Croatia and Morocco are the surprise guests in the World Cup's final four but, as the Croatians discovered in 2018 and many other long-shot semi-finalists have before them, the two remaining steps to becoming world champions can be the steepest.
In the 21 editions of the World Cup over 92 years featuring 79 nations, there have still been only eight winners and only 13 have made it to the final. Spain was the last to join the elite group of champions in 2010 after France in 1998 and Argentina in 1978.
France and Argentina, each seeking a third title, will be favorites to end the fairy-tale runs but neutrals everywhere will be surely willing one of the outsiders to triumph and then go all the way and become the ninth world champion.