England meet their statistical match – Euro 2022 quarter-finals preview

The Euro 2022 quarter-finals are set with all of the pre-tournament favourites still very much in the reckoning.

England, Germany, Sweden and France all topped their groups as expected, but the Lionesses and Les Bleues in particular will be wary of their last-eight opponents.

England play Spain at Brighton’s Amex Stadium – scene of the 8-0 demolition of Norway – on Wednesday, while the French go up against defending champions the Netherlands on Saturday.

Eight-time champions Germany and highly-rated Sweden have easier ties on paper, with the Germans facing Austria – the lowest-ranked side left in the tournament – on Thursday and the Swedes taking on first-time quarter-finalists Belgium on Friday.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the data behind each match-up.

The first quarter-final is a clash of the statistical titans.

England head into the last eight as favourites for the title, having qualified from the group stage with three wins from three and scored 14 goals without reply.

Spain have been far less impressive in the key metrics, with five goals scored and three conceded, but their underlying numbers are comparable to Sarina Wiegman’s side.

England and Spain lead the tournament for number of attacks (157 and 169), number of shots (25 and 20) and share of possession (63 per cent and 66 per cent).

They have been separated by their finishing, with England’s Beth Mead – who has five goals and three assists – able to more or less match Spain’s attacking output on her own.

While Wiegman has been able to call upon a full-strength forward line, the Spanish squad are clearly missing the goalscoring influence of Ballon d’Or winning midfielder Alexia Putellas, who was ruled out of Euro 2022 with a torn anterior cruciate