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Spain is off to the World Cup semi-finals after a 2-1 win over Belgium. Belgium lost legendary goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to an injury in the 71st minute. Courtois had played every minute in goal in Belgium's last four World Cup appearances going back to 2014. His absence mattered as backup Senne Lamens spilled a shot from distance that allowed Maica Hamraoui to score the game-winning goal on a rebound in the 88th minute. So now it's going to be Spain and France meeting in the semi-finals with a shot to get to the final in New York on July 19th. Norway, England, Argentina, Switzerland still on tap. And with that we bring in CBS Sports soccer analyst Chris Wittyngham. And Chris, even though the Spaniards allowed a goal for the first time in this World
Cup, they pulled it out with a goal 2 minutes before stoppage time. And listen, the last two games, Spain's controlled possession, which we expect them to do, but they've unable been unable to score, excuse me, late for wins. So what's been the disconnect before they get to the end of these games? I think number one, I would start by saying that Lamine Yamal, who is their star player, their game-breaking player, the player who offers something different, is not having a good tournament. Which is a bit of a surprise, because two years ago, when he was 16 years old playing at the Euros, he was a big part of the reason why they went and won the thing. He's been very good for Barcelona over the course of the last two seasons, entering the best
player in the world conversation as a teenager. And yet he just hasn't delivered at this tournament. You can say he's injured, but he's out there for the full 90 minutes, and you have to judge him against what he's delivering, and it hasn't been good enough. So I think without him, you're relying on other players. And this is kind of always been the story for Spain. It is remarkable that since they won the World Cup in 2010, they hadn't won a game in the knockout round till this one. They've gone out in group stages, they've gone out the first time of asking as well. So this has been the story. They're very good at controlling the game with their counter-press, with their possession, with their midfield.
We see the statistical figures, it looks so But for years now it's been the story. Largely, it's down to the kind of player they produce. Feisty, technical, good on the ball. Whereas, the sort of brute force center forwards, your Holland, your Kane, your Mbappe, the kinds that are scoring well this tournament, they never have really produced very good strikers. Alvaro Morata was a good player, but not a great player. Now, they're relying on a player who's a good goalscorer, but not really a physical presence in Oyarzabal up front. So, I think Spain, it's just comes down to the kind of style that they play and the kind of player that they produce. So, now we have, Chris, France versus Spain in the semi-final, which I think a
lot of people expected when we got to the knockouts, or even before, right? Just before the World Cup started. They love, as we mentioned, Spain loves to control possession, prevent teams from even getting chances to score. But, we know how fast France can be. They can go on a scoring rampage in a hurry. So, how do you see this? Or, I should say, do you see this match-up as a de facto World Cup title game? Yeah, I mean, you could easily say that. I think it would severely underrate England and Argentina on the other side of the bracket, even Norway, who have played well in this tournament, as well.
I don't think this is the de facto final, only because that next game is still a challenge. People said that, let's say, going back to the Champions League about PSG against Bayern. With such a good game, Arsenal took them to penalties, could very easily have won the game. So, just because we think these are the two best teams, doesn't necessarily mean that. But, I do think when you talk about the match-up, it is absolutely fascinating from a stylistic standpoint. We saw them, as we see here, it's worth talking about those two games, because at the Euros, all three goals came in the first 25 minutes of the game. France opened the scoring, Spain got two quick ones, and then controlled the game. They strangled
it to the end. But, the game they played in the Nations League semi-finals last summer was an absolute shootout. It was 5-4, seven goals coming in the second half of the game. Spain were actually 3-0 up in that game, and then allowed France to get back into it. Spain have had the better of these two teams whenever they play. You just wonder if France can do a little bit more with the ball, because we know the threats that they have in transition. But, at the same time, these are two teams that enter games ex- So, what happens when France, who have four very attack-minded players, don't do a ton of work off the ball, all of a sudden have to work against the ball and defend? What does it look like in transition? This is what makes World
Cups the best, because we only really see games of consequence involving teams like this, where these are heavyweight clashes of teams that would expect to dominate now coming up against each other. We don't see this very often. And sometimes those teams get upset along the way and you don't normally see a clash like this in a semi-final, so it's going to be absolutely brilliant theater. Yeah, I'm looking forward to an instant classic between France and Spain. How about Argentina? They must have nine lives, Chris. The way they keep barely advancing to the next rounds, in large part thanks to Leo Messi's magic. Will
there be any magic left in the quarters versus Switzerland? I don't think it will quite be the same level of magic required in terms of it being a razor-thin razor-thin game that goes all the way to the end and they're hanging on. There's something to me about this match-up, and I know it sounds ridiculous after what we saw from Argentina in the last two games, where they're scraping over the line against Cabo Verde, and they're scraping over the line after going two nil down to Egypt. I think that this game will be a little bit more in their control. And I think Switzerland have probably about reached the end of the line. We now know that Johan Manzambi, who's been their star player of the tournament, is out
for the game due to injury. I don't think they offered very much against Colombia. I thought they should have gone out against Colombia, but they win the penalty shoot-out. And so, I think Argentina is more likely to win the game more comfortably in this scenario. They go back to Kansas City, where they won their opener of this tournament against Algeria, a game they won by three goals to nil. I think some of the issues that we've seen maybe one-offs, where you think about the goal that Cabo Verde scores the second, way outside the area, curling beauty into the top corner. They played well in the game, but I think the goals that they have allowed, I think have been more instances, rather than I would
say structural flaws. I could be wrong, and we could see Switzerland really challenge in this game, but I don't I don't going to require rabbit out of the hat magic in order to win. I think it's if Messi scores, it'll be in the pattern of play and Argentina will be playing well. All right, so you got Argentina advancing over Switzerland. All right, in the last quarterfinal match, if you got Erling lull you to sleep, then bam, Holland and the Norwegians, right, against Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and England who are looking to win the World Cup for the first time since 1966. Do we see Harry Kane and England advance or Erling Holland do what he does best?
Yeah, I think this is for me of the quarterfinals, I will say Belgium gave a great account of themselves against Spain. I think this is the one where you can see it being the most 50/50. I think the conditions will play a role as well. It is deadly hot in Miami right now. It'll be feels like 105° at kickoff. The hydration breaks will actually be needed cuz it'll be so damn hot there. So, it's about surviving. It's about handling the conditions. When you talk about this idea of Holland is a moments player. Well, I mean, England have their moments players, too, but if it comes down to the moments because it's so hot that neither team can really get into that sort of free-flowing game, you would say Norway have a real legitimate chance to
win the game. I'm too scared to pick them. I think that it's one of those where this has been a very chalky round where we've seen Spain take care of business. We've seen France take care of business. It feels like the round before the round. It seems like we're all roads head to France, Spain, England, Argentina. So, I'm not going to pick it, but I do think that Norway are going to give them a real challenge despite the fact that entering the tournament, we would have said there's a gulf in class between the two. The way that we perceive these teams has narrowed massively. Absolutely. That is the beauty, right, of the World Cup where you what you expect not necessarily what you're going to see. Chris Wittyngham, always appreciate
the time, man. Yeah, thanks. And for more analysis from Chris Wittyngham and his friends at Galazo, make sure to check out the Galazo Network. 48 nations started with a quest to win the World Cup. We're getting down to the final moments. Streaming free 24/7, they have you covered. All the best analysis, live watch parties, and more. The Golazo Network streaming free 24/7.
