00:15welcome back and happy World Cup semi-final day to everybody now Spain put on a masterful display
00:22of football to upset France and qualify for the final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Dallas
00:27Stadium some would say the French were actually outplayed with goals from Mikel Oyazabal and Pedro
00:34Pero giving Spain a 2-0 win Mikel Oyazabal opened the scoring from the penalty spot midway through
00:46the first half after a lapse from France's left back resulted in him giving forward Lamine Yamal
00:52an unceremonious wallop as he tried to clear the ball the spot kick was confidently thumped into
00:58the corner by Oyazabal and with a lead to defend Spain's control of the match only grew it was just
01:05a horrible time for France to have an off game they went into the half with Spain in front after
01:15a less
01:16impressive opening period by France it was an increasingly confident Spain who sees that the
01:21upper hand once more as Poirot played a lovely one-two with Dani Olmo before slotting in the
01:27second at near post for this glittering Spanish cohort and they could have conceded more had
01:35Yamal not been offside Spain remained calm composed and full of class to the end and they had this game
01:45in the bag the story is not over for France though as they go into Saturday's a third place playoff
01:51meanwhile Spain will now travel to New Jersey where they will await the winners of Wednesday's
01:56second semi-final between England and Argentina Sergio Dufour TV six sport
02:07and vociferous celebrations were ignited in Madrid as fans counted down the seconds
02:12for their team's second appearance at a World Cup final
02:15at a World Cup final
02:17Crippin's the Golden Gate
02:20Crippin's the Golden Gate
02:33Crippin's the Golden Gate
02:56I could have had a Spanish flag. Come on, man.
02:59Well, we have one more semi-final which takes place on Wednesday
03:02between England and the defending champions Argentina.
03:05Here's a preview of that one.
03:07Wednesday's semi-final starts at 3 p.m. with England taking on Argentina.
03:11From 14 past meetings, the English won six and the Argentines won three
03:15while five were drawn.
03:17Looking at their head-to-head meetings in World Cup tournaments,
03:20the two teams played one another five times with three wins for England
03:24and two for Argentina, including Diego Maradona's controversial goal in 1986
03:29labelled as the hand of God.
03:31Former Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Shaka Hislop says
03:34he's not been fully convinced by the Argentines in this World Cup.
03:38I still don't think this is a great Argentina team.
03:40I don't think it's as good as the one we saw three and a half years ago in Qatar.
03:45This is a team that still has not kept a clean sheet,
03:48that still relies on Lionel Messi very heavily in terms of where their goals,
03:54or who scores, or who creates them.
03:56And they of the four semi-finalists have had the easiest path to get this far
04:04and have made hard work at every single step.
04:07Based on his observation, Hislop believes the three Lions have the edge against the South Americans.
04:13One of the things that impressed him was the victory against co-host Mexico.
04:17England have proved themselves to be too strong.
04:19And I say that, I feel that the England we've seen since the Mexico game
04:25just is a different animal right now.
04:28I saw them against Ghana up in Boston, a game that they drew and should have lost.
04:34Going into altitude, when everybody counted them out,
04:37and somehow they ground a result out, showed a determination,
04:40and I think showed a grit around this England that I cannot remember seeing from any England team in the
04:46past.
04:46That carried them through against Norway.
04:49I think that will also carry them through against Argentina.
04:52England are aiming for their second World Cup title,
04:55whereas Argentina are working towards a fourth trophy.
04:59Venod, now on, it is export.
05:02Well, we hear the sweet sounds of Sweet Caroline,
05:04or will Argentina reign supreme? Only time will tell.
05:07Well, it's the time where we turn our attention off the field.
05:10Now, tonight, the focus is on the English versus Argentina semifinal,
05:15dealing with a player fitness, beefed-up security, and the referee for that clash.
05:28There are reports that Declan Rice is fully fit and available
05:32to start England's World Cup semifinal against Argentina on Wednesday.
05:36Rice had a stomach problem in the aftermath of the Round of 16 game,
05:39which saw the three Lions beating Mexico at the Azteca Stadium.
05:43As a result, he had to be substituted at halftime during Saturday's quarterfinal against Norway,
05:48which England came from behind to win 2-1.
05:51Increased security measures are in place for that semifinal
05:54between the English and Argentines in Atlanta.
05:57Police are aware of historical tensions between the two countries.
06:01According to a statement from Atlanta police,
06:04these proactive measures are designed to protect the public,
06:07deter criminal activity,
06:08and ensure residents and visitors can safely enjoy this historic event.
06:13And finally, American referee Ismail El Fat will officiate that second semifinal
06:18between the Europeans and South Americans.
06:21El Fat was the fourth official in the 2022 World Cup final
06:25between France and Argentina in Qatar.
06:28At this World Cup, El Fat was in charge of three matches,
06:31the most recent being Norway versus Brazil in the Round of 16
06:34that was won by the Norwegians.
06:37We know now on E36 Sport.
06:46Well, some may say today's result in the game was unexpected,
06:50and it's time to join André-Erol Batiste to hear from local fans
06:54in our World of Football segment.
07:09France was just knocked out of the World Cup, 2-0 by Spain.
07:13Ronel is here with me, as well as Luciano.
07:16Ronel, how do you feel?
07:18I'm happy and disappointed because I wanted France to win by happy
07:21because everybody hears Manwagoners because France is the favourite now.
07:26So in all-in-down football fans back in France,
07:27all you out.
07:28All you out.
07:30All right, well, I am also happy because the best team won.
07:34Because it's not about individual players.
07:37It's about team football.
07:38And Spain, in my opinion, is the best team.
07:41Which teacher are you supporting with a name like Luciano?
07:44You support you, you are Italian?
07:45Luciano Hernandez?
07:47Yeah, you are Italian.
07:48Dynamics.
07:49Right, right.
07:49But what I am is a good football fan.
07:51I like good football.
07:52Right.
07:53And when I see it, I will cheer it over there.
07:55And who will you support?
07:56Salon Panoruchino.
07:57So you always lose it?
07:58Yeah, yeah.
07:59Yeah, yeah.
08:00Dead horseback.
08:01Always lose it.
08:02Salon Panoruchino.
08:06I'm going to Argentina.
08:08Argentina to win.
08:09Who's going to win the final?
08:10England, England, Argentina.
08:12La Rana, Argentina.
08:13One La Pulga.
08:14All right.
08:16Yes.
08:24Well, I thought we would have heard some more about the players and the game itself.
08:27Well, that's a look at the first part of our sportscast.
08:30Stay with us.
08:30We have more coming up.
08:31Stay with us.
08:32Stay with us.
08:33We have more coming up.
08:34We have more coming up.
