By: Marvin A. Azrak

The 2022 World Cup semifinals are upon us. After an enrapturing group stage, a round of 16, and quarterfinals, we’re into the business end of the tournament with four teams remaining. Many talented players are appearing in mouthwatering matchups as they vie for the chance to raise the trophy on Dec. 18. So, without further ado, let’s get into it.

Croatia Vs. Argentina:

Croatia came out of group F unbeaten with two draws, one a scoreless one against another semifinalist in Morocco. In the sweet 16, they outlasted Japan on penalties before doing the same to tournament favorite Brazil In comeback fashion, with Bruno Petko’s tally in the 117th minute keeping his team alive.

Postgame, Coach Zlatko Dalic lauded his team’s “fighting spirit,” Even though it’s not something you can put a number next to, it’ll be a factor against Argentina in the semifinals.

Croatia’s big three, Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, and Marcelo Brozovic have the skill and know-how to play effective two-way soccer.

While they may have Lionel Messi, Argentina will have difficulty breaking down the defense, which should allow the underdogs to remain in the contest, especially if it goes to a penalty shootout.

Eight of Croatia’s last nine knockout matches at major tournaments have gone to extra time, including the two in Qatar. They also won two shootouts against Denmark and Russia — on their way to the final in 2018 before falling to France. Should both countries win, we’ll have a rematch on Sunday.

Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was the star against Brazil, and you would think he’s going to have to make at least a couple of saves against Argentina if they’re going to do their part to ensure that happens.

Meanwhile, Argentina has and will continue to go as far as Lionel Messi could take them. The greatest soccer player of this generation has done everything, and then some in what he said will be his swan song. After a stunning 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in their opener, Argentina has essentially been in playoff mode ever since then. They defeated Mexico 2-0 and took the group title over Poland with another 2-0 triumph before eking out a win over a feisty Australian team 2-1 to reach the quarterfinals. That set up Friday’s clash with the Netherlands that’ll go down in the annals as one of the most emotional matches in World Cup history.

The tilt not only included an enthralling penalty shootout but Seventeen yellow cards, two of them to coaches, a red card after the final whistle, and an all-in melee after a ball was fired into the Netherlands bench during stoppage time. Argentina struck first on a goal from Nahuel Molina in the 35th minute, and their lead was doubled just before halftime when Messi deposited a free kick into the back of the net. The second half was mostly a defensive clinic by both sides, primarily Argentina, who held the two-goal advantage.

But in the 83rd minute, Wout Weghorst gave the Dutch life when Steven Berghuis crossed from the right, and his fellow substitute Weghorst headed home. It remained 2-1 until the 101st minute when Teun Koopmeiners cleverly reversed a free kick and found Weghorst free to put the ball home and level up the match, sending it to a penalty shootout. In the accuracy competition, Emiliano Martinez stopped the first two Netherlands attempts. Lautaro Martinez scored in the bottom of the fifth round, breaking the 3-3 tie, thus sending his team to the final four.

The advantage Argentina has over Croatia is that, simply put, they have better players. Aside from putting four past an inexperienced Canada team in the group stage, Croatia have found the net just twice in their other four games and scored in the 116th minute against Brazil with their only shot on goal.

After extra time and penalties against Japan and Brazil, there is a danger Croatia might run out of gas against Argentina, particularly when coach Lionel Scaloni can turn to his bench and throw on several world-class players.

PREDICTION: Argentina is too strong here and wins 2-1 in extra time to give Messi one last crack at glory.

Morocco Vs. France:

The tournament darlings opened their group with a scoreless draw against Croatia but haven’t lost since. They stunned world NO2 Belgium 2-0 before dispatching Canada 2-1 to win the group and advance to the sweet 16. In round 1, Yassine Bounou stopped three Spain penalties after making just one save over 120 minutes of Morocco’s 0-0 (3-0 pens) win in the World Cup Round of 16 on Tuesday. The victory sent the nation to their maiden World Cup quarter-final against Portugal. Achraf Hakimi sealed the penalties when he joined Abdelhamid Sabiri(RD1) and Hakim Ziyech(RD2) in conversions. In the elite eight, the Moroccans slayed the championship threat of Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal, making Youssef En Nesyri’s goal in the 42nd minute stand up in the 1-0 victory.

They’re the first Arab, African, and Muslim nation to be in the last four of a World Cup. They can continue to make history if they dethrone the defending champion France, who they match up pretty well against on paper.

They’ve yielded one goal all tournament (and that was their own goal), and they’ve shown the ability to defend and limit shots on goal, which means golden boot candidate Kylian Mbappe won’t have much space to operate.

They have the World Cup’s most outstanding keeper thus far in Bounou; they have two midfielders in, Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi, and serviceable wingmen in Sofiane Boufal and Hakim Ziyech who are known for their creativity on the offensive end.

But, the French are the reigning champions and, as they’ve displayed all tournament, aren’t willing to give that up yet. They were ferocious in their first two group stage games, defeating Australia 4-1, and fended off Denmark 2-1 behind Mbappe’s two goals to clinch a spot in the knockout stage. Another double from arguably the best player in the world right now was the difference in a 3-1 win over Poland, setting up their elite eight matches with England. The Quarterfinal saw the Frenchman’s depth, resilience, and mental fortitude on display, and they gutted out a 2-1 win to keep their dreams of a repeat alive.

Unlikely Morocco, there are no injury woes for France, and they are experienced in high-pressure situations.

Morocco beat Spain and Portugal in due part because these two teams were talent-reliant, but France has that and more. They’ve shown the ability to win any match and haven’t shown a sign of fatigue or weakness.

They have the best player in the world in Mbappe, who will face his best friend Hakimi, who he knows by heart and will want to beat so he can go back to scoring ways to clinch the Golden Boot award when this tournament is all set and done along with his second straight World Cup trophy.

PREDICTION: 2-0 France

Nothing against the Moroccans but France looks like a team on a mission, and I’m not sure if they’ll be able to handle it, even though I wouldn’t mind it if they do.

FINAL: Argentina Vs France (2-1 Argentina)

Just imagine the storylines leading into this one, headlined by the Messi Vs. Mbappe matchup. Most of the world, myself included, would be rooting for the Argentines so Messi can cement his legacy. Aside from the two stars, both teams match up well and are almost equal on paper, though Argentina hasn’t been at its best so far in this tournament. Nevertheless, it’s now or never for the GOAT, and I’ll go with him to bring one home for his country, as France is denied a repeat.