During the World Cup draw in December last year, FIFA explained the system introduced for the first time in the upcoming tournament. The stated goal was to reach the semifinals with the four top-ranked teams in the world rankings it publishes monthly. Thus, each of the four knew that if it won its group, it would avoid facing the other three until the semifinals. There were no surprises. Perhaps there were some along the way in feeling, Uruguay's collapse, Cape Verde's success, but not really. Not to the end. Spain-France and England-Argentina, that is what FIFA wanted, that is what the world is getting.

It is not that it is so bad. On the contrary, it strengthens the feeling that this is one of the greatest World Cups ever. These were the four best teams over the past month. Spain that barely managed to shoot at goal, Argentina with the liberated, happy, crying, accessible Messi. England with two superstars who elevate at the crucial moment. And France, one, better than all. In attack, in defense. So what will happen?

Starting with France and Spain. The best attack in the tournament, by eye test and by results (Argentina scored one more goal, but also played 60 minutes more) is that of France. Soft like butter in the croissant of breakfast in the Marais, lethal like a guillotine in the 18th century. This is a team that does honor to French history and can compete in historical rankings with that of Zidane and Henry, and Deschamps the captain, that lifted in 98 and Euro 2000. Of course, for that it needs to win. But for those for whom the path matters, and not only the goal, this France does everything right.

Six straight World Cup matches in which France is in full control. The opponent has no real answer how to deal with the front four that attacks, attacks, attacks until it scores. Dua with the dribbling, Olise with the brilliant passes, Dembele already with a fourth goal in Boston. But above all it is Kylian Mbappe. On social networks they laugh at the cruel general who rules his subjects with tyranny, but it seems the national team is the place where he returned to enjoy football. And when players like Mbappe enjoy football - the whole crowd enjoys.

When trying to go back and think about the best national team attack until this France, one needs to go back to 2002. Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Ronaldo were unstoppable. The wonderful striker, for whom this World Cup was his correction after the final in the previous tournament and the serious injuries he suffered since, scored in every match of his team except one. So too Mbappe in this tournament (need to win two more matches for the comparison to really hold, of course). When Brazil's opponents thought maybe they were succeeding in stopping him, they were punished by his two attacking partners.

After three matches against opponents that did not even reach the French goal area, Spain arrives. The European champions have an iron defense of their own, and a superstar who has not yet left his mark on the tournament. Apart from a goal against Saudi Arabia, and quite a few dribbles that did not lead to much beyond a "wow" from the stands, this is the time of Lamine Yamal. Mikel Marino, the midfielder who became a striker under Mikel Arteta, has already saved Spain twice, but how many times will that still work?

Rodri, after two less good years following the serious knee injury he suffered, looks great again. Controls the center of the pitch, dictates the tempo and reminds of the player of the year from two years ago. Apart from one mistake by Cubarsi against Belgium, the defense does not err and does not put Unai Simon in trouble. Will De La Fuente's decision to prefer the Bilbao goalkeeper over David Raya cost him dearly?

The young generation knows the winning Spain, the one that does not miss titles, the one that since 2008 has filled the federation's cabinet with many silver and gold trophies. But it was not always like that. In its history it played only one World Cup semifinal, and thanks to that header by Puyol against Germany it could continue and also win the 2010 final with Iniesta. One hundred percent success rate, but only once. In Euro tournaments it played 6 semifinals and won five of them. It also won five of six finals it participated in. The one it lost? The 1984 Euro final against, well, France.

And while France-Spain is the final of football, the second semifinal is the really big match in terms of history, rivalry, politics and fierce hatred. England-Argentina is the match closest to a derby that national team football can offer us. Messi dragged Argentina all the way to the quarterfinals, where, against Switzerland he already received help from the other attacking players. And how much Argentina needs them, because England is the most quality and senior opponent it has faced so far.

This is the first ever meeting of Messi against the England national team after 205 appearances for the national team. Although the teams last met in 2005 and Messi was already part of the squad, he was suspended for that match. That followed the red card he received against Hungary in his Argentina debut. England won that match 3-2 with a Michael Owen brace in the final minutes.

But the meetings that preceded this match, oh-oh. Everything was in them. This rivalry goes back to 1962 when England won 3-1 in the World Cup and caused Argentina's elimination. Things really heated up in the 1966 tournament that England won. The teams met in the quarterfinals and England won with a goal by Geoff Hurst. Antonio Rattin, captain of that team, was sent off in that match. He refused to leave the pitch and was taken off by the police.

Rattin also tore the British flag that flew on the corner flag. At the end the Argentines claimed that the German referee, together with the English, conspired to eliminate them. Alf Ramsey, the legendary coach, added fuel to the fire when he instructed his players not to swap shirts and claimed they played against animals, not humans. Rattin passed away last Saturday, at age 89, days before the semifinal.

And then came the war. In 1982 the Argentine junta went to the Falklands War (or Malvinas, depending on which side you look from). A war that began with regime reports to citizens of a sweeping victory ended in a bitter defeat and heavy losses. All this only heated the meeting in Mexico 1986 even more. The match of the millennium, some will say the best ever, with the most famous goals ever. The Hand of God and four minutes later Maradona's slalom. That was Argentina's revenge all the way to the cup.

In 1998 Simeone's simulation, the red to Beckham and the Argentine victory in the round of 16. And then Beckham's correction, in the 2002 World Cup after Pochettino fouled Owen in the box. So much hatred and distrust between the two countries, so many years since their last official meeting, and everything converges on this semifinal.

Only three players scored for England in this tournament. Three, which means no goal was scored by a Premier League player. Despite that, England, after many years, has two real world-class stars, who star at two of the biggest clubs in the world and are dominant this summer too. When England struggles, when it is stuck, they come to help. England had matches of different types: creative with many goals against Croatia, an attempt to break a bunker against Congo and Ghana or facing a steamroller from Mexico. It passed all of them.

Also against Norway, when Tuchel had to fix for a whole half the hole that opened in the center of the pitch after Rice's substitution, England knew how to finish with a victory. It has superstars at their peak, this team has character, and it has a squad composed also of complementary players who know their place. All this, together with the emotional baggage that comes with a meeting against Argentina should lead them to the final.