Final Before the Final: Top Attack Faces Best Defense

Football fans and the "football government" have what they desired at the World Cup: a semifinal featuring the world's best. The first semifinal clash in Dallas between France and Spain is being billed as a "final before the final."

Both "Les Bleus" and "La Roja" have reached the sixth match of the tournament unscathed and in championship style. The defending World Cup runners-up from Qatar have secured five wins with a 12:3 goal difference en route to their third consecutive final. Meanwhile, the European champions from Germany have reached their first semifinal since 2010 with four victories and one draw, boasting a 7:1 goal difference.

The match pits seasoned experience against youthful talent. Kylian Mbappé, at 27, is already a World Cup veteran aiming for the all-time top scorer title. In contrast, 19-year-old Lamine Yamal could potentially win both major team titles as a teenager. FIFA's top-ranked French team and third-ranked Spain are separated by only 15 points in the rankings, with Argentina in between them.