For the first time in World Cup history, all four of FIFA's top-ranked teams entering the tournament have advanced to the semifinals, setting up a historic final four featuring France, Spain, England and defending champion Argentina. The pairings are set: France meets Spain Tuesday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, followed by England against Argentina Wednesday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with the winner of each match advancing to the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

France enters as the tournament's outright form team, having won all six matches so far while outscoring opponents 16-2. Kylian Mbappé leads the tournament's Golden Boot race with eight goals, supported by an attacking trio that also includes Ousmane Dembélé, who has five goals of his own, and Michael Olise, currently leading the tournament in assists. Les Bleus dispatched Senegal, Iraq and Norway comfortably in the group stage before overcoming a more physical Paraguay side in the round of 16 and swatting aside Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinals despite Mbappé having a first-half penalty saved. France coach Didier Deschamps, in his fourth and final World Cup in charge of his home country, entered this tournament with a squad built around a notably different midfield structure than in previous cycles, a change that has proven largely irrelevant given how thoroughly France's attack has carried the team. France is now bidding for its third consecutive World Cup final appearance and enters as the tournament's betting favorite, with odds having shortened from 500 at the tournament's start to 150........

© International Business Times