Spain already have a huge advantage over England if they reach World Cup final

Spain will play England or Argentina in the final on Sunday (Picture: Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

England

will hope to join Spain in Sunday’s

World Cup

final by beating Argentina on Wednesday night – but the Three Lions already face a huge disadvantage in their bid to end 60 years of hurt.

La Roja dominated France in their semi-final match in Texas on Tuesday

evening with Mikel Oyarzabal and

Pedro Porro

scoring either side of half-time.

France, tipped by many to win the tournament, saw their campaign end with a whimper, failing to lay a glove on their opponents in what was Didier Deschamps’ final game in charge.

Spain were sublime in reaching just their second World Cup final, having conceded just one goal across their seven games so far.

England hope to secure a shot at revenge against Luis De La Fuente’s side who beat them in the

Euro 2024

final two years ago.

But they must first beat defending champions Argentina

in what is expected to be a brutally physical content on Wednesday.

Spain will now have five days to recover with their semi-final kicking off a day before England vs Argentina.

Porro’s goal sealed Spain’s semi-final win (Picture: Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)

That extra 24 hours rest could have huge significance come Sunday with former England star

David James

believing it will have a major role to play.

‘Spain have now got the day advantage. I think England vs Argentina is going to be have a heavy physical toll on both teams,’ said James,

who is writing exclusively for Metro throughout the World Cup

.

‘When you look at Spain versus Belgium [in the previous round], I don’t think Spain were overexerted physically. They’ve got the extra day now having beaten France.

‘I didn’t think by the way they play they were going to be over-exerted physically. But I think Argentina or England will be registering their highest output in the game on Wednesday, so that extra day I think is going to make a massive difference – especially when you’re looking at England with the likes of

Declan Rice

who has been suffering.

England in training ahead of Wednesday’s showdown (Picture: The FA via Getty Images)

‘It’s how you fit them into training when you’re having to rest most of the players for playing so many minutes. At the moment the balance has been spot on because we are in the semi-final, but that is a skill for the manager, for the coaching staff.

‘But that 24 hours I think makes a massive difference.’

History would suggest the day advantage plays a part with the last three World Cup winners playing their semi-final match before their opponents.

In 2022, Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 in their semi-final the day before France beat Morocco. While a tight final went all the way to penalties it was Argentina who held their nerve.

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