I think it's the snooker fan in me, but there's a special prestige in reaching the semi finals compared to the previous rounds (in snooker's World Championship the semi finals are the start of the one table set-up, where the length of matches increase and the coverage is much more thorough).
So the four teams that have battled through to the final four in this year's Draft World Cup are England, Brazil, Germany and Argentina:
So the four teams that have battled through to the final four in this year's Draft World Cup are England, Brazil, Germany and Argentina:
All four teams have been here before - in fact, they've all previously reached the final. However, only Germany are former champions. Undoubtedly though, each side has the capability to win this tournament. With perfect records so far, the two European sides are favourites, but their opponents are also each unbeaten thus far.
So, who's going to make the final? To quote my favourite game show, Let's Find Out!
Germany vs Argentina
This is the most common final in the real World Cup, having occurred in 1986, 1990 and 2014. But this is their first meeting at the DWC. Argentina have grown into the tournament; they started with two draws and a shaky win over Jamaica before a great win over Spain and victory over Turkey. By contrast, Germany came into the tournament on fire, thrilling in the group stage before knocking out the defending champions France and breezing past Portugal.
Germany are without Leon Goretzka, who is suspended, so Emre Can comes in. Enzo Pérez returns to Argentina's XI, with Agustín Palavecino missing out.
So, who's going to make the final? To quote my favourite game show, Let's Find Out!
Germany vs Argentina
This is the most common final in the real World Cup, having occurred in 1986, 1990 and 2014. But this is their first meeting at the DWC. Argentina have grown into the tournament; they started with two draws and a shaky win over Jamaica before a great win over Spain and victory over Turkey. By contrast, Germany came into the tournament on fire, thrilling in the group stage before knocking out the defending champions France and breezing past Portugal.
Germany are without Leon Goretzka, who is suspended, so Emre Can comes in. Enzo Pérez returns to Argentina's XI, with Agustín Palavecino missing out.
It's an exciting opening minute, as first Argentina find acres of space for Eugenio Mena overlapping on the left, but his cut-back is deflected to Manuel Neuer. Germany break, and Erling Haaland plays in Robert Lewandowski, but the pole drags his shot narrowly wide.
Despite Argentina looking handy with the ball, all the early chances are Germany's. They are all aerial, with headers over from Haaland and Lucas Hernández the most notable. They come even closer when Dayot Upamecano heads Leroy Sané's corner against the bar.
In the 30th minute Argentina have a corner of their own. Juan Fernando Quintero swings it to the far post, Darío Benedetto rises above Thomas Muller to head it at goal, and it clips the bottom of the bar and goes in! Having withstood heavy pressure, Argentina lead!
Five minutes later and Germany attack through their most effective outlet today, Sané. He once again loses Milton Casco and gets into the box. Over comes Mateo Musacchio, Sané goes down and the referee points to the spot! VAR tells him to look at the monitor... and he sticks with his decision! So Lewandowski has the chance for a quick equaliser... he goes high to his left but Gabriel Arias produces a truly brilliant save! Unfortunately for him, it lands straight back to Lewandowski who rolls it into the unguarded net! Brutal.
Argentina get forward from the kick off, but lose it. Germany are quick to find Haaland, who has drifted in wide behind Casco. He plays it to Lewandowski, who is fairly isolated. However, Marcos Rojo commits himself to intercepting the pass, and fails. It gives Lewandowski the chance to drive at goal, and he dribbles past Musacchio. No-one else is able to catch up, meaning Lewandowski has a clear sight of goal. His shot beats Arias, hits the base of the post and dribbles along the goal line, hits the far post and goes in! That's a truly special goal! In the space of a minute Germany have flipped it around!
There are a couple of chances for Lewandowski to complete his hat trick, but neither go particularly close, and at the break it's still 2-1.
Despite Argentina looking handy with the ball, all the early chances are Germany's. They are all aerial, with headers over from Haaland and Lucas Hernández the most notable. They come even closer when Dayot Upamecano heads Leroy Sané's corner against the bar.
In the 30th minute Argentina have a corner of their own. Juan Fernando Quintero swings it to the far post, Darío Benedetto rises above Thomas Muller to head it at goal, and it clips the bottom of the bar and goes in! Having withstood heavy pressure, Argentina lead!
Five minutes later and Germany attack through their most effective outlet today, Sané. He once again loses Milton Casco and gets into the box. Over comes Mateo Musacchio, Sané goes down and the referee points to the spot! VAR tells him to look at the monitor... and he sticks with his decision! So Lewandowski has the chance for a quick equaliser... he goes high to his left but Gabriel Arias produces a truly brilliant save! Unfortunately for him, it lands straight back to Lewandowski who rolls it into the unguarded net! Brutal.
Argentina get forward from the kick off, but lose it. Germany are quick to find Haaland, who has drifted in wide behind Casco. He plays it to Lewandowski, who is fairly isolated. However, Marcos Rojo commits himself to intercepting the pass, and fails. It gives Lewandowski the chance to drive at goal, and he dribbles past Musacchio. No-one else is able to catch up, meaning Lewandowski has a clear sight of goal. His shot beats Arias, hits the base of the post and dribbles along the goal line, hits the far post and goes in! That's a truly special goal! In the space of a minute Germany have flipped it around!
There are a couple of chances for Lewandowski to complete his hat trick, but neither go particularly close, and at the break it's still 2-1.
Argentina's only change is to move to a 4-3-3, with Quintero moving alongside Pérez and Santiago Cáseres becoming the anchor. It doesn't prevent Germany from starting the second half strongly, and it should be 3-1 in the 50th minute when a long pass is inexplicably left for Arias by Musacchio - I'm not sure whether he heard a call from the keeper - allowing Sané to pick the ball up unchallenged. He gets it away from Arias, but misses the open goal! A calamity of errors.
Just over ten minutes later Joshua Kimmich fires up a free kick towards Haaland, who neatly lays it into the path of Lewandowski. He loses Rojo, and buries it in the bottom corner! It's been a quiet tournament for him before today, but now his hat trick has surely sent Germany into the final!
Argentina make some changes, with Paulo Díaz replacing Casco and Julián Álvarez coming on for Ezequiel Barco, but it makes no difference to the flow of the game. In the 73rd minute Can unleashes a long shot which Arias can only parry, and Thomas Muller is there to poke the loose ball home! Argentina appeal vociferously for offside, and with good reason, as VAR finds that Muller was just off - no goal!
Ilkay Gundogan has had a quiet but efficient tournament holding things together in his side's midfield, but he nearly gets on the scoresheet with a header at a corner, only to be denied by a Mena goal line clearance. At the other end Argentina's third sub - Nicolás de la Cruz - creates a chance for Benedetto with a good pass into space, but Neuer is equal to the shot. Rojo meets the resulting corner but can't keep his header on target.
Beyond that pair of chances, there's no threat at all from Argentina, and Germany deservedly get that fourth goal in added time when Upamecano heads in Kimmich's free kick!
Just over ten minutes later Joshua Kimmich fires up a free kick towards Haaland, who neatly lays it into the path of Lewandowski. He loses Rojo, and buries it in the bottom corner! It's been a quiet tournament for him before today, but now his hat trick has surely sent Germany into the final!
Argentina make some changes, with Paulo Díaz replacing Casco and Julián Álvarez coming on for Ezequiel Barco, but it makes no difference to the flow of the game. In the 73rd minute Can unleashes a long shot which Arias can only parry, and Thomas Muller is there to poke the loose ball home! Argentina appeal vociferously for offside, and with good reason, as VAR finds that Muller was just off - no goal!
Ilkay Gundogan has had a quiet but efficient tournament holding things together in his side's midfield, but he nearly gets on the scoresheet with a header at a corner, only to be denied by a Mena goal line clearance. At the other end Argentina's third sub - Nicolás de la Cruz - creates a chance for Benedetto with a good pass into space, but Neuer is equal to the shot. Rojo meets the resulting corner but can't keep his header on target.
Beyond that pair of chances, there's no threat at all from Argentina, and Germany deservedly get that fourth goal in added time when Upamecano heads in Kimmich's free kick!
Final score: Germany 4-1 Argentina
Player of the match: Robert Lewandowski (GER)
That was embarrassingly one-sided, not what you want to see at this stage of the tournament. Germany were certainly worth the heavy victory, particularly when you consider they amassed eight times the expected goals (see below) and took a whopping ten times more shots. Argentina's side all put in poor performances, with the strong exception of Arias. The fact their goalkeeper rated 7.9 in a four-goal defeat shows how terrible his teammates were.
Player of the match: Robert Lewandowski (GER)
That was embarrassingly one-sided, not what you want to see at this stage of the tournament. Germany were certainly worth the heavy victory, particularly when you consider they amassed eight times the expected goals (see below) and took a whopping ten times more shots. Argentina's side all put in poor performances, with the strong exception of Arias. The fact their goalkeeper rated 7.9 in a four-goal defeat shows how terrible his teammates were.
England vs Brazil
After three unspectacular group stage wins, England really hit their stride in the knockout stages, beating Thailand 5-0 and USA 4-0. It's been very different for their opponents, as Brazil have really had to scrap to come from behind in wins over both Ukraine and Scotland. Conceding 5 goals in those two matches alone shows a real vulnerability that England will be fancying exploiting, but the team spirit from those wins should go a long way. The only meeting these two have had in the DWC was a 3rd-place play-off in 2019, which was a ridiculous 8-2 win for England.
Joao Cancelo is suspended, so Andy Robertson comes in at left back for England. After failing to make the most of his recall against Scotland, Gustavo Gómez drops back out of the team, with David Luiz going back into defence and Edenílson coming in.
After three unspectacular group stage wins, England really hit their stride in the knockout stages, beating Thailand 5-0 and USA 4-0. It's been very different for their opponents, as Brazil have really had to scrap to come from behind in wins over both Ukraine and Scotland. Conceding 5 goals in those two matches alone shows a real vulnerability that England will be fancying exploiting, but the team spirit from those wins should go a long way. The only meeting these two have had in the DWC was a 3rd-place play-off in 2019, which was a ridiculous 8-2 win for England.
Joao Cancelo is suspended, so Andy Robertson comes in at left back for England. After failing to make the most of his recall against Scotland, Gustavo Gómez drops back out of the team, with David Luiz going back into defence and Edenílson coming in.
It's Brazil who start with the crisper finishing, and in the 4th minute Paulinho passes it into the path of Gabriel Barbosa, who calmly beats Alisson - but he was clearly offside and the VAR check is merely for show. England have still yet to concede in this year's DWC. There's a long Paulinho shot deflected safely to Alisson, before England's first chance comes from Sadio Mané cutting inside and shooting over.
Slowly England gain control of the match, but without creating any good chances. Although that matters little when you opponent hands them to you on a plate... a simple cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold is spilled by Weverton, straight to Harry Kane. But somehow he contrives to get under his volley and hit the crossbar! It's a terrible miss, and a huge let-off for Brazil.
Just after the half-hour mark a Brazilian attack is dismantled by a combination of Kevin de Bruyne and N'Golo Kanté, and the latter plays it to Robertson. He is quick to fire a pass into the channel where Mané has escaped Fágner, and he fires it into the bottom corner! They've not really been knocking on the door, but England have got the opener!
England kick on, and the last thing Brazil need is to concede a quick second. Kane drops deep to play a nice ball through for de Bruyne, who fires a low cross over. Luiz is able to block it, but he lives up to his calamity-prone reputation by deflecting it straight into his own net! It's unfortunate, and it's a mountain for Brazil to climb now.
It is a shame, because Luiz had been playing well. He demonstrates this with a great recovery to block a Mo Salah shot. Paulinho gets Brazil's first chance for a while, but Alisson makes a good save. At half time England are in complete control.
Slowly England gain control of the match, but without creating any good chances. Although that matters little when you opponent hands them to you on a plate... a simple cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold is spilled by Weverton, straight to Harry Kane. But somehow he contrives to get under his volley and hit the crossbar! It's a terrible miss, and a huge let-off for Brazil.
Just after the half-hour mark a Brazilian attack is dismantled by a combination of Kevin de Bruyne and N'Golo Kanté, and the latter plays it to Robertson. He is quick to fire a pass into the channel where Mané has escaped Fágner, and he fires it into the bottom corner! They've not really been knocking on the door, but England have got the opener!
England kick on, and the last thing Brazil need is to concede a quick second. Kane drops deep to play a nice ball through for de Bruyne, who fires a low cross over. Luiz is able to block it, but he lives up to his calamity-prone reputation by deflecting it straight into his own net! It's unfortunate, and it's a mountain for Brazil to climb now.
It is a shame, because Luiz had been playing well. He demonstrates this with a great recovery to block a Mo Salah shot. Paulinho gets Brazil's first chance for a while, but Alisson makes a good save. At half time England are in complete control.
The first clear chance of the second half comes when Robertson's deep cross finds his Liverpool team mate Salah, who gets a powerful volley away, but Weverton gets behind the shot. De Bruyne curls a free kick over, but otherwise it's pretty quiet.
Brazil try to get themselves going by bringing on Diego Costa to lead the line, but before he has the chance to come on Kane picks out Salah.
Brazil try to get themselves going by bringing on Diego Costa to lead the line, but before he has the chance to come on Kane picks out Salah.
Final score: England 4-1 Brazil
Player of the match: Mo Salah (ENG)
Same scoreline, similar level of dominance. England will be disappointed that they conceded their first goal of the tournament, but really it's job done. For Brazil, it's a sad end to another solid DWC run. One side note is that Gabriel scored his 8th goal of a remarkable tournament for him - drawing him level with Haaland. If the massive Norwegian doesn't score in the final, somehow he'll be denied the Golden Boot.
Player of the match: Mo Salah (ENG)
Same scoreline, similar level of dominance. England will be disappointed that they conceded their first goal of the tournament, but really it's job done. For Brazil, it's a sad end to another solid DWC run. One side note is that Gabriel scored his 8th goal of a remarkable tournament for him - drawing him level with Haaland. If the massive Norwegian doesn't score in the final, somehow he'll be denied the Golden Boot.
So the Draft World Cup becomes the second major football tournament to end with an England vs Germany final. Will this one go the same way as the Women's Euros? Well there's only one way to find out!