Rio Ferdinand changes World Cup prediction after England reach semi-finals

Rio Ferdinand has changed his World Cup prediction after England and Argentina joined France and Spain in the semi-final line-up.

France were the first team to book their place in the semi-finals, Didier Deschamps’ star-studded side beating Morocco to continue their quest for a third World Cup trophy.

European champions Spain will face France in a mouth-watering semi-final after scoring a late winner to eliminate Belgium.

England reached the semi-finals of the World Cup for only the fourth time after beating Norway 2-1, Jude Bellingham was again emerging as the hero for the Three Lions.

World Cup holders Argentina completed the semi-final line-up with a 3-1 win over Switzerland, who played the match with ten men for almost an hour following Breel Embolo’s red card.

At the start of the tournament, Ferdinand declared France as the ‘favourites’ to win the World Cup having won the tournament in 2018 and finished as runners-up four years ago.

But the former Manchester United and England defender then had a change of heart and revealed he was backing Spain to win the World Cup.

Ferdinand has changed his mind again ahead of the semi-finals and is now backing England to win their second World Cup and end 60 years of hurt.

Asked if he believes England will go on to win the World Cup after a cagey quarter-final against Norway, Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: ‘I think we do.

‘When the chips are down and things aren’t going well, England are working things out. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle and we’re showing we’re able to find the right piece at the right time.

‘I think that’s one of the things we have over the others. Argentina have managed to do that a couple of times but they’ve looked closer to going out than we have.’

While not going as far as to back England to win the World Cup, Ferdinand’s former teammate Gary Neville said Tuchel’s side have an ‘unbelievable chance’ after the win over Norway.

‘England haven’t reached a World Cup since 1966, and this is an unbelievable chance to win the World Cup,’ Neville said on The Overlap.

‘It’s not a vintage Argentina, by any stretch – it’s not as good as the Argentina side from four years ago, but it’s still got danger, of course, because they’ve got Messi and an unbelievable spirit.’

Ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright added: ‘If we get to a France or a Spain, I think the level goes to another place entirely.

‘It’s going to be difficult – it’s the final, isn’t it? But I don’t fear Argentina like I’d fear France or Spain, because I think there are a lot of fallacies with them.

‘I think we’ll beat Argentina – not just because I want us to, but because of the way they play and how narrow they are but our wingers need to do a lot more than what they have done.

‘I think we’ll be able to block them and break.’

But former Manchester United captain Roy Keane expects Argentina to end England’s World Cup dream, adding: ‘Truthfully, I think they’ll come up short against Argentina, and I think definitely against France.

‘Spain might be different, get the job done [against Spain], but I think there’s too much there. I think Argentina would just find something in a tight game.’

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