Excitement in the air

AND THEN there were four. The World Cup is hurtling towards its climax at breakneck pace, and certainly has not lacked nerve-jangling tension. France versus Belgium, and England versus Croatia. France and England have both raised the trophy aloft at a World Cup before, but will it be the turn of a newcomer this time around?

The possible first-timers both have excellent teams at the event, their countries’ so-called “golden generation”.

Both Belgium and Croatia have not had an easy road to make the semifinals. The Belgians had to come up with something special when they went 2-0 down in the second half of their last 16 encounter with Japan’s blue Samurai.

In perhaps the game of the tournament, they showed their depth and tactical versatility to win 3-2.

On Saturday night Croatia, who had already had to suffer through a penalty shootout to get past Denmark, faced the lottery of spotkicks a second time – and at the same time had to defeat the hopes of an entire country, with all of Russia willing their countrymen on in their home event.

The pressure got to a few of those penalty-takers, as their attempts were horribly botched, although most neutral observers would say that Croatia probably have the better quality team, and deserve their place in the semi-finals.

France, too, have a team laced with talent, and in forward Kylian Mbappe possess a player who could be the game’s next superstar.

England have a solid team led by a goal-poacher supreme in their captain Harry Kane.

Maybe they have been helped by the fact that their perennial struggles at World Cup tournaments may have lowered expectations of how well they would do.

But if this World Cup has displayed anything, it is that the form book is not the basis for assessing teams’ chances. The remaining teams are all European. So no American, African or Asian teams remain.

It is hard to say what the last-four line-up will look like in four years’ time in Qatar.

Hopefully either Africa or Asia will have representation then, and the South American giants are bound to rebuild their teams and challenge again too.

For now there is much to anticipate from the semi-finals tomorrow and on Wednesday.

Followers of the game will know many of the players on display from their exploits in various European leagues.

Now, though, they campaign in national colours, in concert with countrymen they may be sworn opponents of in club guise.

The tension is palpable, and let’s enjoy some more nerve jangling.