​Welcome to day 35 of the 2026 World Cup finals.There were 48 countries at these 2026 World Cup finals, the most there has ever been. The matches taking place across Mexico, Canada and the USA.We are now left with just three potential winners of this World Cup.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLast night was the first World Cup semi-final, France v Spain.As expected, this match saw one team dominate, easily the better side. Won 2-0 but it could and should have been an even bigger scoreline.The only fault in my thinking was that France would be the team dominating and heading through to the final on Sunday in New Jersey.I thought Spain had been very average throughout the tournament, whilst France had looked worthy favourites and all but certain to win the whole thing.Instead, France never really got going and Mbappe just one of many players who looked a pale imitation of what had gone before. They repeatedly misplaced passes, gifted possession and never threatened. I had previously mentioned that Spain had never really appeared to get out of third gear in this tournament and questioned whether they indeed could do so. On Tuesday they went from third gear into fourth and through to fifth, France left a poor second best as they tried to match them.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDigne gifted a clear penalty in today’s football, one of those where in his own penalty area he swivelled round and blindly went to hoof the ball, only to hoof Yamal instead. Oyarzabal with an excellent spot-kick success that gave the keeper no chance.We then awaited the French onslaught and are still waiting.Spain had only conceded one goal in the tournament and France never really threatened to increase that stat.Porro scored a very good second goal with the help of Olmo and Spain were 2-0 with just over half an hour to go.The result then never in doubt.That result in Dallas means England now know who they will face in New Jersey on Sunday IF they get past Argentina.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis England v Argentina game is tonight, an 8pm (UK time) kick-off in Atlanta.As good as Spain played, I still see this as now giving England far more chance of winning the whole thing. I couldn’t see England beating France in a final if Deschamps’s side played close to their best, whereas I think England are capable of winning against both Argentina and Spain, if they play well. My belief is that England have a better team and manager than two years ago and Spain aren’t close now to the side that probably peaked two years ago when outclassing England in the 2024 Euros final.First things first though and for sure I believe England will beat Argentina if Thomas Tuchel’s side play well and nothing dodgy happens such as self-inflicted wounds (red cards etc) or dubious decisions from the match officials.I quoted an astonishing stat yesterday before the first semi-final was played.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Athletic reporting: ‘In 13 of