World Soccer Talk

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SPAIN ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS. La Roja conquered the world with a 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina — and the numbers tell the story: Argentina didn't register a single shot on target until the second half of extra time. Ferran Torres was the hero. Full World Cup 2026 final review below. At New York New Jersey Stadium, Spain controlled the final from the first whistle: 68% of the ball, 20 shots to Argentina's three, and an xG of 1.94 to 0.20. The only thing standing between La Roja and the trophy was Emiliano Martinez, who produced a World Cup final saves record to keep the defending champions alive. The game turned in second-half stoppage time when Enzo Fernandez was shown a second yellow for a foul on Pau Cubarsi, leaving Argentina to play all of extra time with ten men. Spain finally broke through 37 seconds into the second half of extra time, substitute Ferran Torres rifling home a Nico Williams cross in the 106th minute. It's Spain's second World Cup, 16 years after 2010, completing a stunning World-and-Euro

England were 4-0 up at half time… and ALMOST threw it away AGAIN. France roared back to 4-3 and came within inches of leading before England won a 10-goal classic 6-4 to take third place. Plus: Kylian Mbappe breaks Lionel Messi's all-time World Cup goals record. Full breakdown below. This was the maddest game of the tournament, with the most goals in a World Cup match since 1982. England raced into a 4-0 half-time lead in Miami: Declan Rice curled one in after just 134 seconds, Ezri Konsa headed home a corner, and Bukayo Saka struck twice before the break against a France side that barely showed up. Then everything flipped. Kylian Mbappe scored in the 48th, Bradley Barcola made it 4-2 on 54, and Mbappe's second on 66 minutes brought France within one; a goal that also took him past Lionel Messi as the all-time leading World Cup goalscorer on 22, with Messi able to respond in Sunday's final. France had chances to level and even lead before Saka's 87th-minute penalty completed his hat-trick, Ousmane Dembele str

It all comes down to THIS. Spain vs Argentina in the World Cup 2026 final — Lamine Yamal vs Lionel Messi, the tournament's best defence against the champions who refuse to lose. My full in-depth preview and prediction below. Who wins it all? Sunday at MetLife Stadium, the 2026 World Cup has its dream final. Argentina, the defending champions, are chasing what no nation has done since Brazil in 1962, back-to-back World Cups, dragged out of scare after scare by a 39-year-old Lionel Messi and his late, decisive magic in what could be his final World Cup match. Spain arrive unbeaten, having conceded less than anyone left, chasing a stunning World-and-European champions double, with 19-year-old Lamine Yamal ready to turn the final into his coronation. It's legend vs heir: Argentina's late-game ruthlessness against Spain's suffocating possession, and Messi's La Masia past against the very nation where he became a legend. I break down both roads to the final, the key tactical battles, the Messi vs Yamal duel, and gi

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England's TOTAL COLLAPSE. Five minutes from a first World Cup final in 60 years, England surrendered their lead and Lionel Messi struck twice at the death with two assists to send Argentina through 2-1. Messi claims another victim as the champions reach a SECOND straight final. Full semi-final breakdown below. England did everything right for 85 minutes. Anthony Gordon fired the Three Lions ahead early in the second half, they'd contained Messi, and a place in the final was in their grasp. Then they sat back, and it cost them everything. Messi, quiet all afternoon, came alive in the closing minutes: first drawing England's defenders and releasing Enzo Fernandez to smash home an 85th-minute equaliser, then drifting to the right wing to whip in a pinpoint cross that substitute Lautaro Martinez headed in during stoppage time. Two goals in six minutes, both made by Messi, and England's 60-year wait for a final goes on in the most agonising way imaginable. Argentina — the death-defying defending champions who have

Spain World Cup 2026 | Spain vs France World Cup 2026 — 2-0. Dan Riccio & Will Lou break down the semifinal masterclass.

France were COMPLETELY SILENCED. Spain produced a masterclass to win 2-0 in the World Cup 2026 semi-final, smothering Mbappe, Dembele and Olise and booking their place in the final. Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro did the damage. Full recap below. This was Spain at their brilliant best. In Dallas, La Roja took the lead in the 22nd minute when teenager Lamine Yamal was fouled by Lucas Digne and Mikel Oyarzabal calmly dispatched the penalty. Spain doubled the lead just before the hour, Pedro Porro finishing a slick give-and-go with Dani Olmo past Mike Maignan. But the real story was at the other end: the tournament's best defence strangled the most feared attack in world football, restricting Mbappe, Dembele, Olise and Doue to a barely-there 0.3 expected goals and never letting Les Bleus into the game. Yamal comprehensively outshone Mbappe — winning the penalty and even having a goal chalked off for offside. Spain march on to their first World Cup final since they lifted the trophy in 2010, chasing a stunning w

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The World Cup 2026 semi-finals are SET - France vs Spain and England vs Argentina - and I'm predicting exactly who reaches the July 19 final in New Jersey. Two European giants collide, w World Cup rivalry is renewed, and a Messi vs Mbappe final is a possibility... again. Full predictions below. For the first time since FIFA rankings began, the top four teams in the world make up the final four. First, in Dallas on Tuesday, France vs Spain pits the tournament's most feared attack — Kylian Mbappe (fit after his ankle knock and chasing Messi's all-time World Cup goals record), Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise, against the best defence left standing, a Spain side that has conceded just ONCE all tournament and beat France in both 2024 and 2025. Then on Wednesday in Atlanta, England vs Argentina reignites one of the sport's great rivalries. England, chasing a first final since 1966, lean on Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane but must cope without the suspended Jarell Quansah; Argentina, the defending champions, have s

Erling Haaland's World Cup dream is OVER. Jude Bellingham struck twice — including a 93rd-minute extra-time winner — to send England past Norway 2-1 and into the semi-finals, ending Haaland's scoring streak and Norway's fairytale run. Plus: Argentina survive ANOTHER scare to set up England vs Argentina in the semis. Full breakdown below. In the Miami heat, Norway looked set to stun England when Andreas Schjelderup curled a stunning opener in off the post — but Jude Bellingham had other ideas. He levelled in first-half stoppage time, then pounced on a loose ball three minutes into extra time for the winner, dragging the Three Lions to their first World Cup semi-final since 2018. Haaland, held scoreless, saw his 14-game international scoring run ended as Norway's memorable first World Cup in 28 years came to a heartbreaking close in the quarter-finals. In the night's other tie, defending champions Argentina lived dangerously once again: Alexis Mac Allister headed them ahead from a Messi corner, Dan Ndoye equali

France are into the World Cup 2026 semi-finals, beating Morocco 2-0 — and Kylian Mbappe made history, scoring his 20th career World Cup goal to move within ONE of Lionel Messi's all-time record. A rematch of the 2022 semi-final, settled by the same scoreline. Full quarter-final breakdown below. It didn't start smoothly for Mbappe, who saw a first-half penalty saved by Yassine Bounou after a long VAR wait — but the France captain made it irrelevant. In the 60th minute he curled a brilliant effort into the far corner for his 20th World Cup goal in his 20th World Cup match, becoming only the second player ever to reach 20 (behind Messi's 21) and the youngest to do so, while also setting a new record for the most knockout-stage goals in World Cup history. Six minutes later he turned provider, teeing up Ousmane Dembele for 2-0. With 8 goals and 3 assists, Mbappe is back on top of the Golden Boot race and has racked up the most goal involvements at a single World Cup since Gerd Muller in 1970. France reach a third

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France are into the World Cup 2026 semi-finals, beating Morocco 2-0 — and Kylian Mbappe made history, scoring his 20th career World Cup goal to move within ONE of Lionel Messi's all-time record. A rematch of the 2022 semi-final, settled by the same scoreline. Full quarter-final breakdown below. It didn't start smoothly for Mbappe, who saw a first-half penalty saved by Yassine Bounou after a long VAR wait — but the France captain made it irrelevant. In the 60th minute he curled a brilliant effort into the far corner for his 20th World Cup goal in his 20th World Cup match, becoming only the second player ever to reach 20 (behind Messi's 21) and the youngest to do so, while also setting a new record for the most knockout-stage goals in World Cup history. Six minutes later he turned provider, teeing up Ousmane Dembele for 2-0. With 8 goals and 3 assists, Mbappe is back on top of the Golden Boot race and has racked up the most goal involvements at a single World Cup since Gerd Muller in 1970. France reach a t

France vs Morocco — the biggest FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal is here. Dan Riccio and Will Lou break down every angle: Kylian Mbappé's form, Morocco's defensive setup, key tactical battles, and their World Cup predictions for who advances to the semifinals.Plus: full previews for Spain vs Belgium, Norway vs England, and Argentina vs Switzerland — biggest storylines, players under pressure, and upset picks for every quarterfinal.If you want in-depth World Cup 2026 analysis, match previews, and daily FIFA World Cup predictions, you're in the right place.⚽ Watch The 90th Minute LIVE — Mon–Fri at 12pm ET / 9am PT

The World Cup 2026 quarter-finals are here — and I'm predicting all four. France vs Morocco reboot their 2022 semi-final, Spain face Belgium, Haaland's Norway take on England, and reigning champions Argentina meet Switzerland. Who makes the semis? Full predictions below.Eight teams left, four spots in the semi-finals, and no margin for error. France vs Morocco is a rematch of the 2022 semi-final the French won 2-0 — but this Morocco side is the first African nation to reach back-to-back World Cup quarter-finals. Spain haven't conceded a goal all tournament and now face an in-form Belgium led by De Ketelaere and Lukaku. Norway's first-ever World Cup quarter-final is a heavyweight forward duel, Erling Haaland vs Harry Kane. And Argentina — chasing the first back-to-back World Cup since 1962, with Messi leading the Golden Boot race — take on a stubborn Switzerland team in the last eight for the first time in 70+ years. I break down every tie, the key battles, and give you my score predictions and my final four.0

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Argentina were 2-0 DOWN to Egypt and staring at a World Cup exit — then Lionel Messi dragged the champions back from the dead, sparking three goals in 13 minutes for a stunning 3-2 comeback. Plus: Switzerland knock out Colombia on penalties. Full Round of 16 breakdown below. For 79 minutes, the unthinkable was on. Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico had Egypt 2-0 up and dreaming of the quarterfinals — Messi had missed a first-half penalty, and an Egypt goal was chalked off by VAR in a game full of drama. Then came the rescue act: Cristian Romero headed one back in the 79th, Messi levelled in the 83rd for his tournament-leading eighth goal and a record-extending 21st at World Cups, and Enzo Fernandez powered home a stoppage-time header to complete a 3-2 miracle that left Messi in tears. In the day's other tie, Switzerland and Colombia battled to a tense, physical 0-0 across 120 minutes before the Swiss held their nerve to win the shootout 4-3, Ruben Vargas burying the decisive kick. Reigning champions Argentina no

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