European champions Spain have taken a whopping 110 shots across six games, the same number as two-time World Cup winners France, but they have only managed to put 11 goals in the net. That's almost a goal per game fewer than France, who scored 16, and it highlights a wild contrast as these four teams get ready to battle it out for global glory. Argentina, England, France, and Spain are just two games away from lifting the World Cup, and a deep dive into their stats tells us some pretty wild stories about who's truly firing.
France's Firepower vs. Spain's Shot Troubles
When you talk about going forward, France is looking like the absolute best side in the tournament. They are averaging the most goals, sharing the top spot for most shots, and boast the highest Expected Goals per 90 minutes. Their attack is simply formidable. Reigning champions Argentina, on the other hand, have bagged the most goals overall with 17 and are the most clinical side, converting 18% of their chances. Talk about efficiency when it counts! England, with Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane finishing clinically, have still scored more than two goals per game, even if they've been less creative with shot number and quality compared to the other three. But then there's Spain. They've fired off as many shots as France, 110, but their 11 goals make them the least clinical side remaining. It's almost like they can get there, but the final touch just isn't quite there.Defensive Walls and Surprising Work Rates
Defense is where things get really interesting. Spain has been an absolute brick wall, the most solid side defensively, only conceding their first goal of the tournament in their quarter-final win against Belgium. France has also been stingy, giving up just two goals in six games. This makes their Tuesday showdown an "unstoppable force meets immovable object" kind of situation. But for England and Argentina, the back line is a bit more of a concern. Both have conceded six goals so far. England has given up the most chances, and Argentina has been the least successful at keeping them out. Speaking of Argentina, despite covering the most ground overall, they've actually run the least and made the fewest sprints when adjusted for playing time. They've been out-run by their opponents in every single game! It's no shocker then that they're also the least aggressive in pressing, winning the ball high up the pitch less often than England, France, and Spain. Contrast that with Spain, who are the hardest-working, running, sprinting, and pressing the opposition the most, all while enjoying a tournament-high 66% possession and a joint-best 90.4% passing accuracy with Argentina. England's defenders better be ready for Lionel Messi's through balls against Argentina because their back line is going to be tested. With France facing Spain on Tuesday, and England taking on Argentina, these numbers paint a vivid picture of the clashes ahead. Will France's attack break Spain's wall? Or will Argentina's clinical finishing overcome their defensive worries against England? It's going to be wild.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.