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Key events
Spain really started slowly. That opening goalless draw with Cape Verde, which admittedly doesn’t look so bad in retrospect. They belatedly got going with an easy victory over Saudi Arabia, before knocking out Uruguay. Despite that initial stutter, Spain topped Group H after all.
Onto the knockouts, during which Spain have done enough without ever clicking into top gear … yet … though those no-fuss Mikel Oyarzabal finishes against Austria were delicious.
France made it through Group I without any fuss. They started slowly but eventually surged past Senegal. A two-hour storm break during their meeting with Iraq was like water off a duck’s back. Then they achieved grade A against Norway B.
Onto the knockouts, during which they’ve made their class tell, one way or another. And here we are.
In the beginning … here’s how it all looked at the outset of this epic odyssey. Not so much has changed, bar ever-increasing hope and expectation.
Preamble
France and Spain are about to compete the semi-final of a World Cup in which they’ve been by some margin the best two teams. It’s a showdown that can’t be oversold. So let’s not try. Kick-off in Dallas is 8pm BST/3pm EST/5am AEST. It’s on!
