Thomas Sinicki, Media365: Published on Saturday, July 6, 2024 at 9:50 PM.
The French team is in a very good position, but Argentina is number 1 by combining world and continental competitions.
European countries
Since Euro 2016, the Blues have reached four finals in five competitions, combining the Euros with the World Cup (2018 and 2022). This is the best performance among European nations, ahead of England, who will play their third semi-final on Wednesday after the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2021. Spain and Croatia follow with two semi-finals, with only one each for Germany, Portugal, Wales, Belgium, Denmark and either the Netherlands or Turkey.
If we extend the scope since 2000, Germany remain in the lead with seven semi-final appearances, while France have six, with Euro 2000 and the 2006 World Cup, both against Portugal. The first goal is still remembered a little more, with Abel Xavier's hand on the goal line leading to the penalty and Zinedine Zidane's golden goal, at the end of extra time.
the whole world
Since 2014, Argentina has largely led the way at the global level with a total of seven semi-finals, to which must be added the match against Canada in the current Copa America (in the United States). Ghana, like France, has reached the fourth semi-final but only during the Africa Cup of Nations. Brazil, Chile, Peru, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Nigeria round out the top three.
Since 2000, Argentina also leads Nigeria, with nine and eight semi-final appearances respectively (World Cup and/or Copa America and/or Africa Cup of Nations). Behind Germany and their draw with France, Brazil and Ghana have also reached the semi-finals six times. The Seleção will move to seventh place (and thus to four since 2014) if they eliminate Uruguay on Saturday night into Sunday in the Copa America.
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