After more than a month, the wheat has separated from the chaff leaving a star-studded World Cup final four

So after 32 days, 100 matches contested in 16 cities across three countries, eight extra-time sessions, four shootouts, controversial red cards, and endless VAR checks, the World Cup semifinalists are the four top-ranked teams on the planet.

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One might think that’s not unusual but in the tournament’s 96-year history it hasn’t happened until now.

What we have is a pair of enthralling encounters with France and Spain clashing Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, and Argentina and England going toe-to-toe on Wednesday in Atlanta.

The big question is whether Argentina can become the first champion since Brazil in 1962 to retain its crown. All of the contenders have hoisted the trophy, which hasn’t occurred since 1990.

England won for the only time in 1966, when it played host. France triumphed in 1998 and 2018, Spain in 2010. The Argentines stood alone in 1978 and 1986 and four years ago when they beat the French in a shootout.

“It’s not easy to come back from being world champions,” said Lionel Messi, who has kept his teammates in the chase nearly single-handedly. “Winning everything we won and then competing and remaining at that level, among the top four, playing in another semifinal.”

The Albiceleste, as is their style, have had to suffer mightily along the way. They went to extra time against Cape Verde in the round of 32. They had to come from two goals down to beat Egypt in stoppage time in the round of 16. And they didn’t put away shorthanded Switzerland until the 112th minute of the quarters.

“It’s not normal,” says Messi, whose eight goals match France’s Kylian Mbappé in the race for the Golden Boot. “That’s why we have to enjoy it so much. We don’t know if it will happen again.”

Now comes the challenge that anyone with an extended soccer memory has been waiting to see for two dozen years.

The bad blood between Argentina and England goes back six decades to their quarterfinal battle at Wembley when Geoff Hurst scored the only goal, which the Argentines insisted was offside.

In the 1986 quarters Diego Maradona beat the Three Lions, 2-1, with the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal, which he punched in himself, and his sideline dash through half the English team four minutes later.

In the 1998 second round after (Michael) ‘Owen’s Run’ had put his mates ahead, David Beckham was sent off for a spiteful kick after being fouled and the English lost in a shootout after playing 73 minutes shorthanded. “10 Heroic Lions and One Stupid Boy,” the Daily Mirror scolded.

Beckham redeemed himself in 2002, scoring the match’s only goal on a penalty and pushing Argentina toward the exit in group play.

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The Three Lions haven’t fared well in the semis since shutting out Portugal in 1966. They lost to the West Germans in a shootout in 1990 and to Croatia in extra time in 2018 after giving up the lead.

Argentina, meanwhile, has been perfect in the semis, most recently stifling the Croats, 3-0, four years ago. “We’re going to play it like we play every game,” vows forward José López. “Until the last whistle, leaving our lives on the field.”

The English, who’ve played themselves into exhaustion in the knockout rounds, likely will force the Argentines to do it.

The Three Lions came from behind to beat Congo on two late goals by Harry Kane. They played shorthanded for 47 minutes (including stoppage time) to beat Mexico, 3-2, at Estadio Azteca on rapid-fire two goals by Jude Bellingham and a Kane penalty.

Then Bellingham brought his mates from behind with two more against Norway as England won, 2-1 in extra time.

France and Spain haven’t met in the Cup since the 2006 round of 16 when Les Bleus, who were so old that observers called them Les Vieux (Old Men), prevailed 3-1 and went on to play in the final.

The Spaniards have had the better of the rivalry over the last two decades. They beat the French, 2-1, in the European semis two years ago with two goals in four minutes.

Last year in the UEFA Nations League semis, La Roja went up 4-0 then had to hang on frantically as Les Bleus scored three times in 14 minutes before falling short, 5-4.

“If France should fear anyone it’s us,” said Lamine Yamal, Spain’s wonderteen. “We have knocked them out. We have beat them two times.”

But Spain’s precise tiki-taka machine has stalled as the tournament has progressed. Neither Yamal nor Mikel Oyarzabal has scored in the last two matches. The savior has been Mikel Merino, who came off the bench to beat Portugal, 1-0, a minute into stoppage time and score the winner against Belgium in the 88th.

The French, meanwhile, have been going full throttle. They haven’t conceded a goal in their knockout-round decisions over Sweden, Paraguay, and Morocco while Mbappé has put in four.

Is this edition of Les Bleus better than the 2018 titlists? “The strongest teams are the ones who win trophies,” Mbappé said. “Right now I don’t see any gold trophy next to me.”

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