Messi goes past Batigol, below par Croatian defending & more- Talking Points from first SF

Croatia’s hopes of making it to a second successive World Cup final were dashed in Lusail by Lionel Messi and Argentina, who prevailed 3-0 in front of a 88,966 strong crowd. Here are our talking points from the fixture.

Paredes starts for Argentina; Croatia unchanged

Argentina reverted to a back four for this fixture with Man Utd defender Lisandro Martinez making way for Leandro Paredes. The other change- a forced one, saw Nicolas Tagliafico come in for the suspended Marcos Acuna. Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic chose to keep faith with the same XI that had upset favourites Brazil in the last eight.

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L’Equipe Nice Matin Newspaper Player Ratings England vs France World Cup 2022- Mbappe, Hernandez, Saka

Here is a look at the player ratings from well known French newspapers L’Equipe and Nice Matin for the England-France football World Cup Quarter final. Not much to choose between Less Bleus and the Three Lions as can be seen in the L’Equipe team ratings ( 5.5 vs 5.7) Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann and Hugo … Read more

xG England vs France Football World Cup 2022 | Expected Goals Eng 1-2 Fra Match Stats Quarterfinal

Click here for expected goals stats from France vs Argentina FWC Final 2022

Here is a look at the xG (expected goals) stats from England vs France (Football World Cup 2022 Quarterfinal Attendance 68,895 December 10, 2022). England were the better side, especially in the second half, and that is reflected in the match stats and on xG. A missed penalty from Harry Kane cost the Three Lions

xG England 2.36-1.08 France shots map (Actual score England 1-2 France)

England 0-1 France Tchouameni goal v England xG 0.02
England 1-1 France Kane penalty v France xG 0.80
England 1-2 France Giroud header v England xG 0.15

xG France vs England Football World Cup 2022

Other notable missed opportunities/chances in England France and their xG

84th minute Kane second missed penalty v France xG 0.80
77th minute Giroud chance v England xG 0.55 (saved by Pickford)
70th minute Maguire header chance v France xG 0.10 (hits post)
39th minute Mbappe chance v England xG 0.13 (over bar)
22nd minute Kane chance v France xG 0.16 (saved by Lloris)

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