Lionel Messi could break 64-year World Cup curse four years after stopping France from doing the same
The stage is set. The final four competitors are confirmed. The World Cup is in its end game.
Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Lamine Yamal and Jude Bellingham. All the big stars have arrived to a perfectly poised semi-final stage, as France face Spain and England take on old foes Argentina.
It's Argentina especially, who will be hoping to end a 64-year World Cup curse.
But first, they will have to overcome England in the semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday, 15 July, in what is bound to be a fiery affair.
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England reached the final four by narrowly squeezing past Norway in extra-time 2-1. Bellingham was the hero once again, with Thomas Tuchel left unimpressed with the lack of quality elsewhere in the side.
Argentina also needed extra-time, as well as a controversial red card for Breel Embolo, to defeat Switzerland 3-1.
The reigning champions remain strong contenders with Messi pulling the strings as they aim to retain the trophy.
No country has retained the World Cup since 1962
The World Cup is the pinnacle of football as it's such an incredibly tough tournament to win.
Only eight countries have ever done so. Four of them are in the semi-finals, while Germany, Brazil, and Uruguay have already been knocked out, while Italy didn't even qualify.
But what's harder than winning it? Well, doing it again four years later.
That's only been done by two countries ever.
The first was Mussolini's Italy as they won the second and third ever tournaments in 1934 on home soil and then again in France in 1938.
A Pelé-inspired Brazil then repeated the feat in 1958 and 1962, with only England's 1966 triumph stopping them from winning an unprecedented four in a row, as they would go on to reclaim the famous trophy in 1970.
It's now been 64 years since a team retained the World Cup trophy, but France came extremely close as they made it to the final in 2022 after winning the tournament for a second time in 2018.
However, they were defeated by Messi's Argentina in a thrilling final that ended 3-3 after extra-time and was decided on penalties.
After Messi and co. denied France the chance to break the curse, Argentina now have the opportunity to do so themselves if they can get past England and defeat either France or Spain in the final.
For England, the question is now, how do they stop Messi?
How can England stop Lionel Messi?
England vs Argentina is a fierce rivalry thanks to their previous World Cup meetings and due to issues that go far beyond a football pitch.
Argentina players have already been singing anti-England chants during the World Cup, which reference 'The Malvinas.'
The Malvinas is the Argentine name for the Falkland Islands, where 904 military personnel - 649 Argentinian, 255 British - were killed in 1982 after the South American nation invaded the islands and tried to claim them from the United Kingdom.
An emotional and tightly-contested match is no doubt on the cards as the two countries meet for a competitive game for the first time in 24 years. In fact, England are on a winning streak, having won the last two encounters.
England will be focussed on how to prevent Messi - who has never played against England - from turning the tide.
The Three Lions will be buoyed by the fact that they kept Erling Haaland quiet in the win over Norway, so much so the star striker was even substituted in a surprising move.
But Messi is another challenge and will require close marking from an England midfielder.
Tuchel will be sweating on the fitness of Declan Rice ahead of the game, who was taken off at half-time in Miami as he is struggling with a calf injury and was struck by illness in the week.
If Rice isn't fit to start, the manager will have to improvise.
Reece James and Morgan Rodgers both played in midfield at points against Norway, while Bellingham can move deeper even if Tuchel would prefer him not to.
Another option may be Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, but he has not played a single minute in the tournament so far.
Whatever Tuchel decides, it's crucial he gets it right to keep the dreams of ending 60 years of hurt alive and stop Messi.
Topics: World Cup, Lionel Messi, Football, Sport
Daniel Murphy