The World Cup has advanced to the quarter-finals, with France, Spain, Argentina, and England emerging as the leading contenders. According to statistical analysis from Opta, each of the eight remaining teams boasts favorable metrics from the tournament.
France’s Impressive Carry Stats
Carries ending with shots: 33
The French national team has demonstrated an exceptional ability to maneuver past their rivals. Opta tracks ball carries that span at least five meters, noting whether the player concluded their run with a shot or created a chance. Notably, nine players have achieved at least four productive carries in both categories, including Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Kylian Mbappé, and Michael Olise. Bradley Barcola is just one carry-powered chance-creating pass away from joining this elite group.
Morocco’s Sprinting Prowess
Sprints per kilometre covered: 0.75
Among the eight remaining teams, Morocco has recorded the highest number of sprints. While they have played an additional half-hour compared to some teams, it is unlikely that extra time will feature extensive sprinting.
When comparing each team’s sprint totals to the distance they have traversed, Morocco stands out with the highest intensity, indicating their vigorous running. Competing in air-conditioned stadiums for two of their matches may have contributed to this, positioning them well to face France.
Spain’s Defensive Solidity
Expected goals conceded: 1.49
Spain’s average possession closely mirrors their performance during Euro 2012. Although this team is more dynamic than their predecessors from 14 years ago, their control of the ball has resulted in a similarly robust defense.
To put Spain’s expected goal total into perspective, Norway has conceded at least 1.49 xG in four of their five matches.
Belgium’s High Turnover Efficiency
High turnovers leading to shots: 15
Opta’s metric for high turnovers tracks instances when a team initiates an open-play possession sequence within 40 meters of the opponent’s goal. Spain leads this category with 50, while Belgium (41) follows closely behind.
Belgium has a significant advantage, with no other team matching their total of high turnovers that resulted in shots (15), and their four goals from these situations also set the standard. Spain’s defense may be vulnerable to unexpected errors.
Norway’s Quality Over Quantity
Expected goals-per-shot average: 0.17
Norway’s approach has emphasized quality rather than quantity in their attacking play. They have taken only four more shots than Cape Verde, despite having played an extra match. The average quality of their chances, measured by expected goals, surpasses that of any other team.
While five games represent a small sample size, Norway’s non-penalty xG per shot (0.17) is superior to any team in Europe’s top five leagues last season.
England’s Ruthless Attack
England showcased a formidable attacking display against Mexico, totaling six shots, five of which were on target, resulting in three goals. Their strikes—two close-range finishes and a penalty—have been categorized by Opta as big chances, defined as opportunities where “a player should reasonably be expected to score”
Despite a less accurate conversion rate earlier in the tournament, England has created more of these high-quality opportunities than any other team.
Argentina’s Diverse Scoring Methods
Counterattack, set-piece and penalty goals: 7
Argentina stands as one of the joint-top scorers with 14 goals. Their distinguishing feature is the variety of their attacking methods, as no other team has scored as frequently outside the norms of regular play, showcasing their ability to dominate opponents in multiple ways.
Argentina has netted two counterattacking goals against Austria, converted two free-kicks in their victory over Jordan, and scored twice from corners against Cape Verde. Remarkably, they can even afford Lionel Messi to miss penalties.
Switzerland’s Direct Speed
Direct speed: 1.77 metres per second
Although Switzerland may not visually appear to be a particularly fast attacking side, they actually rank as the fastest among the quarter-finalists according to Opta’s direct-speed metric, which gauges the “average speed of ball movement towards opponent goal line during sequence”
With Argentina expected to control possession, Switzerland will need to capitalize on their opportunities when they arise.
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