Argentina have scored 16 goals from 8 different players but needed extra time in two of three knockout matches. England have 13 goals from just three scorers — Bellingham and Kane account for 12 — but won their quarter-final with a 93rd-minute Bellingham strike. One team has depth. The other has destiny. The data reveals a semi-final shaped by mirror formations, contrasting vulnerabilities, and two very different paths to survival.

Argentina's 3-1 victory over Jordan is defined by their possession dominance, controlling 73% of the ball. This control allowed them to dictate the match's tempo, with Giovani Lo Celso's goal in the 19th minute serving as the turning point. Lo Celso's performance underscores Argentina's strategic mastery, effectively neutralizing Jordan's counterattacks.