These are two sides who have reached the World Cup final through very different circumstances and Spain look the best placed to win the trophy from this position.

It’s hard to look past the dominance of Spain, they’ve won six of their seven matches and haven’t trailed for a single second across these games. 

They’ve only conceded one goal at the tournament, also conceding an xG of just 2.15 across the seven games. 

They’ve had to beat Portugal, Belgium and France in the latter stages of the tournament too while Argentina have been very fortunate in their victories, facing adversity in almost every round but still finding a way to get through.

Both of these sides have registered decent corner counts throughout the tournament, with Argentina’s average sitting at 8.15 corners per game while Spain have seen 8.43 corners per game.

Argentina racked up six corners and scored following a short corner against England last time out. They’ve won 5.29 corners per game, winning 6+ corners in 71% of their matches at this World Cup.

Spain’s semi final against France produced exactly eight corners, and probably should have had a few more if Spain hadn’t taken an early lead. They’ve won 6.43 corners per game at this World Cup, also seeing 6+ corners in 71% of their games.

Mikel Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot to give Spain the lead against France in the semi final and is such an important player for Luis de la Fuente’s side.

He’s Spain’s top scorer at the World Cup with five goals to his name across seven starts and has achieved this tally from 22 shots (3.65 per 90), 11 of which have found the target (1.82 per 90). 

I think he’ll be able to cause Argentina a lot of problems with his clever movement and has crucially delivered on the big stage before having scored the winner against England in the final of the 2024 European Championships. 

Enzo Fernandez scored a crucial equaliser from distance against England for Argentina last time out, one of four shots he took in total - all of which came from outside of the box.

It felt as though Fernandez was getting his range in with the previous efforts before eventually finding a way through to the back of the net. 

Upon closer inspection Pickford probably should have done better to keep it out, but the volume of efforts is promising when looking to back Fernandez for a single shot here.

He started in quite a deep role for his country but has since moved up into a more advanced position, operating a little closer to Messi and his striking partner.

Fernandez has taken 12 shots across his six starts overall at the World Cup, working out to an average of 1.89 shots per 90.

Pau Cubarsi has had a phenomenal tournament and would probably be one of the contenders for the Golden Ball if Spain were to lift the trophy.

Cubarsi and Laporte have been a solid partnership for Spain at this World Cup, conceding just one goal all tournament - but the high line Spain play does occasionally leave both a bit vulnerable in moments of transition.

Cubarsi is used to playing in a high line having done so regularly for Barcelona during the most recent domestic campaign, though still has to make tactical fouls at times to protect the space that Spain leave in behind.

Spain should feel emboldened to push up quite high as Argentina don’t have a lot of space in forward areas, but I think Cubarsi will be sucked into a battle with Lionel Messi at times here.

Messi has won 16 fouls across his 6 starts at the World Cup (2.32 per 90) and was fouled twice against England last time out. 

There was naturally an inquest into England’s defeat against Argentina in the semi-final, but it wasn’t anything different to what we’ve come to expect from England - every time they’ve faced a top 10 nation in the world in the knockout rounds of a major tournament, they’ve lost.

It was the intelligence and brilliance of Messi that inspired Argentina’s comeback in the semi-final. He assisted both goals, the second being particularly impressive as Messi came on to his ‘weaker’ foot before putting in a wonderful cross that Martinez managed to head home.

Messi has registered a goal contribution in all four knockout matches, recording 12 goal contributions across his six starts at the World Cup overall. It’s hard to keep coming up with superlatives to describe his performances, and I think he can step up again with a goal contribution in this final.

Lamine Yamal had a goal ruled out for a marginal offside in the semi-final to deny him his second goal of the tournament, and he will be itching to have an impact on this game.

It’s been a fairly quiet tournament for the Barcelona man compared to some of the other big names we’ve seen at the World Cup, but he does really enjoy the big stage, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see his best performance at the tournament in the final.

Yamal may only have one goal, but he has taken 23 shots at the World Cup (4.18 per 90) and has taken the most shots as well as had the most touches in the opposition box of any Spain player in three of the four knockout rounds, showing that he is getting in the right areas for a goal contribution.

Rodri was very fortunate to avoid a caution against France last time out, committing four fouls overall in what was another impressive display from the Manchester City midfielder.

Rodri looks close to being back to his best following a long-term injury that really stifled his game. The midfield battle here will be fascinating. Argentina will know that they can’t let Spain’s midfield three dominate the ball in the way that France did, so I expect plenty of individual battles in those central areas.

Rodri’s four fouls against France last time out take his tally to nine for the tournament (1.29 per 90), with the majority of these fouls coming in situations where Rodri has to make tactical fouls to stop the backline of Spain being exposed in transition.

Enzo Fernandez is going to have to be at his best here if Argentina are to lift the trophy, and should have specific instructions to deal with Spain’s fluid midfield trio, who will cause Argentina plenty of problems.

Fernandez has committed nine fouls at the World Cup (1.42 per 90), and I can see him getting frustrated here the longer that Spain are able to keep the ball and shift around the midfield of Argentina. We saw Rabiot fall into this trap against Spain in the semi-final, picking up a booking early on.

It’s also likely that Fernandez has to brush shoulders with Dani Olmo (1.71 fouls won per 90) and Lamine Yamal (1.45 fouls won per 90) at points during the contest, increasing his chances of committing a reckless foul.