for their respective nations at multiple major international tournaments, and both have been critical to their national teams’ success in the past and present. Emiliano Martínez gets the slight nod as the better shot-stopper of the two. He has come up huge for Argentina as they won two Copa América titles and a World Cup, including massive performances in penalty shootouts. Of course, his most iconic moment came in the final minute of extra time in the 2022 World Cup final, when he made the save of a lifetime against Randal Kolo Muani. That stop kept Argentina alive, and they went on to win the final on penalties. Verdict: Emiliano Martínez, Argentina Right Back Nahuel Molina continues to command the right-back position for Argentina and scored a huge goal in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinal against the Netherlands. But Reece James, despite being banged up at times, gets the nod pretty clearly. When healthy, James is widely recognized as one of the best right backs in world football. Verdict: Reece James Right Center Back Ezri Konsa has been versatile for England, playing as the center back next to Marc Guéhi while also providing cover at right back because of England’s injuries and suspensions in that area. His versatility has been important to Thomas Tuchel. Cristian Romero gets the nod, though, as he has anchored Argentina’s back line for many years and continues to be one of the most reliable defenders in this side. Verdict: Cristian Romero Left Center Back Marc Guéhi made the move to Manchester City in January and completely changed the outlook of a back line that had been struggling. He has provided that necessary backbone defensively for England, consistently performing as one of their most reliable center backs throughout this World Cup and the last European Championship. Lisandro Martínez’s ball-playing ability and physicality are key for Argentina, but Guéhi gets the nod here. Verdict: Marc Guehi Left Back Nicolás Tagliafico feels like he has been part of this Argentina squad for decades, and he has always been that consistent piece at left back for his national team. But on a technical level, Nico O’Reilly is really out of this world. Even as a converted midfielder, he has shown his recovery speed and ability to handle the defensive demands of playing fullback. O’Reilly is one of those youngsters at this World Cup who is showing that he can go to the very top. Verdict: Nico O’Reilly Holding Midfielder Elliot Anderson’s ability off the ball, along with his passing range, has been important for England while playing in that double pivot. He looks like one of those players who will be involved in the English setup for a long time. But Enzo Fernández is one of the best midfielders in the world. He is playing a slightly deeper role than he usually does for Chelsea, but he is still doing it at a high level. Enzo gets the nod in this one, but Anderson is a proper player. Verdict: Enzo Fernández Left Central Midfielder Due to formation issues, Anthony Gordon is listed as a left central midfielder, and he has shown signs of why Barcelona brought him into the club for $80 million. But Alexis Mac Allister has to get the nod because of the winner he is. He played a huge role in Argentina winning the 2022 World Cup and Liverpool winning the Premier League, doing all the dirty work in midfield while also having the ability to be a threat going forward. He showed that again in the quarterfinals against Switzerland, scoring the go-ahead goal in the 10th minute. In those big games, you want Mac Allister on your team. Verdict: Alexis Mac Allister Right Central Midfielder Coming off winning the Premier League, Declan Rice would love to double up by adding a World Cup to his résumé. Playing in the double pivot with Elliot Anderson has been important to England, especially earlier in the tournament, and his set-piece delivery has also been a real weapon. Rice has had to deal with a sickness during the tournament, but on his day, he is still seen as one of the best midfielders in the world. Because of that, he gets the nod over Leandro Paredes, who was introduced into Argentina’s starting lineup as the tournament unfolded. Verdict: Declan Rice Central Attacking Midfielder Jude Bellingham has been one of the players of the tournament, scoring six goals as a midfielder while providing ball-carrying ability, doing the dirty work in midfield and still having the capacity to make late runs into the box and score goals. He has been doing it all for England. And despite Rodrigo De Paul having a solid tournament and elevating the level we have seen from him at Inter Miami, Bellingham has the clear advantage in this one. Verdict: Jude Bellingham Right Forward This is one of the most lopsided conversations in this combined XI. Lionel Messi has eight goals through six games, and everything Argentina does going forward runs through him. He is widely recognized as the best to ever do it, and he continues to be the focal point of this Argentina side. Madueke, who is probably only playing for England because of Saka’s fitness, has been pretty disappointing on multiple occasions this tournament, including being subbed off at halftime in the quarterfinal matchup against Norway. Messi has a clear and wide advantage over Madueke in this one. Verdict: Lionel Messi Left Forward Harry Kane has had a phenomenal tournament, scoring six goals at this World Cup and becoming England’s all-time leading World Cup scorer. He had a pivotal late brace against DR Congo that saved England and allowed them to still be here today. Kane and Jude Bellingham have done some unbelievable heavy lifting for this England squad. Julián Álvarez had a quiet start to the tournament, but it was only a matter of time until his quality showed through. He produced a brilliant moment of magic against Switzerland late in extra time to put Argentina ahead 2-1 and win them a nail-biting quarterfinal. Álvarez is a very good player, but Kane gets the advantage in this one. Verdict: Harry Kane Final Combined XI For Argentina And England GK: Emiliano MartínezRB: Reece JamesCB: Cristian RomeroCB: Marc GuéhiLB: Nico O’ReillyCM: Enzo FernándezCM: Alexis Mac AllisterCM: Declan RiceCAM: Jude BellinghamRW: Lionel MessiST: Harry Kane​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

DALLAS STADIUM — Lamine Yamal has no fear. We already knew that about the teenage sensation, who turned 19 on Monday — one day before the biggest match of his young career. He looked every bit the superstar while confidently addressing a packed room of reporters, diamond necklaces draped around his neck. Spain faces France in the World Cup semifinal Tuesday afternoon at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, with a place in the final on the line. It marks the third straight summer the two nations have met in the semifinals of a major tournament. Spain won the previous two encounters — a dramatic 5-4 victory in the 2025 Nations League and a 2-1 triumph at Euro 2024. Yamal played in both of those matches. He was just 16 during the Euros, when he became the youngest goalscorer in men’s major tournament history by scoring a stunning equalizer against France. Spain went on to lift the European Championship trophy, and Yamal was named the tournament’s best young player. He has since helped Barcelona win back-to-back La Liga titles. There’s plenty more accolades and trophies to come. And he hopes that starts with another victory over Les Bleus on Tuesday. “Tomorrow will be a very special day,” Yamal said via interpreter during Monday’s press conference. While soccer’s most famous stars have dominated headlines at this World Cup, Yamal has been on the quieter side of things. Even his younger brother has captured the hearts of fans around the world. Yamal, though, has scored only once, with 10 shots on target. He entered the summer recovering from a left hamstring injury, but quickly regained his fitness and scored 10 minutes into his first World Cup start in Spain’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia in the group stage. On Spain’s social media account, Yamal called it “the most important goal I have scored so far.” Monday, the spotlight was on him. He’s aware his performances have been debated in the media. But any criticism doesn’t seem to faze him. “Everyone is saying that I’m not giving my best performance,” Yamal said via interpreter. “So you shouldn’t expect anything from me.” After Spain’s 2-1 win over Belgium last week, Yamal was asked about playing France again in a knockout game. Given the teams’ recent history, he said that “if France has to fear anyone, it should be us, in my opinion. We were the ones that knocked them out before.” Yamal answered honestly when asked about those comments. “I was asked whether I feared France, and I said no because we are the European champions,” Yamal said, plainly. “And we don’t fear anyone.” French players mostly seemed unbothered by what Yamal said. “For me, it’s a sign of confidence,” defender Jules Koundé, who plays with Yamal at Barcelona, said via interpreter. “He always does this. So I see nothing as an extra motivation for him and that’s it, that’s all.” Added Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery, through translation: “Football is a team sport. Lamine has extraordinary qualities. He can do anything — shoot the ball, dribble, pass the ball, everything. “But we also have our qualities. We have our attacking players, we have substitutes, it’s a collective sport. And before talking about Lamine, we should talk about all of Spain. They have world-class players in all positions, and the same goes for our squad.” The stars will be out for both semifinals. Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi are dueling for the Golden Boot with both currently sitting on eight goals. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham are carrying England’s hopes of ending decades of heartbreak. Spain’s depth and defensive prowess have been among the most dominant forces at this World Cup. But against France, eyes will be on Yamal in his greatest test yet. “I just told him to be calm tomorrow, to enjoy and to forget about anxiety,” Spain manager Luis de la Fuente told reporters on Monday. “He should enjoy football, as he does. And a big day from Lamine is yet to come at this World Cup. So I hope tomorrow is his day. If not, the final, if we qualify.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

CITIZENS BANK BALLPARK (Philadelphia) – Talk about a star-studded cast of sluggers. This year’s Home Run Derby was set against the backdrop of a sea of red-jerseyed Phillies fans that overtook Citizens Bank Park to watch their hometown sluggers represent their city. The lineup consisted of the Red Sox’ Willson Contreras, the Cardinals’ Jordan Walker, the White Sox’ Munetaka Murakami, the Rays’ Junior Caminero, the Yankees’ Ben Rice, the Royals’ Jac Caglianone, and finally, the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. Mike Trout’s prediction of who would win the Derby was, without hesitation, “Harp.” But he was quick to throw in some support for Caminero, too, saying, “But I think Junior might. Junior’s nice.” Let’s just say Trout is exceptionally better at hitting baseballs than he is at forecasting the future. Here are my takeaways from yet another exciting Home Run Derby: 1. Walker, 12. Schwarber, 11. Schwarber advanced to the finals after knocking out Contreras in the semifinals. He was made for this. On the biggest stages under the brightest lights, Schwarber is a showman. In the final round, Schwarber was so in the zone that he even started walking to first base after his 10th home run of the final round before returning to the plate. After each swing and every ensuing home run, his Phillies All-Star teammates in Harper, outfielder Brandon Marsh, starter Jesús Luzardo and closer Jhoan Duran spilled onto the field and raised their arms as they hyped up Schwarber. When Scharber hit his seventh home run with five swings still remaining, Harper declared to his teammates, “It’s over.” He finished his Derby with 11 home runs in the final round, and then it was up to Walker to try and spoil the storybook ending in front of 43,000 Phillies fans. And spoil he did. Walker got off to a slow start in the final round, but then he homered five straight times to tie Schwarber at 11 apiece. With his final swing, Walker sent it to left field, securing his 12th and final home run. Walker became the first-ever St. Louis Cardinals player to win the Home Run Derby. “The homers that I hit, I’m more easy. I’m not forcing it,” Walker said after winning it all. “When I do, I start missing the ball. So in a Home Run Derby, it’s a different approach. I wanted to swing easy, and see what happens.” Walker’s voice was raspy as he sat on the dais in the Phillies press conference room wearing a backwards red Cardinals hat and a black bomber jacket. He said he didn’t mind disrupting Schwarber and Philly’s fairytale ending. He viewed getting incessantly booed in the final round as an excellent experience for what he wants to accomplish next. “My goal is to win a World Series,” he said. “I feel like it’s going to happen then too. So I’m going to face it at some point in my life. I think I’d rather face it now.” 2. Hometown Heroes Battle It Out The first round came down to the two Phillies. Only four of the eight participants advanced to the second round, and after Contreras and Walker each cranked 13 home runs and Caminero hit 12, there was only one spot left. Schwarber and Harper were the final two sluggers to step into the box in the first round. Schwarber, who was in the batting cage getting practice swings in before his name was called, got off to a rough start. He started 0-for-5, and the home crowd started to get nervous. Schwarber shook it off, told his throwing partner, Phillies assistant hitting coach Rafael Pena, “We’re good.” And he stepped back into his batting stance. Suddenly, Schwarber went on a ridiculous run, slugging 10 home runs in his final 14 swings. Then it came down to Harper. He needed 11 home runs to surpass his teammate and advance to the second round. If they tied, then Harper held the advantage because he hit a home run farther than Schwarber did. Alas, Harper fell short with eight homers and was eliminated from the Derby after the first round. In 2018, the Nationals’ Bryce Harper beat the Cubs’ Kyle Schwarber in the finals to win the Home Run Derby. Perhaps it was only fair that Schwarber was the one who knocked Harper out this year. “I wanted both of us to move on,” Schwarber told MLB Network’s Lauren Shehadi on the field afterward. “If I would’ve done my job a little bit better, probably would’ve had a better chance for both of us to move on. But super proud of him and what he means to us as a team, us as an organization, and us as Philadelphia. We’re lucky to have No. 3 on our side, I’ll tell you that.” 3. New Format, More Takes This year’s Home Run Derby introduced a new swing-based format that eliminated the timer, which had been in place since 2015, and the bonus round. Eight players still made up the field, but instead of aiming to hit as many home runs as possible in a timed round, participants started each round with a set number of swings. The first round had 20 swings, the second round had 15, and the third and final round also had 15. The one caveat: if a player homered on his final swing of a round, he can keep swinging until he fails to hit one out. For those of us who have been watching the Home Run Derby for a long time, it was pretty jarring to see the timer disappear on Monday. It took some time to adjust to the flow of the new swing-based format, which in general felt more laid-back without the pressure of the clock ticking. It also led to more takes. Since only their swings counted, players were free to take as many pitches from their throwing partners as they wanted. Contreras was putting on a show in the first round, slugging 13 home runs in 19 swings. Then, when he had one final swing remaining, he took four pitches before he saw one he wanted to hit. By the time he took his fourth pitch, the crowd venomously booed him, because they wanted to see some action. This back-and-forth of taking pitches and getting booed continued in the semifinals round, but as usual, the always-fiery Contreras didn’t seem to mind the noise. 4. Rice Doesn’t Cook Historically, the Yankees have performed well at the Home Run Derby. The Bronx Bombers are tied for the most Derby champions in MLB history with four individual winners: Aaron Judge (2017), Robinson Cano (2011), Jason Giambi (2002), and Tino Martinez (1997). So, the pressure was on for Rice, the latest Yankee to participate in the Derby, to go the distance. But Rice didn’t cook on Monday night. It took him a long time and too many swings to get into a groove, and by the time he did, he only hit seven home runs, which was the worst performance out of all the contestants. No matter the final result, it was clear that Rice had too much fun participating in his first-ever Home Run Derby. During pre-Derby introductions, Rice received the loudest boos out of all eight participants from the Philly crowd. Rice loved it. He laughed hysterically hearing the boos and shouted, “Bring it on.” When Rice finished the first round, red in the face and completely exhausted, he smiled and hugged his dad, his throwing partner, before walking off the field. “The boos were crazy, especially in the opening ceremony,” Rice said. “It was so cool. I always like to say, ‘They don’t boo nobodies.’ It was just really cool to have them rain down on me, even in the round, too. That was fun.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports