Spain have the best defence. France have the best attack. But this World Cup semi-final won’t be decided by either
On paper, Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final in Dallas, widely billed as the “final before the final”, looks straightforward. Spain arrive with the tournament’s meanest defence. France boast its most devastating attack. But labels rarely decide knockout football. This blockbuster between Europe’s two modern-day heavyweights will hinge on one thing: transition. Not possession. Not territory. Rather, what happens in the seconds after the ball changes hands — who reacts quicker, who exploits space faster, and who prevents the other from doing so before defensive shape is restored. France will take on Spain on July 15 in Dallas Where will the semi-final be won? France have never needed sustained spells of pressure in this World Cup. Almost every meaningful goal has followed the same script: win a duel, recover possession high up the pitch, then attack vertically. Three or four passes later, before the opposition can reset, the ball is in the net. Spain have taken the opposite route. They have conceded just one goal all tournament, against Belgium in the quarter-finals, because they defend by keeping …
