As expected, the quarter finals gave us plenty of tension, with two games going to extra time and another seeing a late comeback fall just short. The result is that our four semi finalists are England, Mexico, Italy and South Africa:
Mexico and South Africa are the first DWC semi finalists from North America and Africa respectively. Only Europe and South America have made it to the final, will we get new continental representation in the showpiece event? Each of these is up against it, facing one of the heavyweights of the DWC world. Let us see what transpires.
England vs Mexico
England cruised through to the quarter finals, where they met the rivals France. A bold tactical plan paid off - right up until France scored from consecutive corners, ultimately forcing a penalty shooting. England came through that shootout and are now clear tournament favourites. This is uncharted territory for Mexico, who hadn't won a knockout match before this year, but now find themselves deep in the tournament. In this year's Champion of Champions event Mexico overcame France en route to the final, and need a similar performance here.
After two games in a 5-3-2, England go back to their standard 4-3-3, with Bukayo Saka in for Aymeric Laporte. Mexico boldly stick with their high-tempo gameplan, and make no changes.
England vs Mexico
England cruised through to the quarter finals, where they met the rivals France. A bold tactical plan paid off - right up until France scored from consecutive corners, ultimately forcing a penalty shooting. England came through that shootout and are now clear tournament favourites. This is uncharted territory for Mexico, who hadn't won a knockout match before this year, but now find themselves deep in the tournament. In this year's Champion of Champions event Mexico overcame France en route to the final, and need a similar performance here.
After two games in a 5-3-2, England go back to their standard 4-3-3, with Bukayo Saka in for Aymeric Laporte. Mexico boldly stick with their high-tempo gameplan, and make no changes.
Jonathan Rodríguez has been the outstanding creative player at this tournament. He got two assists against Belgium and could have had more, and he leads the tournament for chances created per 90 minutes. And he's at it again; when André-Pierre Gignac plays him in down the left Rodríguez gets it under control, waits, and crosses it back to Gignac whose header evades Alisson and goes in! It's Mexico with the early lead!
It's a disappointing one for Kyle Walker in particular, as he was selected as the more defensive RB option for England specifically to watch Rodríguez. He nearly rectifies it straight away with a cross that Saka forces a good Esteban Andrada save from. From the resulting corner Virgil van Dijk gets a good head to it, but it hits the outside of the post.
Mexico look reasonably comfortable, whilst England are currently happy to dominate territory and press for that breakthrough. And it comes on the half hour mark; Mohamed Salah is denied the chance to cut inside, so he runs into the space out wide and fires in a wonderful cross that Saka meets, and this time his volley finds the bottom corner!
It same pattern remains; England are the only team creating chances, but they're not clear ones. A stunning cross-field ball from Bernardo Silva gives Salah a sight of goal, but his first-time shot is into the side netting. Then, in the 40th minute Rúben Dias nods a Kevin De Bruyne free kick on and Salah beats Andrada to the bobbling ball, turning it in! Mexico are adamant he was offside, but VAR shows he was on, and the goal stands! England take a one-goal lead into the break.
It's a disappointing one for Kyle Walker in particular, as he was selected as the more defensive RB option for England specifically to watch Rodríguez. He nearly rectifies it straight away with a cross that Saka forces a good Esteban Andrada save from. From the resulting corner Virgil van Dijk gets a good head to it, but it hits the outside of the post.
Mexico look reasonably comfortable, whilst England are currently happy to dominate territory and press for that breakthrough. And it comes on the half hour mark; Mohamed Salah is denied the chance to cut inside, so he runs into the space out wide and fires in a wonderful cross that Saka meets, and this time his volley finds the bottom corner!
It same pattern remains; England are the only team creating chances, but they're not clear ones. A stunning cross-field ball from Bernardo Silva gives Salah a sight of goal, but his first-time shot is into the side netting. Then, in the 40th minute Rúben Dias nods a Kevin De Bruyne free kick on and Salah beats Andrada to the bobbling ball, turning it in! Mexico are adamant he was offside, but VAR shows he was on, and the goal stands! England take a one-goal lead into the break.
The only half time change is England swapping strikers; an ineffectual game from Erling Haaland ends as Harry Kane is given a go. With Salah and Saka in form, the idea is that Kane's better link-up play will suit them.
Gignac's goal was Mexico's only shot of the first half, and Rodríguez sets up their second too. It's inadvertent, as his tackle deflects the ball to Fernando Gorriarán, but the shot from the edge of the box is easily held by Alisson. Juan Escobar heads a free kick wide, as Mexico begin to come back into the match. But then from the goal kick England get upfield. Mexico clear it but only as far as Walker, who plays it through to Salah. His cut-back is deflected by Dória straight into the path of Kane who can't miss from 4 yards out! 3-1!
Mexico just don't have an answer. Despite throwing on Julio Furch and going for a 4-2-4 England defend with ease, and see out the victory to secure a third successive DWC final!
Gignac's goal was Mexico's only shot of the first half, and Rodríguez sets up their second too. It's inadvertent, as his tackle deflects the ball to Fernando Gorriarán, but the shot from the edge of the box is easily held by Alisson. Juan Escobar heads a free kick wide, as Mexico begin to come back into the match. But then from the goal kick England get upfield. Mexico clear it but only as far as Walker, who plays it through to Salah. His cut-back is deflected by Dória straight into the path of Kane who can't miss from 4 yards out! 3-1!
Mexico just don't have an answer. Despite throwing on Julio Furch and going for a 4-2-4 England defend with ease, and see out the victory to secure a third successive DWC final!
Final score: England 3-1 Mexico
Player of the match: Mohamed Salah (ENG)
England kept their heads after conceding early on, and they got their reward. Once they took the lead the result looked inevitable as Mexico really couldn't create much. Their high-tempo pressing did disrupt England's build-up a little, but an outstanding performance from Salah meant the favourites created the chances they needed.
Player of the match: Mohamed Salah (ENG)
England kept their heads after conceding early on, and they got their reward. Once they took the lead the result looked inevitable as Mexico really couldn't create much. Their high-tempo pressing did disrupt England's build-up a little, but an outstanding performance from Salah meant the favourites created the chances they needed.
Italy vs South Africa
Italy are the only team in the competition still with a 100% record, and were the only team to get through the quarter finals with ease. They are joint-top scorers, but are still somehow a little under the radar thanks to their fragility in previous years and a lack of trophies. Could it end this year? Their new-look team has been exciting and will go into this one confident. South Africa have replicated real-life Morocco's achievement in reaching this stage, and their organised front-first defending has seen them overcome a variety of opponents. Now they need to produce a much bigger scalp.
Italy have Victor Osimhen available after suspension, so Lautaro Martínez makes way. In return, Denzel Dumfries is unavailable due to accumulation of yellows, so Giovanni Di Lorenzo makes his first start since the opening match. South Africa also make a couple of changes; Aubrey Modiba and Khama Billiat for Terrence Mashego and Percy Tau.
Italy are the only team in the competition still with a 100% record, and were the only team to get through the quarter finals with ease. They are joint-top scorers, but are still somehow a little under the radar thanks to their fragility in previous years and a lack of trophies. Could it end this year? Their new-look team has been exciting and will go into this one confident. South Africa have replicated real-life Morocco's achievement in reaching this stage, and their organised front-first defending has seen them overcome a variety of opponents. Now they need to produce a much bigger scalp.
Italy have Victor Osimhen available after suspension, so Lautaro Martínez makes way. In return, Denzel Dumfries is unavailable due to accumulation of yellows, so Giovanni Di Lorenzo makes his first start since the opening match. South Africa also make a couple of changes; Aubrey Modiba and Khama Billiat for Terrence Mashego and Percy Tau.
After a quite opening, Italy appeal for a penalty when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is felled by Andile Jali, but it's free kick just outside the box. Paulo Dybala takes, beats the wall, and hits the post! A great effort, but no reward. Ronwen Williams is called into action to deny firm shots from Dybala and Kvaratskhelia, as Italy enjoy total control of the midfield but cannot create anything clear-cut.
But then in the 37th minute another aimless South African ball forwards is mopped up. Some elegant Italian build-up play evades the press, and earns Nicolo Barella the space to curl a stunning ball in behind the defence for Osimhen to run onto. One-on-one, he tries an audacious first-time dink over Williams, who is caught by surprise and can't stop it looping over him and in! What a brilliant finish, and Italy have the breakthrough!
Moments later another ball over the top undoes South Africa again, this time it's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic putting Dybala through. He gets a good shot away but Williams gets just enough glove on it to push it onto the post, and is quick enough to beat Osimhen to the rebound and push it to safety!
Despite having no shots - at all - South Africa would be fairly happy that they were able to keep the score down to one in the opening 45 minutes. Unfortunately, there were two minutes added on, and in the second of those Italy scored another as Dybala's corner was headed in by Osimhen. It'll take a miracle for South Africa from here.
But then in the 37th minute another aimless South African ball forwards is mopped up. Some elegant Italian build-up play evades the press, and earns Nicolo Barella the space to curl a stunning ball in behind the defence for Osimhen to run onto. One-on-one, he tries an audacious first-time dink over Williams, who is caught by surprise and can't stop it looping over him and in! What a brilliant finish, and Italy have the breakthrough!
Moments later another ball over the top undoes South Africa again, this time it's Sergej Milinkovic-Savic putting Dybala through. He gets a good shot away but Williams gets just enough glove on it to push it onto the post, and is quick enough to beat Osimhen to the rebound and push it to safety!
Despite having no shots - at all - South Africa would be fairly happy that they were able to keep the score down to one in the opening 45 minutes. Unfortunately, there were two minutes added on, and in the second of those Italy scored another as Dybala's corner was headed in by Osimhen. It'll take a miracle for South Africa from here.
Italy have a free kick in the second minute of the half. Dybala's cross finds Milinkovic-Savic, whose looping header is tamely towards Williams. But somehow South Africa's stopper completely misses it, and it bounces in! What a shocker!
From the kick-off South Africa finally put in their first shot of the match, as a fine diagonal pass from Modiba picks out Peter Shalulile, but his low shot is tipped behind by Mike Maignan. A few minutes later and Maignan is in action again, getting across to push a Marcelo Allendo free kick behind. From Allende's corner Ricardo Nascimento gets a thumping header at goal, and this time Maignan can't keep it out! That pulls it back to 3-1!
There appear to be one or two nerves in the Italian team now, and South Africa nearly repeat the trick when 172cm Shalulile has a header from a corner saved by Maignan. But Italy eventually draw the sting out of the game, bringing on Jorginho for the sixth game out of six to help them control their way to victory. It works - up until the first minute of added time when Allende releases substitute Bradley Grobler through the middle. He gets it under control and blasts a fine finish home! South Africa are within one of an epic comeback!
Italy immediately lose the ball after restarting, and South Africa attack down the left. Another sub, Percy Tau, lets loose a shot but it's blocked behind. Up comes Williams for the corner, what a redemption story it would be for him... he gets to the cross but can only nod it softly towards the far post and Maignan gathers. It's South Africa's last hurrah, and Italy hold on to make their first DWC final!
From the kick-off South Africa finally put in their first shot of the match, as a fine diagonal pass from Modiba picks out Peter Shalulile, but his low shot is tipped behind by Mike Maignan. A few minutes later and Maignan is in action again, getting across to push a Marcelo Allendo free kick behind. From Allende's corner Ricardo Nascimento gets a thumping header at goal, and this time Maignan can't keep it out! That pulls it back to 3-1!
There appear to be one or two nerves in the Italian team now, and South Africa nearly repeat the trick when 172cm Shalulile has a header from a corner saved by Maignan. But Italy eventually draw the sting out of the game, bringing on Jorginho for the sixth game out of six to help them control their way to victory. It works - up until the first minute of added time when Allende releases substitute Bradley Grobler through the middle. He gets it under control and blasts a fine finish home! South Africa are within one of an epic comeback!
Italy immediately lose the ball after restarting, and South Africa attack down the left. Another sub, Percy Tau, lets loose a shot but it's blocked behind. Up comes Williams for the corner, what a redemption story it would be for him... he gets to the cross but can only nod it softly towards the far post and Maignan gathers. It's South Africa's last hurrah, and Italy hold on to make their first DWC final!
Final score: Italy 3-2 South Africa
Player of the match: Victor Osimhen (ITA)
A real scare for Italy at the end there, but ultimately they deserved the win. South Africa can leave a superb tournament for them on a real high as they gave their illustrious opponents a scare. It's just a shame they only turned up once they had a three-goal deficit.
Player of the match: Victor Osimhen (ITA)
A real scare for Italy at the end there, but ultimately they deserved the win. South Africa can leave a superb tournament for them on a real high as they gave their illustrious opponents a scare. It's just a shame they only turned up once they had a three-goal deficit.
Despite South Africa's late show, we have no surprises in the semi finals, and England & Italy will contest the 2023 Draft World Cup final! Join us next time to see how it goes!