France Meets Spain Tuesday, England-Argentina Follows Wednesday With Atlanta on Security Footing

Since France beat Morocco 2-0 on July 9 to reach the semifinals, the World Cup has narrowed to four teams chasing the title in New York on Sunday, July 19. France plays Spain Tuesday in Dallas. England plays Argentina Wednesday in Atlanta. Whoever wins each match advances to the final.

France has not conceded more than one goal in any game this tournament, according to Fox News, and has outscored opponents 16-2 across six matches. Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele have combined for 13 of those goals, with Michael Olise adding five assists. Mbappe leads all players in combined goal contributions with 11 and sits tied with Messi atop the Golden Boot race at eight goals each, per BBC Sport. He has also passed Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup scoring record of 16, reaching 19.

Spain is not walking in as an underdog. The team beat France 5-4 in last year's UEFA Nations League semifinal, a result Fox News points to as reason for real pressure on the French despite their perfect record so far. Spanish journalist Guillem Balague told BBC Sport that Spain has "the best team" in the tournament but needs a "perfect, or very good" performance from 18-year-old Lamine Yamal to get past France's counterattack. Spain opened this World Cup with a draw against Cape Verde before beating Saudi Arabia and edging Uruguay to escape the group stage.

Messi's Different Kind of Dominance

Messi, 39, is playing his sixth World Cup, tying Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa for the most appearances in the tournament's history. BBC Sport's tracking data shows he is doing it by moving less, not more. He has covered just 8.2km per 90 minutes, the shortest distance of any Argentina outfield player with 20-plus minutes on the pitch, and has walked 47% of his total ground covered, the highest share of any outfield player in the tournament.

What he has not lost is production. Messi has taken 33 shots and created 21 chances, the most combined shots-plus-chances-created since Diego Maradona in 1986, and he has scored or assisted in every World Cup game he's played over his last 15 appearances except one, against Poland.

Atlanta Braces for History

England v Argentina carries weight well beyond the scoreline. The teams have not met at a World Cup in 24 years, and Atlanta police have announced increased security for Wednesday's match, citing the historical tension between the two countries. Britain and Argentina fought the 74-day Falkland War in 1982, a conflict that killed 649 Argentine soldiers, 255 British service members and three civilians, and sovereignty over the islands remains disputed to this day.

Atlanta Police said in a statement that "additional personnel and resources are already deployed" around venues and entertainment districts to "protect the public, deter criminal activity, and ensure residents and visitors can safely enjoy this historic event." After Argentina beat Egypt in the last 16, players were filmed singing a chant referencing the Falklands, Maradona and Messi, according to BBC Sport.

Two countries fought a real war 44 years ago over territory still in dispute, and Argentine players have already sung provocative chants once this tournament. Atlanta police have a legitimate, concrete reason to plan for crowd flashpoints, separate from the normal security posture of a major sporting event.

At the same time, the people closest to the match are working to keep it contained to sport. Argentina's 2 April War Veterans Federation issued a statement this week urging fans to "draw a clear and unwavering line between sporting passion and the national cause," while England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford called it "just a game of football." BBC Sport also noted police have praised the behavior of England fans in the US so far.

The Premier League's Split Role

Away from the rivalries, there is a structural story in where these semifinalists get their talent. The Premier League supplies 41 players across the four squads, more than any other league, but BBC Sport's data shows that contribution is concentrated on defense. Nearly 95% of England's defensive minutes this tournament have come from Premier League-based players, with Argentina (46.8%), Spain (45.5%) and France (43.1%) all showing similarly high shares on the back line.

Up front, the picture flips. France's attacking trio against Morocco, Doue, Mbappe and Dembele, all play in Ligue 1 or La Liga. Spain's front line against Belgium came from La Liga and Bayern Munich. Only one player in England's starting front four against Norway, Noni Madueke, will play in the Premier League next season, after Anthony Gordon's move to Barcelona.

France v Spain kicks off Tuesday in Dallas at 8:00 p.m. BST. England v Argentina follows Wednesday in Atlanta at the same time. The winners meet in New York on Sunday, July 19, for the title.