And then there were three. Day 34 of the World Cup saw Spain book their place in the men’s World Cup final for only the second time in their history. Day 35 will determine whether England can do likewise at the expense of Lionel Messi and reigning champions Argentina.France had been widely regarded as favourites to win their third World Cup title this summer, but they had no answer to the quality of Spain, who were 2-0 winners in Arlington, Texas, thanks to goals from Mikel Oyarzabal (a penalty) and Pedro Porro.Spain have now gone 37 games unbeaten since March 2024, winning the European Championship along the way, and their coach Luis de la Fuente pronounced them the best national team in the world.France, meanwhile, head to the third-place playoff in Miami on Saturday, an anticlimax for Didier Deschamps, who confirmed he will stick to his longstanding plan to leave after this tournament.Today’s second semi-final sees England and Argentina renew hostilities in Atlanta, where security arrangements have been tightened in view of the enduring tension between the two nations.Of course the big questions at last night’s pre-match news conference focused on the historical unity between the nations, both on and off the pitch, and whether England coach Thomas Tuchel has a plan to stop Messi.A place in the Sunday’s final against Spain at MetLife Stadium awaits today’s winners. There is, after all, a World Cup final to be played either side of FIFA’s much-hyped half-time show.Are Spain the best team in this competition?Spain coach De la Fuente is not one for big pronouncements, but after victory over France in yesterday’s World Cup semi-final he made an exception.“The message (to the players beforehand) was that we’re facing one of the best national teams,” De la Fuente said. “But they (France) would have in front of them the best team. That’s the key. We are a team. When we play like a team, we’re unbeatable.”Spain haven’t always illuminated this World Cup the way France, with their dazzling forward line, have. But if their coach was suggesting they were a more effective team — more structured and diligent in their defensive work, more controlled in possession — their performance in yesterday’s semi-final certainly strengthened that claim.With midfielder Rodri reminding the world of the form that earned him the Ballon d’Or before he ruptured an ACL in September 2024, they took control and never let go.