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SPAIN V FRANCE: THE KEY BATTLES

With the build-up to Saturday’s big quarter-final between reigning champions Spain and France already underway, Castrol EDGE Performance data looks at the key battles which could decide the outcome in Donetsk.

Both France and Spain can boast excellent quality throughout the team, so a close match is anticipated in Ukraine. With that in mind, the difference on the night could be down to which striker finds his feet first.

Contrary to their club form in 2011/12, Spain’s Fernando Torres has shone more brightly than French hit man Karim Benzema so far. The Real Madrid star was in clinical form in La Liga last season, netting 21 goals in 34 games but has struggled for his national team. Benzema has attempted more shots without scoring than any other player at UEFA EURO 2012™ so far (17 – including blocks). Torres, on the other hand, was derided for his poor domestic performances last season but answered his critics with two neatly taken group stage goals.

Torres and Benzema may be charged with getting the goals, but support is needed if they are to find the back of the net. The two creators-in-chief on Saturday will be David Silva and Franck Ribéry.

The Spaniard has certainly won this battle at UEFA EURO 2012™  so far, delivering one goal and three assists to the Frenchman’s one solitary assist, despite playing 42 minutes less. Ribéry certainly has the potential to deliver in Donetsk, as demonstrated by his slightly superior passing accuracy, but he can be extremely frustrating. The Bayern Munich man has been tackled 33 times in the tournament already, a remarkable 14 times more than any other player.

Further back, the midfielders who will be pushing forward to support their frontmen will be Andres Iniesta and Samir Nasri and, in this regard, the Frenchman holds the upper hand.

Not renowned for his goalscoring exploits, Barcelona schemer Iniesta has ventured forward in UEFA EURO 2012™ but is yet to notch his first goal. The diminutive Spaniard has tested the keeper eight times already, the joint-most of all players in the tournament, but is yet to get his name on the score sheet. Manchester City midfielder Nasri, on the other hand, netted Les Bleus’ goal against England and has also created nine more chances for his teammates than Iniesta.

Sticking with the midfield area, charged with keeping the ball in a game where short passing is set to be favoured by both teams will be Xavi and, barring injury, Yohan Cabaye.

The Frenchman was a standout performer for Newcastle in the Premier League last season but is still in a different league to pass master Xavi, who has made and completed over 30 more passes than any other player at UEFA EURO 2012™.

With so much attacking flair on show, both teams will have to be at their best defensively; an area where France in particular have come under criticism recently.

Sergio Ramos was Spain’s key defender in the group stages. The Real Madrid man made 10 tackles in his three appearances, only three defenders made more, winning possession with seven of them. Fellow La Liga player Adil Rami will be the man with the unwanted task of shepherding France’s defence against La Roja. The Valencia man only attempted three tackles in three appearances in the group stages – seven fewer than Ramos, but won a significantly higher percentage of his duels than the former Sevilla star.

With attack, midfield and defence covered, the final key battle of this quarter-final will be between the two goalkeepers; Iker Casillas and Hugo Lloris.

Statistics once again favour Spain when it comes to the number ones as Spanish captain Iker Casillas was the standout goalkeeper in the group stages. Of the 15 ‘keepers to play in every game, the Real Madrid man had the best save percentage, making 10 saves (twice as many as he made in the whole qualification campaign). Hugo Lloris has been far from his best at UEFA EURO 2012™ so far, though; only three of the 15 ‘keepers kept out a lower percentage of their shots faced than the Lyon man in the opening round.

A look at the key battles ahead of France v Spain on Saturday night certainly suggests the advantage lies with La Roja, yet history favours Les Bleus. France have never lost a competitive game against Spain and beat them 3-1 in their last competitive meeting at the 2006 World Cup. The two surviving members of the French team that day – Ribéry and Florent Malouda – will be stressing that even the World and European Champions are beatable.

Who do you think will win – Spain or France? Will will be the star player? Let us know in the comments section below or on our Twitter and Facebook pages.