We head to Championship weekend, with a legendary superstar and possibly the next superstar on the horizon to face each other.

Come Sunday, Argentina will face Spain, one we expected, one who earned their way into the finals.

A quick look at the storylines:

ARGENTINA-ENGLAND…The FIFA rulebook says the match goes 90-minutes.   It took Argentina 85′ to find the back of the net and take the lead away from England.  Two goals in (6:24) late in the game to get the South American side the chance to win a 2nd cup in a row.

It took legend Lionel Messi nearly the entire game to take control of the game and finish off the Brits in an emotional rally back.  

It was a war for the first half.  A ton of fouls (20) and a bunch of yellow cards, as Argentina marked and bashed everyone wearing the English white jerseys.  England took the beating, stayed in the game, though the two sides combined for just 1-shot in the opening half.  

Even Messi disappeared, so did English stars Harry Kane and Jade Bellingham.  But you could sense it was becoming a titled field in the 2nd half.  Argentina owned time of possession, and then a flurry of shots, kept out by the net by England’s keeper Jordan Pickford.

A save off a header at the 68′ mark…a shot that hit the post at the 75′ mark…another kick save at the 76′ mark.

But Messi set up Enzo Fernandez with a razor thin pass at the top of the box and he put a blast in at the 85′ mark.  Then Messi did it again with a pass into the box that Lu Martinez converted into a header goal for the winner at the 91′.

It was a stunning turnabout.  It was a shocking loss for the English as coach Thomas Teuchel’s team got an electric goal from  Anthony Gordon at the 55′ slot, but then went into a defensive mode.  From that point on..the ball was always in the English zone and the shots began to rain in on Pickford.

It was Messi at its best, the Argentine’s depth taking over, and their will dominated.

SPAIN-FRANCE…The stars were sent home in shocking fashion in the other semifinal..  The French lost despite the great set of games from Kylian Mbappe and Ousdane Dembele.  

But it was Spain’s choke hold swarming defense that was the difference.  They held Mbappe and Dembele without a shot for 66-minutes.  

And at the end of the night, when the French desperately tried to rally back, goalie Unai Simons authored his 6th shutout in net for the win.  Spain has given up just 1-goal in 7-Cup games.

The scary aspect of Team Spain, the dynamic play of 19-year old Yamal, explosive, shifty with a big shot, who is really dangerous, but has yet to score since the opening week.  But when he is out on the right edge, don’t take your eyes off him-he gets open and the ball could get into the net.

So Sunday will be special.  All that South American firepower vs all that Spanish defense. The great vet vs the next possible superstar. 

Two great teams who have earned their way to get the Golden Boot trophy.

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