After Belgium’s defeat by Spain, the most thrilling semifinal lineup of this World Cup has been confirmed. Two of the most in-form powerhouses of the tournament, France and Spain, are meeting in the last four. Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has said that whoever wins this match, the World Cup will go to them. For football lovers, the match has therefore taken the shape of a final before the final. But before the on-field battle begins, which team is ahead on the statistics?
According to FIFA data, Spain’s dominance is clear when it comes to passing. In their first six matches, the Spaniards played a total of 4,075 passes, an average of 679.2 passes per match. France, on the other hand, averaged 561.5 passes per match. That is, Spain play 21 percent more passes than France and keep control of the match to themselves. In pass-completion rate too, Spain (91 percent) are slightly ahead of France (90 percent).
But although Spain lead on possession, Didier Deschamps’ France are the best in attacking effectiveness and finishing. Up to the quarterfinals, both teams took an equal 110 shots each. But 47 of France’s shots were on target, of which 16 were turned into goals. In contrast, 40 of Spain’s shots were on target and they managed to score 11. In attacking tactics, Spain rely mainly on crosses, averaging 24.3 crosses per match, whereas France’s average is 16.5.
In terms of discipline, the French are slightly ahead. France have so far conceded 59 fouls and received four yellow cards, while Spain have 68 fouls and five yellow cards. In any case, with the card count wiped clean before the semifinals, no player faces a suspension. Psychologically, the memory of the Euro semifinal two years ago will give Spain confidence, when Lamine Yamal and company beat France 2-1. All in all, in this great contest between Spain’s passing football and France’s clinical finishing, the team that can hold its nerve in the tactical battle on the pitch will be the one to book the final ticket.
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