Jim Feist – Sports Handicapper

France’s case starts with transition. Spain will undoubtedly have the ball for large periods of the game, but no team has punished opponents on the counterattack quite like Les Bleus have during this tournament. Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise are three players who can make the difference from defending one goal to creating a chance in matter of seconds. France will almost certainly have Mbappe available after his fitness scare, giving them the biggest game changer on the field.

France has also looked like the complete package throughout the knockout stage. Wins against Paraguay (1-0) and Morocco (2-0) came against two teams who created chances, but France has also looked spectacularally solid at the back. Being able to win both open games and tactical battles will be key against Spain, who are prone to dropping deep with their possession-heavy style. Winning consecutive World Cup finals would make France just the third nation to accomplish the feat.

Spain have earned their place in the semifinal after impressive wins against Portugal and Belgium, while its commitment to playing out from the back has seen it concede only one goal in Qatar. Spain’s aggressive nature will leave spaces behind the fullbacks, however, which is where France loves to attack. Even if Spain commits numbers forward to attack France’s back line, Mbappe and Dembele should have too much pace to worry about. France’s center backs may just be physical enough to deal with Spain’s patient buildup play as well.

France has been here before under Deschamps, reaching multiple World Cup finals with this club. Experience goes a long way in knockout football, and might just prove decisive if the match is close. This is probably going to be close, high-quality game, but France just strikes you as having the better finishers when chances are limited and the defending to contain Spain’s attacks.

Jim's Play: 225616. France

MLB presents the 20th edition of its All-Star Game on Tuesday, and I’m taking the National League. Home-field advantage at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia gives the NL a advantage, but it also boasts deeper starting pitching and lineup strength. NL starter Cristopher Sanchez (11-4, 2.62 ERA) will have some competition from AL hurler Dylan Cease (6-4, 2.56), who leads the league in strikeouts. Runs shouldn’t be overly plentiful early.

The NL’s advantage to me lies within its lineup depth. Yes, we will likely see Shohei Ohtani (knee treatment) sidelined on the heels of an amazing first half, but guys like Freddie Freeman, Juan Soto, Kyle Schwarber, Francisco Lindor, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Pete Crow- Armstrong give the NL a potent mix of power, speed and ability to get on base. Pitch around them and the NL bullpen will eat you alive. Ohtani is a huge loss, but the National League certainly still has plenty of punch.

The AL has no shortage of talent in Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Byron Buxton and Mike Trout, but some of its top pitchers elected not to play after having large workloads through the first half. A lineup this deep could force the AL into using its bullpen more than it’d like and that’s where I feel the NL holds the advantage.

You’re matching up the game’s best pitchers for short outings while also having managers that won’t be shy about using their high-leverage relievers at any point.

Jim's Play: 948. National League