The final four: France-Spain and England-Argentina set up a World Cup for the ages

The World Cup has its last four, and it is a heavyweight: France v Spain and England v Argentina. The African dream is over; what remains is a collision of giants, from the Maradona-shadowed grudge of England-Argentina and Messi's possible last dance against the old enemy, to the pure-football feast of France-Spain and the Messi-Mbappé Golden Boot duel. KFF previews the semis.

Four teams left, two ties, one trophy. The World Cup has its final four, and there is not a soft touch among them: France against Spain, and England against Argentina. The underdogs are gone, the fairytales are over, and what remains is a straight collision of giants.

England versus Argentina needs no selling to anyone who loves the game. This is the fixture of 1986, of Maradona's Hand of God and then the greatest goal the tournament has ever seen, of a rivalry that carries a shadow far bigger than football. And now it may be Lionel Messi's last dance against the oldest of enemies, the champions and their captain against a Jude Bellingham who keeps dragging England through. A grudge match for the ages.

France against Spain is a different kind of feast: pure, beautiful football. Kylian Mbappé, eight goals and flying, against Spain's relentless passing machine and its teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. Two of the pre-tournament favourites, two of its finest sides, one place in the final. This is the semi the purists dreamed of.

And there is a duel within the duel. Messi and Mbappé sit level at the top of the Golden Boot on eight apiece, in opposite semi-finals, on a possible collision course for the final itself. Two eras of greatness, the old king and the heir, perhaps meeting one last time with the biggest prize on the line.

For Kenya, though, there is a hole where the heart was. With Egypt and Morocco both gone, there is no African side left to rally behind, and so the Kenyan living room splits along its oldest, loudest fault line: the endless argument over Messi. England against Argentina will divide every sitting room and every WhatsApp group in Nairobi, the Messi worshippers against the Messi haters, one more time. Afrika imetoka, sasa ni vita vya majitu, na kila sebule Kenya itagawanyika kwa ajili ya Messi: Africa is out, now it is a battle of giants, and every Kenyan living room will be split over Messi.

This is the business end, the week the whole thing has been building towards. Two semi-finals, four heavyweights, and a final now just ninety minutes away for the survivors. Follow every step of the run-in on our bracket.