France and Spain are through, and two quarterfinals are left tonight

France 2, Morocco 0

Thursday in Boston, France did the thing good teams do in knockout soccer: they took the game off Morocco without ever looking rushed. Morocco had been the story of the tournament for a lot of neutrals, and they were not bad here, they were just held at arm's length by a French side that has clearly decided defending is not beneath them. Two goals, a clean sheet, and a semifinal booked. No drama, which for France is the most dangerous version of France.

Spain 2, Belgium 1

Friday in Los Angeles was the better watch. Belgium, who ended the USA's tournament a week ago, took Spain right to the wire, and for long stretches it felt like the upset was on. Then Mikel Merino did it again. The same guy who keeps popping up in the big moments scored just before the 90th to send Spain through 2-1. That is now back to back knockout games where Merino has been the difference, and Spain look like a team that finds a way even on a night when they are not at their best.

So the first semifinal is set: France vs Spain, Tuesday July 14 in Dallas. Two European heavyweights, both playing within themselves, both a little annoyed you did not pick them. That one is going to be tight.

What is on tonight

Here is the good part. Both remaining quarterfinals are today, Saturday July 11.

Norway vs England, 5 pm ET, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami. If you have been reading along, you know why I care about this one. Norway are the team that knocked Brazil out, with Erling Haaland scoring twice in the final eleven minutes of that round of 16 stunner. Now he gets England, who have quietly gone about their business the way England always does at these tournaments, right up until the part where it gets hard. Haaland against an England back line with a semifinal on the line is appointment television. I would not miss a minute.

Argentina vs Switzerland, 9 pm ET, Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City. Argentina survived the game of the tournament so far, that 3-2 extra-time classic against World Cup debutants Cape Verde, and you would think that kind of scare wakes a team up. Switzerland are the opposite of a scare. They are organized, they are patient, and they will happily make this a slow, tense, low-scoring evening and dare Argentina to break them down. Reigning-champion energy against a team that does not beat itself.

The bracket, in one breath

The two winners tonight meet in the second semifinal on Wednesday July 15 in Atlanta. France and Spain settle the first semifinal in Dallas on Tuesday July 14. The final is July 19. That is the whole map now: four teams in, four fighting for the last two chairs by the end of the night.

My honest weekend plan is simple. Norway vs England at five, dinner, then Argentina vs Switzerland at nine, and I fully expect at least one of them to go the distance. If you only have room for one, take the early game. Haaland in a World Cup quarterfinal does not come around often.

For the earlier rounds, I wrote up Norway knocking out Brazil and the Argentina vs Cape Verde classic if you want to catch up before kickoff. You can find everything this studio builds at jcmobileappstudio.com.