World Cup Nights: it's France-Spain day. First semifinal tonight in Dallas, England-Argentina tomorrow

No ball overnight: the World Cup has filed away its last rest day and now throws open the doors to the semifinals. And it starts with the big one: tonight at 21:00 Italian time, at Dallas's AT&T Stadium and on France's national holiday, France and Spain fight for a place in the final. Mbappe against Lamine Yamal, the tournament's two favourites face to face. Tomorrow, same time, it's England-Argentina.

A quiet night, of the kind you can now count on one hand at this World Cup: no matches, the bracket caught its breath one last time before the closing act. But the calm ends here, because today we get down to business. The four semifinalists are set: France saw off Morocco 2-0, Spain beat Belgium 2-1, England came from behind to edge Norway 2-1 in extra time and world champions Argentina downed Switzerland 3-1, also after extra time. And as it happens, France take the field on 14 July, Bastille Day itself: a perfect omen for Les Bleus.

France-Spain is far more than a semifinal: it is the clash of the two big favourites. Opta's supercomputer gives Les Bleus a 43.9% chance of winning in 90 minutes against Spain's 29.0%, and rates France the leading contender for the title (34.6%) ahead of Spain (23.8%). History, though, tells another tale: Spain lead the all-time series (18 wins to 13, with seven draws in 38 meetings), knocked France out in the Euro 2024 semifinal (2-1, Yamal and Olmo overturning Kolo Muani's opener) and won that breathless 5-4 Nations League tie last year. In the middle, the duel that could decide the tournament: Kylian Mbappe, eight goals and out in front among the scorers, against Lamine Yamal, the dazzling 18-year-old.

On the eve, words carry weight. Luis de la Fuente raised the bar of respect: 'France are much better now than when we faced them before: Mbappe is better, Dembele is better, the team is better.' And on the stakes: 'This could easily have been the final. The other semifinal, Argentina-England, could be one too. The four teams left are the best in the world.' Then a line from Julius Caesar — 'There can be no great achievement without sacrifice' — and a nod to Yamal: 'His best World Cup performance is still to come.' On the French side, Deschamps is watching the treatment room: Mbappe carried an ankle knock out of the Morocco game but declared himself 'completely fine', while Upamecano (foot), Saliba (back), Kone and Tchouameni are carrying knocks but expected to be available. At the top of the scoring chart, meanwhile, Mbappe and Messi remain level on 8, the Frenchman ahead on assists.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, the stage shifts to Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium for England-Argentina, again at 21:00 Italian time: far more than a semifinal, a slice of history. The two nations have not met at a World Cup for 24 years — since 2002 — and the tie stirs the tournament's fiercest rivalries, from Maradona's 'Hand of God' in '86 to Beckham's red card in '98. And, for the first time in his career, Lionel Messi will face England. Across from him, the Three Lions of Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham (six goals apiece), with four wins in their last five, against an Argentina that has won all five, scoring twelve. Opta calls it wide open: England 38.9%, Argentina 34.1%, with a 27% chance of extra time.

Two semifinals, four teams, a final that on 19 July at MetLife Stadium is starting to take shape. The losers will play for third place in Miami on Saturday 18; the winners, for the dream. The World Cup has finished catching its breath: now it gets serious. We'll be back at dawn, after the first semifinal.

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