France vs Belgium - How Kante and Fellaini could change the outcome of the game

Topics: FIFA World Cup, France, Belgium, N'Golo Kante, Marouane Fellaini

Both footballers have proven to be crucial for their teams, but how do they compare to each other statistically and how can they determine the fate of the tie?

Most people think that strikers and goalkeepers are the only players on the pitch that can make a difference in the outcome of any match, but this time, we'll take a look at a couple of players that could be deemed as unsung heroes: France and Belgium's recurrent holding midfielders.

There's no doubt in Didier Deschamps' mind, since N'Golo Kante has been Paul Pogba's partner to hold Les Bleus' waist throughout the tournament. Chelsea's midfielder has played each and every minute for France during the competition, playing a major role when the team needs to recover the ball. He's had a major influence in that department, claiming the ball back from his opponents a massive 52 times.

When it comes to passing the ball, Kante has completed 276 of 306 attempts, including 19 long balls, which means he can handle the game's pace in whichever way he fancies. Furthermore, Kante has done all this without an excessive use of force, as he is yet to pick a yellow card, and he has only been involved in seven tackles that were whistled as a foul.

On the other side of the pitch, Marouane Fellaini was not considered by coach Roberto Martínez as a starter in three of Belgium's five games in the competition, but he's managed to make an impact on the 236 minutes he's played.

Fellaini's role changed when he was given a chance to start against England in the third match of Group G, where he helped the Red Devils to secure the top spot. He was also a major contributor in Belgium's quarter final game against Brazil, where he was in charge of providing balance to the team alongside Axel Witsel. But his most shining moment in the tournament came against Japan, as he scored the equalizer for Belgium after only nine minutes on the pitch. The Belgian side would eventually win a close 3-2 contest.

Defensively speaking, Fellaini's stats are also impressive, considering that he had to adapt to this role. He's contributed with eight clearances, and his pass completion rate shows he's been a quite decent ball distributor, as he's completed 83% of his passes.

Fellaini's performance has a downside if you compare him to Kante, as he has recovered way less balls than his counterpart (11). Fellaini has also been a "dirtier" player than the French midfielder, as he's been involved in ten fouls, escaping at least one yellow card against Brazil.

Here's a quick look at each player's stats.

While Kante's role with France has been focused almost entirely on the defensive side, it has been crucial for France's performance in the competition. Fellaini's display hasn't been testimonial, but he will surely be a tough rock to beat whenever any of France's attackers come close to him.

Which one of them will help their team more in their quest for a FIFA World Cup Final ticket? We're less than 24 hours away from finding out!