World Cup Semi-Finals: Opta stats & tips including 7/1 England double and 8/1 Messi Bet Builder

France v Spain Opta stats bets

Click here for more France v Spain odds
Tuesday 14 June, 20:00 kick-off
AT&T Stadium, Arlington

Another Spanish clean sheet?

Spain's Luis de la Fuente has now managed more games across the Euros and World Cup without ever losing than any other manager (13 - W12 D1), while in the knockouts they've now won seven in a row in major tournaments and could become the first ever European nation to win eight on the bounce.

They've now lost just one of their last 27 matches at major tournaments, going unbeaten in their last 14 games since a 2-1 loss to Japan at the 2022 World Cup. Since then La Roja have conceded just five goals in 14 matches across the two competitions and never more than one in a game (9 clean sheets).

Back French sharp shooters

France have had 47 shots on target at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, their most since having 53 on home soil in 1998, when they won the trophy. Their average of 7.8 shots on target per game is their highest on record since 1966, while Kylian Mbappé's 3.3 shots on target per 90 minutes are the most by a French player since 1966 in one edition (150+ minutes played).

Dynamic duo to strike again for Les Bleus

France's Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele have created 19 chances for one another at the World Cup (10 Mbappe to Dembele, 9 Dembele to Mbappe). Only three pairs of players on record (from 1966) have created 20+ chances for each other at the finals: Franz Beckenbauer and Wolfgang Overath (25), Rivaldo and Ronaldo (23), and Ángel Di María and Lionel Messi (21).

Mbappe has scored 12 goals in the knockout stages of the World Cup, the most of any player. He's scored in the round of 32 (2), round of 16 (5), quarter-final (1) and final (4) but never in the semi-final in two appearances.

Read Paul Higham's France v Spain match preview & best bets

England v Argentina Opta stats bets

Click here for more England v Argentina odds
Wednesday 15 June, 20:00 kick-off
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Live on BBC1

Another Argentina goal glut?

This will be Argentina sixth World Cup semi-final, progressing from each of their prior five ties at this stage of the competition before - the strongest 100% success rate in the competition's history. Argentina have won all six of their matches at the 2026 World Cup, now their longest outright winning run in competition history.

Each of their last four matches have also seen them net exactly three goals - they could become just the second side in World Cup history to net 3+ goals in five consecutive matches after France across the 2022 and 2026 editions. Argentina have scored 17 goals at the 2026 World Cup, the most of any team and need just one more to equal their best ever tally of 18, which they managed at the 1930 World Cup when they reached the final before losing 2-4 to Uruguay.

Two Lions to roar again?

At this tournament, England duo Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have both netted six goals each, it's the first time in competition history that any side has seen two of their players hit 6+ goals at the same edition.

Back another Bellingham brace

England's Jude Bellingham has netted a brace in each of his last two FIFA World Cup appearances, with only Harry Kane (4) and Gary Lineker (3) ever having more matches in which they scored 2+ goals for the Three Lions in the competition. In the history of the competition overall, the only midfielder with more 2+ goal games than Bellingham is Peru's Téofilo Cubillas (3).

Messi & Saka in goal involvements

With his assist against Switzerland, Lionel Messi became the second player on Opta record (since 1966) to record 10+ goal contributions in multiple World Cups (2022 and 2026) after Kylian Mbappé (2022 and 2026). Throughout his FIFA World Cup career, Messi's 10 assists have all come for different players. With his assist against Switzerland, Lionel Messi became the second player on Opta record (since 1966) to record 10+ goal contributions in multiple World Cups (2022 and 2026) after Kylian Mbappé (2022 and 2026). Throughout his FIFA World Cup career, Messi's 10 assists have all come for different players.At the 2026 FIFA World Cup, only Andreas Schjelderup (1.08) has averaged more assists per 90 than England's Bukayo Saka (1.01 - min 200+ minutes played). Saka's current rate is also the strongest of any Three Lions player at an edition of the competition to play 200+ minutes on Opta record (since 1966).

Notable winners on Betting.Betfair at the World Cup

- Mark Stinchcombe's stunning 38/1 Bet Builder in South Korea v Czechia
- Paul Higham's 9/2 Bet Builder in Mexico's MD1 defeat of South Africa
- A 6/1 winning ACCA for Mark on Sunday at the World Cup
- Andy Robson's 9/1 five-leg ACCA as Germany wallop Curacao
- An 11/2 winner for Jimmy The Punt as Jonathan David scores 2+ goals
- Jack Critchley delivered a 5/1 goalscorer treble on day 13
- Japan score but lose to give Paul Higham a 3/1 winner
- France and Norway help Andy Robson land a 9/2 ACCA
- A Lucas Bergvall fouls frenzy v France secures 9/2 winner for Jimmy
- Jack bagged four out of four winners in MD21 including an 11/2 ACCA
- Andy Robson secured a 4/1 last 16 ACCA winner
- A full house of winning tips and an 11/2 ACCA to boot for Mark
- Loads of Messi shots and fouls won mean a 4/1 winner for Paul
- Shootout joy as Kev Hatchard lands 4/1 winner in Australia v Egypt
- Both 4/15.00 and 7/2 quarter-final winners for Paul Higham

Now read Kevin Hatchard's update on the Golden Boot betting here