The implication could hardly be clearer: FIFA, the scandal-plagued governing body of world football, wants the team playing England in today's semi-final to win the trophy for the fourth time.

Lionel Scaloni insists Argentina vs England is just football, as Messi leads defending champions into a historic World Cup semi-final showdown.

Despite a historic 48-team tournament featuring breakthroughs from South Africa and Morocco, the World Cup semi-finals belong to the elite, with England, France, Spain and…