Last Updated on December 11, 2022 by
Contents
The main event
One of the most exciting yet brutal things about the World Cup is the way it gets to the point of excitement. The games become less frequent, from four a day at the beginning to four a week at the end, but they are more and more imbued with savage danger. Careers are defined, for richer and poorer, potential champions are eliminated without warning or mind like Janet Leigh in Psycho, and before you know it there are only a few teams left standing.
After the most emotional quarter-finals in World Cup history, we now know the semi-final for Qatar 2022. Two teams from Europe, one from South America and one – unique, glorious – from Africa.
All four teams are great, they’re all flawed – but, more importantly for a competition that’s been high on the story from day one, they all provide a great story that isn’t, or at least shouldn’t be. , no hyperbole is required. Croatia or Morocco would be the first new world champions since Spain in 2010. France is the first team to retain the trophy since 1962. And Argentina’s victory would be the first in Lionel Messi’s career, not to mention on his football career.
The opening semi-final is a meeting of the last two runners-up: Croatia lost to France in the final in 2018, Argentina to Germany in 2014. The Golden Ball winner continues to captain both teams in each one of those competitions, Luka Modric. and Messi. Other than their initials, they don’t have much in common these days. Modric dictates games but keeps a low profile; Messi is now more likely to decorate them, often sublimely, and he can leave half the world weak at the knees with simple body moves. Only one of them will get another shot at the World Cup final.
To reach the final, Argentina will have to do something that has been extremely difficult to do in the last two tournaments – put one in Croatia’s brain. Zlatko Dalic’s team are the unkillables in world football, a group of hard-throwing part-time addicts who had the best view from the precipice since Romelu Lukaku started the missing members in their group game final against Belgium.
Croatia’s attacking performances are best dismissed due to their age, resilience and Modric. He is that rare thing, a footballer whose humility is in proportion to his talents. Croatia embarrassed Argentina 3-0 in the group stage of the last World Cup, when goalkeeper Willy Caballero suffered an infamous concussion. Both qualified but the result opened up a much clearer path to the final for Croatia – with Argentina narrowly missing out on a last-16 tie against France.
If Croatia is invincible, Morocco looks unbreakable. Their team has defied injury and logic to become the first ever African team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. Whatever happens from here, Morocco will always be part of Qatar 2022. Not only are they undefeated, they haven’t even been behind at any stage of the competition. The Atlas Lions have made their way through the map of Europe, hitting Belgium, Spain and Portugal – but France is the tastiest of the lot.
Perhaps Pelé will see a late fulfillment of his prediction that an African team would win the World Cup by the year 2000. Or maybe France will become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup. There is still a good chance that Kylian Mbappé or Messi will make their own of this competition, even if comparisons with Diego Maradona were banned in 1986 on the grounds of sacrilege (and yes, we are guilty of this too).
France needed all their experience and talent to match England’s best performance at a major tournament this century. And while they are well deserved, even without at least four of their best XI, France still don’t feel like a sure thing. They’ve never met Morocco at a major tournament – no, we’re not counting the Hassan II Cup – but their proximity and political relationship will add another layer of intensity to an already seismic game.
There is something for every neutral, regardless of those lucky enough to still have a partisan interest. Messi, Modric, Mbappé and Morocco: take your pick, they’re all fantastic.
Grant Wahl
Tributes poured in from all over the football world for Grant Wahl after the American journalist died on Friday. Sports Illustrated wrote: “We were proud to be his colleague and friend for two decades – no writer in SI history was more passionate about the sport he loved.”
Writing for the Guardian, Sonja Cori Missio praised Wahl’s support for aspiring writers: “to anyone who reached out: he pulled them up, treated them as equals, and offered whatever he could.” Billie Jean King paid tribute to Wahl for “using her platform to lift up those whose stories needed to be lifted” and US captain Tyler Adams said: “Grant was a huge voice in soccer that was tragically silenced.” NMc
Talking points
Morocco could win this World Cup After Croatia’s repeat defeat in the 2018 semi-finals, Luka Modric accused the English media of disrespecting them in the preparation period. Whether or not Modric’s complaints were unfounded, there will be no danger of anyone underestimating Morocco in the last four, especially after yesterday’s historic shutout of Portugal. Morocco’s defensive discipline and team spirit have shown time and time again that teamwork trumps individual brilliance – so it was fitting that an increasingly restless Cristiano Ronaldo was left in tears by a rearguard action Atlas Lions at Al Thumama Stadium. The African continent finally has a World Cup semi-final, 12 years after Ghana were controversially denied by Uruguay. It would hardly surprise them now to go all the way. LMc
Selfless Giroud deserves the spotlightOlivier Giroud would have been within his rights to feel upset last week, when he eventually broke his country’s scoring record but his thunder was stolen by a brilliant performance from Kylian Mbappé. On Saturday night he was all over the place after a second-half winner capped off quiet excellence from the veteran. Giroud was late to football at the elite level and his style of play – subtlety over speed, quick thinking over quick feet – is one that lends itself to improvement with age. There is still something very impressive about the way he has achieved his status as the selfless striker who enables his brighter teammates to excel and the reliable goalscorer who gets his team over the line when it counts. . Perhaps it is no coincidence that Giroud, who plays without ego or entitlement, sent his team into the semi-finals as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar walked off the stage in tears. AH
Claimed in Argentina as sharp winners After their fierce penalty shootout win over the Netherlands, Argentina have been criticized and praised for their stunning display in victory. Whether it was Nicolás Otamendi straining his ears towards the heartbroken Dutch players after the decisive spot-kick, Emi Martínez telling Louis van Gaal to “keep his mouth shut” in his post-match press conference or Lionel Messi reaching out to Wout Weghorst was alive in the air, the Albiceleste seemed more concerned with rubbing salt in the wounds of their opponents than enjoying their success. Their reaction reignited the culture war between those who believe in sportsmanship, noble virtues and the Corinthian spirit and those who are interested in anarchy, the dark arts and the eldritch magic known as shithousery. When Argentina face Croatia, expect off-the-ball antics, beleaguered officials and a bitter fallout whether they win or lose. WM
Beyond the football
As a reminder of the extreme limits of corporate solidarity, brands will have to spend between £85m and £100m on advertising around the World Cup in all UK media, largely touting their progressive credentials. Despite previous support for LGBTQ+ rights, there has been a deafening silence from some of the biggest multinational companies sponsoring the competition on human rights and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in Qatar. “The hypocrisy is ridiculous,” says one advertising industry executive. “Whether it’s organic farming, saving the oceans, women’s or gay rights, mental health, knife crime – this kind of campaign is everywhere. Many of the brands that advertise during the World Cup are very progressive – but none of that applies to Qatar.” WM
Global media-watch
Even with three other countries being beaten on the way out in the quarter-finals, Brazil’s bid for a penalty shoot-out win against Croatia continues. O Globo had the word “frustration” on its front page on Saturday, lamenting “Tite’s wrong decisions, the lack of precision in the attack and Neymar not taking his penalty right away” as the main factors in the unexpected departure of the favorite people. CNN Brazil noted that “with the possibility of postponing a sixth championship until the 2026 World Cup, Brazil will equal an important, but uncomfortable, mark of 24 years without being world champions.” President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva struck a more magnanimous tone, tweeting: “Brazil tried, Neymar scored a beautiful goal and the team deserved more. My thanks to the players and the coaching staff. Let’s go on because we can never give up in life.” WM
The internet reacts
Morocco’s victory over Portugal meant that Africa will finally have a representative in the final four of the World Cup, and the joy on social media knew no bounds. Shakira, whose 2010 theme song “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” is on any World Cup playlist, was quick to join the party.
Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s 4K tears at the final whistle completed a hat-trick of sad-faced events likely to warm the hearts of nutraceuticals.
Within minutes of England’s collapse, #ITVCurse was trending on Twitter, as the jinx that seemed to have lifted against Senegal returned. Kylian Mbappé was largely kept quiet during the game, but still managed to make an impact on social media when his reaction to Harry Kane’s miss went viral. NMc
And finally …
As if the last few weeks weren’t miserable enough for Manuel Neuer after Germany exited this World Cup at the group stage, the Bayern Munich goalkeeper has been ruled out for the rest of the season after breaking his leg and he is skiing.
“What can I say, the end of the year could definitely have gone better … while trying to clear my head with a ski trip, I broke my lower leg,” Neuer wrote on Instagram. “Yesterday’s surgery went very well. Many thanks to the medical staff! However, it makes me sad that the current season is over.” WM
Which teams qualified for semi final 2022?
The FIFA World Cup 2022 is steadily drawing to a close, with the semi-finals about to begin. France, Croatia, Argentina, and Morocco are the four teams that will play in the semi-finals.
Which teams have qualified for the 2022 World Cup semi-finals? The FIFA World Cup 2022 is almost over after the quarter finals have been completed. Argentina, Croatia, France and Morocco are the four teams that progressed to the semi-finals of the championship. Morocco is the first African country to qualify for the semi-finals.
Which teams are out of FIFA World Cup 2022?
Ghana beat South Korea 3-2 in an impressive win but defeats to Portugal and Uruguay knocked them out of the competition. Australia were eliminated from the World Cup after a 2-1 victory over Argentina in the last 16, with goals from Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez securing victory for the South Americans.
How many teams are left in World Cup 2022?
The 2022 World Cup semi-finals have been decided, this is when the games will be. The 2022 World Cup is in its final week and we are at the semi-final stage. After the group stage, the round of 16 and the quarter finals, only four teams remain in the competition with a chance to lift the World Cup.
Which teams are qualified for semi-final 2022?
Four teams, France, Argentina, Croatia and Morocco, will fight against each other to enter the last round of this competition. Morocco will become the first African nation to play in the semi-finals and will compete against defending champions France, after Portugal were previously beaten by the stars in the quarter-finals.
Which football team qualified for semi final?
Argentina, Croatia, France and Morocco are the four teams that have qualified for the semi-finals of the marquee competition.
Which team has qualified for Qatar 2022?
| Team | Association | Date qualified |
|---|---|---|
| Qatar | AFC | December 2, 2010 |
| Germany | UEFA | October 11, 2021 |
| Denmark | UEFA | October 12, 2021 |
| Brazil | CONMEBOL | November 11, 2021 |
What teams are in semi-finals World Cup?
The FIFA World Cup 2022 is steadily drawing to a close, with the semi-finals about to begin. France, Croatia, Argentina, and Morocco are the four teams that will play in the semi-finals. The quarter-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup had a dramatic end, as it was a roller-coaster ride for many teams.
Which team qualifies for the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup? Croatia, Argentina, Morocco and France have qualified for the first semi-final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Find the schedule and live streaming details here. The semi-final stage of the FIFA World Cup 2022 will begin on Wednesday, December 14 (as per IST), with Lionel Messi-led Argentina taking on Croatia in the first match.
Which teams are out of FIFA World Cup 2022?
Ghana beat South Korea 3-2 in an impressive win but defeats to Portugal and Uruguay knocked them out of the competition. Australia were eliminated from the World Cup after a 2-1 victory over Argentina in the last 16, with goals from Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez securing victory for the South Americans.
Which teams are qualified for semi-final 2022?
Four teams, France, Argentina, Croatia and Morocco, will fight against each other to enter the last round of this competition. Morocco will become the first African nation to play in the semi-finals and will compete against defending champions France, after Portugal were previously beaten by the stars in the quarter-finals.
How many teams are left in World Cup 2022?
The 2022 World Cup semi-finals have been decided, this is when the games will be. The 2022 World Cup is in its final week and we are at the semi-final stage. After the group stage, the round of 16 and the quarter finals, only four teams remain in the competition with a chance to lift the World Cup.
Who are the semi finalists in World Cup 2022?
With the quarterfinals concluded, the 2022 FIFA World Cup is drawing to a close. Argentina, Croatia, France and Morocco are the four teams that have qualified for the semi-finals of the marquee competition. Morocco is the first African nation to make the cut for the semi-finals.
Who are the teams in the FIFA World Cup 2022? Ghana beat South Korea 3-2 in an impressive win but defeats to Portugal and Uruguay knocked them out of the competition. Australia were eliminated from the World Cup after a 2-1 victory over Argentina in the last 16, with goals from Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez securing victory for the South Americans.
Who has qualified for the 2022 World Cup playoffs?
The six seeded teams are Portugal, Scotland, Italy, Russia, Sweden and Wales. The unseeded teams are Turkey, Poland, North Macedonia and Ukraine, as well as Austria and the Czech Republic through the Nations League route.
Who qualifies from each World Cup group?
The top two teams from each group qualified for the World Cup, while the two third-placed teams progressed to the fourth round. Fourth round: One team in third place in each third round group played against each other in one game, the winners advanced to the inter-Confederation play-offs.
What are the qualifying groups for World Cup 2022?
FIFA World Cup 2022 Groups Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal and Netherlands. England, Iran, USA, Wales. Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and Poland. France, Australia, Denmark, and Tunisia.
Which football team qualified for semi final?
Argentina, Croatia, France and Morocco are the four teams that have qualified for the semi-finals of the marquee competition.
How many spots are left in the World Cup 2022?
Only three of the 32 teams have yet to be confirmed for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with them to be decided through the inter-Confederation play-offs and the elimination of Wales and the winner of Scotland vs Ukraine.
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Which football team qualified for semi final?
Argentina, Croatia, France and Morocco are the four teams that have qualified for the semi-finals of the marquee competition.
How many teams make it to the World Cup 2022?
The 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four. In the opening phase, each team plays all the other teams in their group once. The top two finishers in each group advance to the round of 16. After that, the World Cup is a direct winner-takes-all competition.
How many teams will play in the 2022 World Cup? All statistics are correct as of 10 December 2022. This tournament is set to be the last with 32 teams participating, with the field to increase to 48 teams for the 2026 edition. To avoid the extremes of Qatar’s hot climate, this World Cup taking place during November and Christmas.
How many teams will qualify for World Cup 2022 from each continent?
AFC (Asia) has an allocation of four or five teams* competing in the World Cup finals. CAF (Africa) is allocated five teams, while CONCACAF (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) has three or four teams. Four or five teams compete at CONEMBOL (South America).
How many teams will qualify for World Cup 2022 from Europe?
In total, 13 teams from Europe qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2022. On the other hand, six teams from Asia, five from Africa, four teams from North America and one from South America made it to the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
How many teams will qualify from each group for World Cup 2022?
For the first stage, the 32 teams playing in the Qatar 2022 World Cup have been grouped into eight – Group A through Group H. Each team will play each other, with the top two teams from each group progressing to a Round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 16 – the first of the knockout stages.
How many teams will qualify for World Cup 2022 from playoffs?
The 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification was the qualifying process that decided the 31 teams that would meet hosts Qatar, who received an automatic place, at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
How many teams will qualify for World Cup from play-offs?
Before the World Cup, each UEFA Confederation (Europe) has “World Cup Qualifier” matches: 13 qualified teams. CONMEBOL (South America): 5 teams CONCACAF (North, Central America and the Caribbean): 4 teams.
How does the 2022 World Cup playoff work?
For the seventh World Cup in a row, as it is a 32-team competition, the top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage. Each team will play three games; head to head against the other teams in their group.