Lady Luck Leads Argentina To Last Four Showdown With Three Lions
The World Cup semi-finals are set with the four nations topping FIFA's latest ranking all making it through.
France, Spain, England and Argentina were all tipped to do well in North America this summer according to betting apps and they have duly delivered.
Some teams have eased through the tournament thus far, while others have had to overcome a number of obstacles along the way.
We've analysed each team's path to the semi-finals using a points system to ascertain which nation is lucky to still be in with a chance of being crowned world champions.
Each nation has been helped along the way, but Argentina have benefitted the most.
Luck Has Helped Lionel's Argentina
Argentina are the 9/2 outsiders to win the World Cup on betting sites, odds reflecting their journey to the semi-finals.
Two of their three knock-out games have gone to extra-time, which is not ideal when they depend so much on their 39-year-old skipper Lionel Messi.
In their opening game, Algeria had a goal disallowed to go 1-0 up while Egypt had a goal ruled out which would have made it 2-0 in their Round of 16 tie.
Argentina's List Of Luck:
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Nobody expected minnows Cape Verde to take Argentina to extra-time, but they did and with penalties looming, an unfortunate own goal by Diney Borges ended the African side's dream of causing one of the biggest shocks in the history of the World Cup.
The holders were also helped in their quarter-final win over Switzerland when Breel Embolo was sent off in the 67th minute with the game scoreless.
Throw in the three penalties Argentina have been awarded (Lionel Messi missed two of them), Argentina have had their fair share of fortune.
Argentina have hit the woodwork four times.
Not So Straightforward For England
England's tournament began with a 4-2 win over Croatia, which included Harry Kane's successful penalty retake after the first one was saved by Dominik Livakovic, who had come off his line early as well as encroachment by Josko Gvardiol.
In their second game, Ezri Konsa escaped a red card for his tackle on Prince Adu in the 67th minute, while Jordan Pickford's challenge on Adu could have resulted in a red card on another day.
Leading 1-0, DR Congo and Newcastle's Joane Wissa hit the post in the 42nd minute, which let England off the hook.
England's List Of Luck:
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Thomas Tuchel's side rode their luck against Norway, who had a Torbjorn Heggem goal chalked off after a push on his new Manchester City team-mate Elliot Anderson by Erling Haaland, while David Moller Wolfe's header rebounded off the crossbar.
On the flip side, the Three Lions have had to overcome Jarell Quansah's red card against Mexico in the Round of 16 and they also had a penalty overturned in their quarter-final win over Norway.
England have hit the woodwork twice - and Norway believe they benefited from the ball hitting the overhead cable in the build up to their equaliser.
A Bit Of Fortune For France
The French started the tournament hoping to go one better than four years ago in Qatar where they were beaten by Argentina in the final.
It's been relatively straightforward for Les Bleus who are hoping to send Didier Deschamps off on the highest of highs.
However, things could have been different had Nicolas Jackson's effort gone in rather than hit the woodwork in their opening game, which would have given Senegal the lead.
Les Bleus' List Of Luck:
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France, who are the only semi-finalist to have led in all six matches, have been awarded two penalties on their route to the semi-finals.
The first came in their Round of 32 clash with Paraguay, which Kylian Mbappe scored in what was the only goal of the game.
Against Morocco, Mbappe saw his penalty saved with the game still scoreless, but he and Ousmane Dembele scored to see the French progress.
France have hit the woodwork five times.
Not Much Luck Needed For Spanish
Spain made it through the group stage without too much drama, although they failed to score against Cape Verde despite registering 27 shots.
In their final group stage game against Uruguay, leading 1-0 and with time running out, Agustin Canobbio was sent off in the 95th minute.
Spain went 649 minutes without conceding a goal before Belgium's Charles de Ketelaere's header nestled in the back of the net in their quarter-final.
However, the European champions may not have got that far had Portugal's Nuno Mendes' effort that hit the post beat Unai Simon in the Round of 16.
Spain's List Of Luck:
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Before that, they benefited from an own goal from Saudi Arabia's Hassan Al Tambakti, which made it 4-0 in the 49th minute.
Luis De La Fuente's side have registered the joint-most shots (110 along with France), and they have hit the woodwork four times.
Spain - along with France - have yet to trail in any of their matches this summer. Will lady luck play a part for Spain in their semi-final with France in Dallas?
Who do you think will make it to the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday? Let us know in the comments box below!
