World Cup’s final four worthy of our attention

What a World Cup we have witnessed!

It may not have the elite ‘star appeal’ that the TV people were banking on, but I think that is what makes it special. You don’t need Ronaldo or Messi in every match to have great football.

There are three real stars left among the four teams in Russia, and two of them are focused on making their team better in the central midfield. France’s Paul Pogba, who earns millions playing for Manchester United, has led Les Bleu to great success this summer. Luka Modric of Real Madrid is inspiring his Croatia squad to do what it takes to advance. Both of them are leading instead of getting attention and the results are obvious.

Meanwhile, England’s surprise run has been fueled by Tottenham’s Harry Kane, a top striker who has played like it this month.

France will take on Belgium in one semifinal. Can you name a superstar on Belgium’s squad? If you are a soccer aficionado like me, then yes. The average fan would say no. That is scary for the networks but it shouldn’t be.

Many of the top Belgium names like Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku and Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne will become superstars no matter the result of Tuesday’s match for their outstanding performances already posted this summer. This game will pit two teams that counter each other’s strengths. One squad has offensive power with Pogba and rising superstar Kylian Mbappe, just two of the attackers who give France the ability to score in seconds.

Belgium, my favorite, is a team that prides itself on defense despite playing a 3-4-3 offensive formation. Their Golden Generation of talent uses creativity in the counter attack, and the Belgians have scored some of the most brilliant goals in the tournament.

The US audience that tunes into France-Belgium will be hooked in seconds for these two teams are neighboring nation rivals who will play with every ounce of blood that they have. It will not be a conservative match.

The England-Croatia matchup is also very appealing to the larger soccer community but may perhaps miss the attentive eye of the American sports fan. Now viewing this semifinal would indeed be a mistake for these two teams are desperate to make history by reaching the World Cup final.

Croatia plays a physical game, unselfishly throwing their bodies around to defend their goal. Every close shot will show a passionate player that is not trying to win by diving or fooling a referee like Neymar Jr’s shenanigans. No rolling around holding their nose if they get ‘touched’ in the back. No, Croatia is truly a blood, sweat and tears operation with a magician in the middle. Modric directs them masterfully.

England has an extremely heavy monkey on their back that many feel has gotten lighter with their somehwat surprising run to the semifinals. Talk has grown for over 50 years that the Three Lions squad cannot win a World Cup on foreign soil. France, by the way, is feeling the same pressure.

Playing inspired football right now under the leadership of coach Gareth Southgate, England is playing free, easy team football. Southgate has gotten this team believing that they can go the distance.

As I stated on this week’s Monday Night Futbol episode on WGSO 990am in New Orleans, the English fans are probably the most intense in the world. Yes, there are many passionate fan bases out there but the British support theirs with their pocketbooks and voices to the max. They know quality when they see it and are coming around to believing that England has a chance on the sport’s biggest stage, for a change.

England has great speed in the attack with Manchester City’s famed Raheem Sterling. Their captain Kane plays the role of match winner, putting the team on his back and delivering the big shots.

Croatia-England, which pits a high-profile nation with a long, rich history against a small eastern European country succeeded against the odds, will be passionately watched by billions.

Who are you rooting for? In New Orleans, that is a tricky question. We have a large Croatian population on the Westbank. We are, after all, named after the French city Orleans, but speak English and have always had a soft spot with our number one ally in world affairs. Yet, I suggest you take a look at Belgium. As a coach, I hope my young players are. They are the whole package and I feel that they will make history winning their first ever world title.

Enjoy the climax of the World Cup. God Bless All of You.