France booked themselves in for a second successive World Cup final with a win over Morocco from the Al Bayt Stadium in Wednesday’s semi-final. One destiny will be decided, will it be that of a two-trophy Kylian Mbappe and Didier Deschamps, or will Lionel Messi win his first World Cup? In today’s podcast we review Wednesday’s semi-final and look forward to the weekend’s pivotal games.

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Tuesday night at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, Lionel Messi’s iconic dream of lifting the World Cup trophy continued as he and his Argentina side pencilled themselves into Sunday’s final against one of France or Morocco with a scintillating counter-attacking performance against Croatia. We’ve got that, the preview from today’s semi-final and more sober takes on England’s World Cup in today’s World Cup Daily Podcast.

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The semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup are finally upon us. Since there's no new football to cover just yet, have another nostalgic throwback to the good old days. Where Diego Maradona reigned supreme in 1986, fell just short in 1990 before bowing out ignominously in 1994. Relieve the talents of Lineker, Gascoigne, Baggio, Platini, Caniggia and Romario, when we cover the World Cup tournaments from 1986 to 1994.

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The quarter finals are over, we're truly in the business end of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Today, however, whilst the players enjoy a well-earned rest, we're returning to another golden era in the history of the World Cup. We're talking Pele vs Bobby Moore at the 1970 World Cup, the Cruyff turns of the 1974 World Cup, the Archie Gemmill goal of the 1978 World Cup and the stupefying Brazilians of 1982.

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In a battle that many were calling Gareth Southgate’s biggest test or England’s biggest fixture since 1966 or even Kylian Mbappe v Kyle Walker, France won out. It means that football won’t be home anytime soon. Earlier on in the day we were treated to yet more history: Morocco became the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final in defeating Portugal 1-0.

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The first day of 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter finals delivered a perfect storm of brilliant goals, football, fighting as well as a bumper four hours between Brazil and Croatia and Netherlands and Argentina. Penalties were sent wide, saved and scored to create two semi-finalists, eliminating the favourites Brazil and perennial bridesmaids Netherlands.

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The World Cup is resting, we are not. Today is our second rewind, delving into the history of the World Cup, overviewing the shocking Hungarian defeat to West Germany in 1954, the magic of Pele, Garrincha and Vava for Brazil and when England ruled the world in '66.

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The World Cup is resting, we are not. Today, we begin the first of six rewinds, delving into the history of the World Cup, overviewing the successes of Italy and Uruguay in the first four World Cup tournaments in 1930, 1934, 1938 and 1950.

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Morocco became only the fourth African nation and the very first country from the Arab World to qualify for the World Cup quarter finals when they frustrated Spain in a penalty shootout victory. Meanwhile, Portugal joined them with a triumph over Switzerland thanks to Goncalo Ramos’ hat-trick as Cristiano Ronaldo sat one out.

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We finally saw the best of Brazil in a sumptuous thrashing of South Korea to book a quarter final berth against Croatia. Croatia played the role of party poopers, ending Japan’s tournament at the last 16 phase with another penalty shootout win, with goalkeeper Livakovic the hero.

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