The World Cup’s final four teams are set, with England, Argentina, France, and Spain advancing to the semifinals. England’s Jude Bellingham scored twice to help his team defeat Norway, while Argentina’s Julián Alvarez scored in extra time to defeat Switzerland.
England and Argentina Advance
England’s victory over Norway was led by Bellingham’s two goals, and the team will now face Argentina in the semifinals. Argentina’s win over Switzerland was marked by controversy, with a disputed VAR call leading to a red card for Switzerland’s Breel Embolo.
France and Spain will face each other in the other semifinal matchup. France has been led by the strong play of Kylian Mbappé, while Spain has been solid defensively, conceding only one goal in the tournament.
US Soccer System Under Scrutiny
The US Men’s National Team’s early exit from the World Cup has led to scrutiny of the country’s soccer system, particularly the pay-to-play model that can limit access to the sport for young players from lower-income backgrounds.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.