Four Teams Reach World Cup Final, Statistics Compared

Kathmandu. Argentina, England, France, and Spain are now only two games away from the World Cup title. Therefore, based on their performance so far, their characteristics and statistics have been compared to predict which of these four semifinalists can lift the World Cup at the end of this week.

Although all four teams have played an equal number of 6 games, Argentina, France, and Spain have spent different amounts of time on the field due to games going into extra time. Argentina has played one hour more than France and Spain, and half an hour more than England. Therefore, to make the statistics fair, playing time has also been included in the calculation.

However, the defending champions Argentina have scored the most goals with 17. Two-time world champions France appear to be the most impressive team overall in attack. France has the highest goals per 90 minutes, the joint highest shots, and the highest expected goals (x-G) average.

South American team Argentina has become the most effective team in converting opportunities into goals. It has converted 18 percent of the chances it created into goals. In stark contrast is European champions Spain. Spain has had 110 shots, the same as semifinal opponent France, but has only scored 11 goals compared to France's 16. That is, Spain has scored approximately one goal less per game on average compared to France.

Considering both the number and quality of shots, England appears less creative than the other three teams, but thanks to the excellent finishing of Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, England has also managed to score more than two goals per game.

Defensively, Spain has proven to be the strongest team. It conceded its first goal of the tournament against Belgium in the quarter-finals. However, France has also conceded only two goals in 6 games.

With France's attack looking very dangerous, it will be interesting to see whether France's unstoppable attack will be stronger or Spain's impenetrable defense in the semi-final on Tuesday.

The other semi-final, between England and Argentina, is likely to see more goals, as neither of these teams has proven as impressive defensively as France or Spain. Both teams have conceded 6 goals so far. England has given the opposition the most chances, while Argentina has performed weaker than the other teams in stopping those chances.

Argentina has run the most distance in the tournament, 706.5 kilometers, but the main reason for this is that it has spent more time on the field than other teams.

However, per 90 minutes, Argentina has run the least distance among the final four teams and has made the fewest sprints. In fact, in every game it has played, the opposing team has run more than Argentina.

Therefore, the defending champions Argentina have also become the least aggressive team in terms of creating high-pressure situations (pressing) on the opposition. It has won the ball back fewer times in the opponent's half compared to England, France, and Spain.

In contrast, Spain has become the most hardworking team among the final four. It has run the most, sprinted the most, and pressed the most.

Luis de la Fuente's team has kept 66 percent of the ball possession throughout the tournament, which is the highest average not only among the semifinalists but also in this World Cup. In terms of pass success, both Spain and Argentina have a success rate of 90.4 percent. However, all four final teams have proven to be excellent passing teams.

England's defenders will have to be very alert to stop through balls from Argentina, especially from captain Lionel Messi. Messi has provided more through balls to his teammates than any other player in this World Cup. He has provided 15 such passes so far. But England also poses a big challenge for Argentina's defense.

Thomas Tuchel's team's crosses in open play have been the most successful among the final four teams. One out of every four crosses from England has reached its own player. As a result, England has scored a joint-highest four headed goals in the tournament and has also made the most headed attempts with 24.

Argentina's success rate in winning aerial duels is the weakest among the final four teams, which may be encouraging news for England. Also, England has the best overall 50-50 ball win success rate, although the difference is not very large.

Only two players in this World Cup have made more successful dribbles than Lionel Messi, but other players for Argentina have made very few attempts to dribble past opponents individually.

In contrast, Spain will have to be prepared for France's attacking style of continuously running with the ball at the opposition's defense. France's attackers have adopted this style throughout the tournament.

– From BBC