A soccer ball is also round. Before the competition, the predictions of so-called experts, fortune-tellers, statisticians, and AI were completely off the mark. While the traditional powerhouses of Europe and South America reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as expected, some of the other two teams seem to have difficulty even passing the group stage.
Through the quarterfinals of the World Cup held on the 10th and 11th (Korean time), four teams, including France, Argentina, Croatia, and Morocco, obtained tickets to the semifinals. France defeated England 2-1 in a match of pride, and Argentina advanced to the semi-finals by beating the Netherlands in a penalty shoot-out. Croatia defeated ‘champion candidates’ Brazil and Morocco defeated Portugal. Argentina and Croatia will clash at 4:00 am on the 14th, and France and Morocco will clash at 4:00 am on the 15th. They are in a position to win the World Cup of their dreams if they win two more games. The invisible championship cup has come into view. Which team will win? It is clear that whoever wins will write a ‘legendary’ story.
At this point ahead of the semi-finals, the player who receives the most attention from soccer fans around the world is probably Argentina’s ‘living legend’ Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain). Messi had his first chance at winning the 5th and virtually final World Cup of his personal career. It is also an opportunity to take a step forward in the ‘GOAT’ (the best player in history) debate as ‘eternal rival’ Cristiano Ronaldo (independent) of Portugal falls in the quarterfinals. The two players have lifted almost every trophy throughout their careers, but have not been linked to the World Cup.
Messi reached the final at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil eight years ago, but was caught by Germany. The incisive referee, Messi, is already showing his best ‘form’ (performance) in this tournament, to the point of recording 4 goals and 2 assists, the highest number of attack points in his personal career in the World Cup. He serves as a mental support for young players such as Enzo Fernandez (Benfica) and Julian Alvarez (Man City) so that they can perform lively. On top of that, ‘D’Voo’ Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa) is showing off his spirited saving skills, including making two saves in the penalty shoot-out against the Netherlands. Messi achieved his dream of winning his first major tournament at Copa America in 2021 last year, when Martinez played a big role.
After winning the World Cup in Argentina for the first time in 1978, Argentina won the second championship in Mexico in 1986, eight years later, with Diego Maradona’s ‘One Man Show’. In the 1982 World Cup in Spain, they were eliminated early in the second group stage. The latest pattern is similar. Argentina, who advanced to the finals at the 2014 World Cup, was ‘exhausted’ (dropped out at the speed of light) in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and under the direction of coach Lionel Scaloni, they found a good flow to reach the final once again in 8 years.
In order for Argentina to reach the final, they must also pass the semi-final against Croatia, which will be held at Lusail Stadium at 4:00 am on the 14th. Of course, Croatia is not an easy opponent. In the last World Cup in Russia, 메이저사이트 Croatia, who advanced to the final with three consecutive penalty shootout victories in the tournament and finished runners-up, again laughed in two consecutive penalty shootouts against Japan and Brazil. Recently, he has maintained an amazing record of 5 wins in 5 World Cup penalty shootouts. Argentina needs to avoid penalty shootouts as much as possible.
The player who writes the story of Croatia’s legend is Luka Modric (Real Madrid). The 37-year-old Modric, like the 35-year-old Messi, is doing the ‘last dance’. Modric, who has the most appearances in Croatia’s A-matches (160 matches), was selected as the tournament’s best player (Golden Ball) at the last World Cup in Russia. Based on his performance in the World Cup, he vomited the spirit of winning the Ballon d’Or, which was divided between Messi and Ronaldo. He firmly said, “I will not retire from the national team after this World Cup.” Modric is poised to burn the last flame along with Ivan Perisic (Tottenham) and Dejan Lovren (Zenit), who have worked together in the national team for a long time.
During the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, Morocco is considered the biggest surprise team after Korea. He wrote the history of Africa’s first World Cup semifinals. The previous African team’s best record was the quarterfinals written by Cameroon in 1990, Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010. Morocco sent Spain and Portugal back to the Iberian Peninsula lined up with a salty defense that conceded only one goal in five games. Goalkeeper Yasin Bunu (Sevilla) showed off his best saving skills in the tournament, both in regular time and in penalty shootouts. The defense centered on Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain) neutralized the opponent’s ‘Wolcle’ attacking line.
Morocco, the first non-European and South American team to reach the World Cup finals, awaits the most difficult gateway. Morocco will face France as the defending champion. 60 years after Brazil from 1958 to 1962, we challenge for the second consecutive championship. France was concerned only when key midfielders Paul Pogba (Juventus) and N’Golo Kante (Chelsea) and 2022 Ballon d’Or-winning striker Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) emerged before the tournament. it was raining They are recording the most goals (11 goals) among the teams that have advanced to the semifinals. ‘Ace’ Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) leads the score alone with 5 goals, and Olivier Giroud (AC Milan) is tied for second place with 4 goals. In the quarterfinals, they defeated their rival, England, and their momentum skyrocketed.