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After 38 days of thrilling competition, the World Cup final comes down to Spain vs. Argentina. Lamine Yamal vs. Lionel Messi. Youth vs. experience. The future vs. the present, past and potential greatest of all time.
Have these two sides truly been the standout teams of the tournament? Some might say no, especially in Argentina's case, but there's no questioning the resilience, grit and winning mentality of Lionel Scaloni's squad. Remarkable comebacks were engineered against Egypt and England—the latter a stunning display against a top-tier side—and hard-fought victories were secured in difficult matches against Switzerland and, remarkably, Cabo Verde.
Spain has been composed and clinical, barely making an error before dispatching their opponents with ease. France became the latest nation to feel the subtle yet devastating force of Luis de la Fuente's side—a 2–0 victory as controlled and comfortable for La Roja as you're likely to witness in the semifinal of a major international tournament. And not just any tournament—the biggest one of them all.
Statistically, there's plenty to admire about Spain. They boast the second highest average possession in the tournament (63.8%), and the side that leads that category, Germany, was eliminated in the round of 32 having played three fewer games. Spain also carries an impressive xG conceded of just 2.1 across seven matches—nearly half of Argentina's 4.0. Add six clean sheets and only a single goal conceded, to Belgium's Charles De Ketalaere, and it's clear why Spain is considered the frontrunner by many.
Argentina's journey has been far more dramatic. They've scored 19 goals in total—Messi accounting for eight of them—and no team has completed more accurate passes per game (600.9) than Lionel Scaloni's men. Only Paraguay recorded more tackles per match than La Albiceleste, highlighting the defensive tenacity Argentina brings to the table.
One concern is that they've kept just two clean sheets in seven games, something goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez will surely have been reflecting on despite his outwardly confident demeanor.
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