World Cup Ghosts Return as Semis Loom for England, Argentina, Spain and France
A Guardian analysis explains that World Cup semi-finals are amplified by history and psychology: Spain and France carry their own demons, England and Argentina a centuries-long rivalry filled with famous moments, and incidents like Battiston's injury, the Hand of God, and Beckham's red card linger as benchmarks—making the 2026 semis as much about overcoming ghosts as winning the matches themselves.