Spain will face either England or Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday, following their semifinal win against France.
England hopes to secure a shot at revenge against Spain, who defeated them in the Euro 2024 final two years ago, but must first overcome defending champions Argentina in a physically demanding match on Wednesday.
Spain will have a crucial five-day break before the final, with their semifinal match taking place a day before England's showdown with Argentina.
The extra time to rest could have a significant impact come Sunday, according to former England star David James, who believes it will give Spain a major advantage.
'Spain have now got the day advantage. I think England vs Argentina is going to be a heavily physical toll on both teams,' James said.
James noted that Spain's physical condition was not compromised in their previous match against Belgium, and that the extra day's rest will make a 'massive difference,' particularly with players like Declan Rice, who has been struggling with fatigue.
History suggests that the day advantage can play a significant role in the outcome of a match, with the last three World Cup winners playing their semifinal match before their opponents.
In 2022, Argentina defeated Croatia 3-0 in their semifinal match the day before France beat Morocco, while in 2018, France edged out Belgium in their semifinal, a day before Croatia defeated England.
