Post by Machine Football

Ahead of Sunday's World Cup final, we took a closer look at what's made Spain so effective under Luis de la Fuente. One factor stands out: team cohesion. But what does that actually mean? Using machine learning, we quantify how well players work together across the pitch. Every player partnership receives a cohesion score, which we can then combine to make a single team cohesion rating. Among those who made the semi-finals, Spain lead the way: 🇪🇸 Spain — 64 🇫🇷 France — 59 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England — 58 🇦🇷 Argentina — 54 What's particularly interesting is that Spain's rating isn't driven by one exceptional partnership. Instead, strong connections are spread across the team, pointing to a system where players consistently complement one another. That's a reflection of the environment Luis de la Fuente has built. Individual quality is essential, but so is creating a team where every player fits seamlessly into the collective. Will that cohesion give Spain the edge in the final against Argentina? We'll soon find out. #WorldCup2026 #FootballAnalytics #SportsAnalytics #FootballData