FABULOUS FINAL FOUR

A dear friend text me a WSJ article hier soir setting up the 2026 Round of Fabulous Four. All I saw was the headline which set off alarm bells. Must put something down on paper, in writing.

Well type out on a MacBook. One older than the last time Germany won a playoff round at a World Cup Finals. Brazil2014 if you’re asking. In the Final no less, versus las Malvinas son Argentinos, hey olde Jug Ears?

Germany put a 4^th star on their shirts. Little Leo didn’t even get a robe from his Brazilian hosts. How dare they not clothe Messiah Messi. 

Instead Leo got one used shirt with more weepy tears on it than the Shroud of Turin. Anyway a Montreal type road detour later, and back to the raison d’etre here.

Not only do we have the top four nations in World Football about to go at each other hammer and tongs Tuesday and Wednesday. To add to the intrigue and stardust, we have the two EURO24 Finalists plus the two Qatar22 Finalists.

Which everyone knows anyway. I’ve been banging on and barking about that very scenario on the old wireless ever since last Friday early morning when going on-air with the TSN1050 Morning Show dudes over in Trunt’o. 

On X and in the café’s and bars, even barking it out on the street to anyone who would stop and listen. There were plenty

Well before France gave Morocco a right old fashioned collaring, last Friday afternoon. Something of which I got completely and utterly wrong. No Mystic Meg me. I specialise in football feelings. On and off the pitch.

Some soccer stock in these upcoming tasty semis one has to say, with no disrespect to Scotland. Who apparently were the 1967 World Champions - [self-ordained version]. No trophy included. Which is more Scottish than mist, and kilts.

Back to this mid week’s absolute Will Grigg’s Is On Fire Semi Final’s. Like a music festival, FIFA have saved the headline act to last. With no disrespect there to the current EURO Champions in Spain et la 2018 Champs France.

The current Campeones del Mundo Argentina vs the twice running EURO Runner’s Up is far more spicy, far more intriguing and far more flammable. 

Let’s also pay some respect to Argentina… most especially the Conspiracy Enthusiasts and the wrong’uns out there who are unofficial members of ARGIE CONSPIRACY FC.

Argentina are currently the twice consecutive CONMEBOL Champs, and sit but maybe 180 minutes away from repeating as World Cup Champs. An unimaginable and unprecedented double-double if there ever was one. 

Standing in their way, first is an England team. A highly emboldened one at that. One which has prepared for this moment through the lens of significant adversity and off the wall Mexico City and Azteca highest hostility. 

Now here they are.  

Add in the last time a nation repeated as World Cup Winners you have to gaze back well over six decades. To Brasil winning it all at #Sweden1958 then again at #Chile1962

The opening act is between the current EURO Champions and the 2022  Runners Up, which followed a 2018 Win. Spain themselves were World Champs at #SouthAfrica 2010 which was the meat in the sandwich of 2008 & 2012 EURO wins.

With a ball yet to be Semi Final kicked off in 20 26 so we can’t yet measure where they will truly sit in World Cup history. 

Let’s then take a quick sneak peak back to the #Mexico1970 Semi Final Round.

The teams; Brazil, Uruguay, West Germany and Italia. Who should have been awarded the Jules Rimet trophy just for those remarkable 100& cotton Azzurri jerseys. The Brazil v Uruguay background is outrageous. 

The unfancied Uruguay beating Brasil in the Final of a tournament they played host for. 

The venue? The Almighty and iconic Estádio do Maracanã. Built specifically for the 1950 World Cup, raised in Rio the Maracanã then had an official capacity of 200,000. 

Check this… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu1WanatiAM

Vintage Football Feelings All Around.

1970’s SF was the first time the two South American giants met again at a World Cup, we all know the outcome of course. Between two nations who were both previously twice winning World Cup Winners. Italy was the only other nation on two stars at that vintage time.

The other 1970 Semi Final, was still to this day the finest football match at a World Cup Finals. Contested by Italy and the no longer exists; West Germany. A football match so fabulous it has its own plaque along these famous walls of the Azteca

A Plaque on those fabled Azteca Walls – you tell me was the finest ever football match in World Cup History?

Not for me to lecture, nor tell. Please though take 10 minutes of your valuable time and watch this. Ideally in fabulous surround sound. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIxr3kQnYvk

Enjoy the Semi’s. Where there will be shocks, surprises, twists and turns a la John Le Carré.

Then let’s do factor in this is the Official Unusual World Cup [copyright oranges@halftime]

Ps - 64 Team World Cup in 2030...Why Not? Keep you 3-nation co-hosting. 2030 will be played out on 3 continents ;) ;) ;) 

Where I’ll be off to finally Rock that Marrakesh Kasbah.  

Cheers

@NoelPButler

info@orangesathalftime.net