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With the France-Belgium and Croatia-England posters in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup, it is already established that the world champion will be European for the fourth consecutive time. This last 100% European square is also the fifth in history in 21 editions. Italy, Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia had clashed in 1934 in Italy. In 1966, the last square consisted of England, the FRG, the USSR and Portugal. The semifinals of the 1982 edition were against Italy, Germany, France and Poland. Finally Italy, France, Germany and Portugal were the semi-finalists of the 2006 World Cup.
Before knowing the identity of the two finalists, here are the statistics to know about the last four teams still in contention.
FRANCE
5. Of the four semi-finalists, France is the most experienced team at this level of the competition with 5 appearances in the last four (1958, 1982, 1986, 1998, 2006).
22 France lost none of the 22 World Cup matches in which they led at half-time (21 wins, 1 draw).
25.9. The formation of Didier Deschamps shows the youngest average age of the teams qualified for the last four.
2. France became the second country to beat three South American caps in the same edition of the World Cup after the Netherlands in 1974 (Peru 1-0, Argentina 4-3 and 'Uruguay 2-0).
19. With his double in the round of 16 against Argentina at just 19, Kylian Mbappé became the youngest player to make such a performance. knockout match from Pele in 1958.
BELGIUM
5. The Belgians conceded five goals before arriving in the semifinals, which makes it the worst defense, since the other three selections have conceded 4.
4. The best result in Belgian history at the World Cup was a fourth place finish in Mexico in 1986 and a loss to France in the small final.
1. Leander Dendoncker, the Anderlecht midfielder, is the only player on the list of 23 Belgians to evolve Beyond the Quikrain.
5/5. Of the four semi-finalists, Belgium is the only team to have won all five matches to the last four.
18. With 18 saves, Thibaut Courtois is the goalkeeper who made the greatest number of saves for the four semi-finalists.
Previous
In World Cup. 1938: France-Belgium (3-1) in the eighth finals; 1986: France-Belgium 4-2 ap in the small final
Last confrontation: France-Belgium 3-4 in a friendly match in 2015.
CROATIA
2. Croatia is the second selection to qualify twice for shooting to the goal in the same edition after Argentina in 1990.
3. The best performance of Croatia in the World Cup is a third place obtained from their first participation in 1998.
6. Top scorer in the history of Croatia with 45 goals, Davor Suker is also the best scorer in the World Cup thanks to his 6 goals in the 1998 edition, which he will finish top scorer.
12. With 12 yellow cards, Croatia is the most sanctioned selection of the four teams still in the running
80. With 80% of the saves, Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subasic has the best percentage stoppage of the four goalkeepers in the semi-finals.
ENGLAND
3. The Three Lions have won 3 Penalties since the start of the World Cup, more than any other team. They were all converted by Harry Kane.
23. England is the only team to have 23 players in their domestic league.
6. With already 6 goals in this World Cup, Harry Kane joins Gary Lineker at the top of the list of the top scorer in the same edition. Lineker finished top scorer at the 1986 World Cup.
28. England returns to the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time since 1990. 28 years already
3. By winning on penalties against Colombia in the round of 16, the British broke a curse of 28 years in this exercise. The Three Lions lost their last three World Cup sessions (1990, 1998, 2006).
Previous
No duel World Cup. [19659002] Last match: Croatia-Belgium 1-5 in 2009, counting for the playoffs of the 2010 World Cup
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