The quarter finals had their share of drama, most notably in the clash between rivals Argentina and Brazil. Argentina scored late to take it to extra time, where they found a winning goal. That sees them through into the semis alongside three of the DWC's giants:
After a bad performance in an opening defeat to Hungary, Spain have looked a bit ominous since, dominating games even if they aren't scoring tons themselves. There's certainly a shade of the 2010 (real) World Cup winners about this year's crop. That's who Argentina needs to get past if they are to prevent a second successive all-European DWC final.
Today we'll solely focus on this game, with Italy vs France coming up next time.
Team news
Spain are hit by the news that Dani Carvajal will miss the rest of the tournament after his late injury against Germany. Fortunately their other right back, Sergi Roberto, is fit despite a knock in the same game. This means they're unchanged. Argentina, meanwhile, bring Javier Mascherano back into the team after his suspension, with Ignacio Fernández making way.
Today we'll solely focus on this game, with Italy vs France coming up next time.
Team news
Spain are hit by the news that Dani Carvajal will miss the rest of the tournament after his late injury against Germany. Fortunately their other right back, Sergi Roberto, is fit despite a knock in the same game. This means they're unchanged. Argentina, meanwhile, bring Javier Mascherano back into the team after his suspension, with Ignacio Fernández making way.
The first chance comes in the 2nd minute, with Lionel Messi's free kick finding captain Sergio Ramos unmarked, but his header is just over the bar. Spain looked to keep the pressure up, but a slack pass from Luka Modric allows Argentina to break quickly. Juan Fernando intercepts, and Ignacio Scocco plays in Eduardo Salvio, who runs all the way into the box but pulls his shot well wide.
Loose Spanish play with the ball gets them in trouble again, as Sergio Busquets is dispossessed by Scocco, who - like Salvio - drags the resulting shot wide. Neither have been great chances, but they may still rue not making more of them.
Other than some blocked Spanish shots from range, the game can't muster any further chances, and we reach the interval goalless.
Loose Spanish play with the ball gets them in trouble again, as Sergio Busquets is dispossessed by Scocco, who - like Salvio - drags the resulting shot wide. Neither have been great chances, but they may still rue not making more of them.
Other than some blocked Spanish shots from range, the game can't muster any further chances, and we reach the interval goalless.
Spain's lack of bite is exemplified by the passes attempted by their two star wingers, Messi and Eden Hazard (shown below). Between them they have only attempted 37 passes - for context, that's less than each of Spain's midfielders' individual tallies. Furthermore, only one pass - intercepted - has been into the Argentine box.
The second half continues with few chances. In the 57th minute Argentina manage to create a good spell of possession, pinning Spain back. However, Enzo Pérez dallies on the ball and is dispossessed by Sergio Busquets. Before he can get away however, he's hacked down by Pérez, who sees red! Can Argentina stay level with 10 men?
Iván Marcone comes on for Quintero, as Argentina adopt a defensive 4-4-1 formation. Spain also make their first chance, with Luis Suárez - who has had a quiet game - replaced by Antoine Griezmann. The Frenchman nearly makes an immediate impact, but his volley just misses.
In the 77th minute Spain weave another patient attack. Once again, it's Modric who finds space in the final third, playing it out wide to Roberto. He cuts it back inside to the Croatian, who shoots from the edge of the box. Franco Armani gets a glove on it, pushing it against the post. It bounces straight upward and lands back on the post, bouncing into the box... fortunately for Argentina Marcos Rojo reacts fastest to clear it! Spain immediately come again, and Roberto's cross finds Griezmann, but his header is held by Armani.
Argentina continue to defend superbly, with centre backs Rojo and Javier Pinola standing out. Spain replace Busquets - fairly redundant since Argentina retreated into their shell - with Karim Benzema. However, they can't find a breakthrough, and we reach the end of 90 minutes.
In the 77th minute Spain weave another patient attack. Once again, it's Modric who finds space in the final third, playing it out wide to Roberto. He cuts it back inside to the Croatian, who shoots from the edge of the box. Franco Armani gets a glove on it, pushing it against the post. It bounces straight upward and lands back on the post, bouncing into the box... fortunately for Argentina Marcos Rojo reacts fastest to clear it! Spain immediately come again, and Roberto's cross finds Griezmann, but his header is held by Armani.
Argentina continue to defend superbly, with centre backs Rojo and Javier Pinola standing out. Spain replace Busquets - fairly redundant since Argentina retreated into their shell - with Karim Benzema. However, they can't find a breakthrough, and we reach the end of 90 minutes.
It's Rojo's performance in particular that stands out. He's won 6 headers, the most for Argentina, with 3 being key headers right in front of his own goal:
Spain replace Koke with Toni Kroos, whilst Argentina still have 2 substitutions left (FM Touch's Versus mode doesn't have the new rule where each team gets a 4th sub in extra time).
There's nothing to report from the first half of extra time, as we reach the final break in play with the score still 0-0. Spain have now had 50 minutes against 10 men, and they are yet to get into double figures for shots attempted.
Spain's first attack of the second half of extra time results in a lovely floated pass from Kroos to Messi, who heads it down to Benzema. He plays it back to Messi who botches his volley, sending it well wide - the flag was up anyway.
8 minutes into the half Eden Hazard strains his thigh, although he's okay to continue. Still Argentina hold firm. As the game heads towards 120 minutes they replace their full backs with forwards Lisandro López and Mauro Zárate, anticipating penalties. Can Spain take advantage of this? They cannot, which means we finally get out first penalty shootout of this year's DWC!
There's nothing to report from the first half of extra time, as we reach the final break in play with the score still 0-0. Spain have now had 50 minutes against 10 men, and they are yet to get into double figures for shots attempted.
Spain's first attack of the second half of extra time results in a lovely floated pass from Kroos to Messi, who heads it down to Benzema. He plays it back to Messi who botches his volley, sending it well wide - the flag was up anyway.
8 minutes into the half Eden Hazard strains his thigh, although he's okay to continue. Still Argentina hold firm. As the game heads towards 120 minutes they replace their full backs with forwards Lisandro López and Mauro Zárate, anticipating penalties. Can Spain take advantage of this? They cannot, which means we finally get out first penalty shootout of this year's DWC!
I'll do these kicks in pairs...
Argentina go first, with Ignacio Scocco. He's barely had the ball today, does he still know how to shoot? ... he does! He sends Jan Oblak the wrong way!
Luka Modric has orchestrated the game for Spain today, can he add to his fine performance with a penalty? ... he goes to the left but Armani pushes it away!!! (Spain 0-1 Argentina)
Can Argentina seal their advantage? It's their first specialist penalty-taker, Lisandro López... beats Oblak with a shot into the bottom corner!
Sergio Ramos has had little to do today, can he get Spain off the mark? ... No! It's down the middle and Armani holds his ground!!! (Spain 0-2 Argentina)
Ignacio Piatti was running on fumes by the end of extra time, but he was kept on. Can he find the legs to put Argentina on the brink of the final? ... He goes to the bottom corner but Oblak makes a great save!!!
Spain seem allergic to scoring today. Surely Lionel Messi can end that? ... He can, blasting it to Armani's right! (Spain 1-2 Argentina)
That goal puts the pressure back on Argentina, and Eduardo Salvio, who has had a difficult game. He runs up... and lashes it past Oblak! That makes it match point Argentina!
So now it falls to Karim Benzema to keep Spain in this year's Draft World Cup. He places the ball down, steps back, runs up... and beats Armani with a powerful shot! (Spain 2-3 Argentina)
Down to the final takers. And for Argentina it's their other specialist taker Mauro Zárate. The one-time Birmingham, West Ham, QPR and Watford forward has the chance to win the game for Argentina. Can he do it? ... He shoots to the right, it beats Oblak... but it goes wide of the post!!! Oh my! Spain survive!
So, to keep this going and take us to sudden death, it's down to a limping Eden Hazard. It's a slow run-up, he shoots to the left... and he also misses!!! Spain are out and Argentina have got through to the final!!!
Argentina go first, with Ignacio Scocco. He's barely had the ball today, does he still know how to shoot? ... he does! He sends Jan Oblak the wrong way!
Luka Modric has orchestrated the game for Spain today, can he add to his fine performance with a penalty? ... he goes to the left but Armani pushes it away!!! (Spain 0-1 Argentina)
Can Argentina seal their advantage? It's their first specialist penalty-taker, Lisandro López... beats Oblak with a shot into the bottom corner!
Sergio Ramos has had little to do today, can he get Spain off the mark? ... No! It's down the middle and Armani holds his ground!!! (Spain 0-2 Argentina)
Ignacio Piatti was running on fumes by the end of extra time, but he was kept on. Can he find the legs to put Argentina on the brink of the final? ... He goes to the bottom corner but Oblak makes a great save!!!
Spain seem allergic to scoring today. Surely Lionel Messi can end that? ... He can, blasting it to Armani's right! (Spain 1-2 Argentina)
That goal puts the pressure back on Argentina, and Eduardo Salvio, who has had a difficult game. He runs up... and lashes it past Oblak! That makes it match point Argentina!
So now it falls to Karim Benzema to keep Spain in this year's Draft World Cup. He places the ball down, steps back, runs up... and beats Armani with a powerful shot! (Spain 2-3 Argentina)
Down to the final takers. And for Argentina it's their other specialist taker Mauro Zárate. The one-time Birmingham, West Ham, QPR and Watford forward has the chance to win the game for Argentina. Can he do it? ... He shoots to the right, it beats Oblak... but it goes wide of the post!!! Oh my! Spain survive!
So, to keep this going and take us to sudden death, it's down to a limping Eden Hazard. It's a slow run-up, he shoots to the left... and he also misses!!! Spain are out and Argentina have got through to the final!!!
Final score: Spain 0-0 Argentina (Argentina win 3-2 on penalties)
Player of the match: Luka Modric
What an upset! Argentina's brilliant tournament continues, can they defy the odds and win the final? As for Spain, they had to be considered the tournament favourites going into the semi finals, particularly as they faced the outsiders, but they have fallen short!
It means there'll be a new name on the DWC trophy this year. Argentina will contest the final, but who against? Next time we cover the other semi as Italy and France do battle once again.
Player of the match: Luka Modric
What an upset! Argentina's brilliant tournament continues, can they defy the odds and win the final? As for Spain, they had to be considered the tournament favourites going into the semi finals, particularly as they faced the outsiders, but they have fallen short!
It means there'll be a new name on the DWC trophy this year. Argentina will contest the final, but who against? Next time we cover the other semi as Italy and France do battle once again.