Last Updated on December 12, 2022 4:39 pm by Erwin Noguera
With just over 24 hours to go before the Qatar 2022 World Cup’s semifinals, the four teams have had their best performance in this World Cup.
For now, we continue to enjoy what has been one of the best World Cups in history, where the fabulous teams of the world have had star-studded squads, and we have been able to enjoy watching them all together.
But what cannot fail to happen in this Qatar 2022 World Cup are the surprises. We were not disappointed in the quarterfinals as Croatia and Morocco made history by leaving favorite teams like Brazil and Portugal on the road.
The level of each of the teams in this semifinal has been exemplary, and no others deserve to be at this point of the competition more than these teams.
- Croatia
- Argentina
- Morocco
- France
The world champion will be defined between these four teams. Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, December 13, 2022, we will have the actions of the first match of these semifinals between Argentina and Croatia. While on Wednesday, we will have France against the surprise section of Morocco.
Now it is time to analyze what they have and their options towards the final to be held at the Iconic Lusail Stadium next Sunday, December 18.
The World Cup Run: Argentina
Flamboyantly united and criticized by the world press after the quarterfinal match against the Netherlands, the Argentines are dreaming of a leader who has been seen as never before. The “Maradona” version of Lionel Messi has finally arrived. Genius and figure on the pitch, now he also fights off it.
They have managed to bounce back on the field after a tense start to this World Cup with their 1-2 loss to Saudi Arabia. However, as the World Cup has progressed, we have seen a much more mature and, above all, more compact Argentina team.
Along with notable surprises such as Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, or Julian Alvarez, the ever-coach Scaloni has one of the best defenses of the world cup and a very reliable goalkeeper.
Rodrigo de Paul has been one of the undisputed players in Scaloni’s starting eleven in this World Cup; his delivery on the field in all aspects of the game has been fantastic. Likewise, Otamendi continues proving he is one of the best defenders in the world with the Argentine shirt.
Messi has ripped out any rival spider web despite receiving many fouls in each match. Only the future and God will tell if this is his World Cup. What can be assured as of today is that he deserves it.
The World Cup Run: Croatia
Croatia, a country with less than four million inhabitants, continues to make history in sports. However, the legend of being a finalist in Russia 2018 was not enough for them, and they are going for another feat four years later.
Having left on the way the great favorite of this World Cup, Brazil, also puts them as candidates to reach the final when, once again, very few had it in mind for these decisive instances.
Indeed, Croatia may not be a team to fall in love with because of their style of play, but we cannot deny that they are a solid team in all their lines, but with two weapons that make them fearsome: their brilliant midfield and spectacular goalkeeper.
Modric, Brozovic, and Kovacic make the Croatian midfield a complete symphony of talent and sacrifice; Livaković, from the goal, is the necessary plus of any team that intends to reach a World Cup final: remarkable goalkeeper during the 120′ and extraordinary in the penalty series.
The Croatians have a mental strength that makes them powerful in decisive moments. Of the last nine World Cups and European Championships qualifying matches, they have played eight times in extra time.
The World Cup Run: France
Yes, the Blues are back in the final stages of a World Cup. Anyone who doubts the consistency and power of French soccer over the last two decades has not seen any soccer at all.
After being champions at home in France 98, they were runners-up in Germany in 2006 and were champions again in Russia in 2018. Now, in Qatar 2022, they are among the four best teams of the tournament, and for many, they will become the next world champions.
By figures and performance, France is the firm candidate to be champions. It was so before the tournament (along with Brazil) and affirmed it with authority during Qatar. Even though they had a wrong time in several stretches of the match against England, their versatility and number of resources to hurt the opponent are innumerable.
Mbappé continues to prove that he is currently the best player in the world. He always manages to find a way that leads his team to the goal, with his feet, with his head, with whatever; Kylian is an absolute beast in this World Cup.
In addition, the excellent level of play shown by Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann gives an extra to the team when it goes on the offensive.
Top individuals at the team’s service, with a balanced midfield and a defense that is their Achilles heel and tends to give some advantages, as well as their goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, even though he had a great game against the English.
Likewise, France is the world soccer power, and the two-time championship seems closer than ever.
The World Cup Run: Morocco
Finally, the great and beautiful surprise of this Qatar 2022 World Cup is Morocco. Morocco becomes the first team in the history of the World Cup from the African continent to qualify for the semifinals.
The history that Morocco is writing in Qatar 2022 has changed the soccer world forever. While it is unprecedented for them to be in the semifinals, Morocco deserves to be where they are.
Different African teams came close to pulling off this coup in previous editions of the World Cup but failed to do so. Now Morocco is among the four best squads in the world, and the most impressive thing is that they left powerful teams such as Spain and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal on the way.
It is a team that is exciting and contagious to watch thanks to its commitment and dazzles with its speed and ability in attack. They have a well-marked back-bone with a goalkeeper like Bono (so far, the best goalkeeper of the World Cup), a solid defense with the quality of Hakimi in the side, skill artists like Boufal, Ounahi, and Ziyech, and their flagship is Amrabat, a central midfielder who best understands the game. Their huge heart continues to excite Qatar’s biggest fans and the Arab world.
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