Spain rules the world, a reality reflected in its football and confirmed by the World Cup. The second star is already flying back to the Peninsula to be embedded on the chest of an admirable team, which has a new hero. From Foios, Ferran Torres burst into extra time to disguise himself as Iniesta and open the doors to eternity with a left-footed shot. A goal that transferred the overwhelming superiority of the Spanish team to the scoreboard, wiping Argentina off the map without any hesitation and ending the Messi era in tears.
Read more Messi captains Scaloni’s eleven and is the first footballer to start in three World Cup finals
The fact that De la Fuente’s team had to wait until extra time to reach glory means nothing, having completed an almost unprecedented final, in which Argentina shot once (minute 122) and not even on target. Another masterclass of football from a team that controls matches at will and whose trajectory is already legendary. But perhaps the title is not the best part because De la Fuente manages a very young squad, with a future even more promising than its brilliant present.
De la Fuente’s team confirmed its superiority with a majestic final wiping out Argentina
And this was supposed to be on paper a duel between two teams with similar traits, as it began to take shape on the battered green of MetLife Stadium, five minutes late, courtesy of modern football and its pyrotechnics. Both Spain and Argentina tried to press high but it was the former who started dominating that task, anticipating their supremacy. De la Fuente’s team soon launched the first warning, which would be the most dangerous of a somewhat bland but still balanced first half. The Argentine scare was forged in the connection between Olmo and Lamine Yamal at the edge of the box, a combination that gave the Rocafonda player a great chance to make history but his shot was slowed by Lisandro and ended up caught by Dibu Martínez.
Argentina had things clear, despite everything, and cut off any threat with fouls that did not cross any limits but flirted with being yellow card offenses. Like MacAllister’s on Olmo at the midfield line, which more than flirting, courted a card with all its might. Vincic’s tolerance ignited the Spanish bench but the duel was clean and the spark never really ignited. Lamine also had his battles with Tagliafico, against whom he made a good feint but then failed to deliver a good cross.
Ferran Torres disguised himself as Iniesta to perfect the second star of a flawless team
On the other side, Scaloni seemed to have ordered to look behind the center-backs with long balls but Unai Simón was very alert and quick, especially in a couple of runs against Messi, who was quite absent, news that the opponent never knows whether to take as good or bad. Rodri multiplied his efforts in support acting as the general captain, his performance was tremendous. On the way to halftime, Spain confirmed its superiority with a couple of shots, one from Oyarzábal caught by Dibu and another from Cucurella that went wide. La Roja had won on points, but in a World Cup final that means nothing.
The match lacked a spark, which soon heated up after the eternal halftime show. Argentina began to lose strength too early, even though Scaloni tried to strengthen the midfield with Paredes’ entry at halftime. But his players were stepping back, a result of Spain’s push and their exhaustion, so it was time to resort to all kinds of tricks. Five minutes in, the first scuffle took place, the second half was going to be long.
The ball did not leave the Argentine half and Spain was stalking Dibu. De la Fuente was gradually refreshing his team while Scaloni was forced to use all his substitutions twenty minutes from the end given the situation he was seeing. By then, a header from Ferran Torres and a couple of shots from Pedri and Cubarsí had made Dibu start sweating. Argentina still hadn’t attempted a single shot in the entire final while their rival kept adding up, almost always on target.
Read more These are the eleven chosen by De la Fuente to compete in the World Cup final
Spain’s superiority was overwhelming but without goals there is no glory. Argentina knew they were inferior and entrusted themselves to another Messi miracle, who barely touched the ball. After 90 minutes, Enzo Fernández overstepped and earned a second yellow for an innocent foul on Cubarsí. Scaloni’s men were down to ten, barely visible. A foul by Lamine deflected by Dibu closed the curtain and pointed the way to extra time.
All the weight the Argentines had been bearing until then fell on them like a giant slab in that extra half hour. Nico Williams was a nuisance and was denied a goal for a slight offside. Merino made a mistake with his header. Until the moment came when the sky opened its doors. The moment when Porro crossed, Nico passed back and Spain swapped Iniesta’s right foot for Ferran Torres’ left to reach eternity. Yes, Spain is world champion.
Technical sheet
1 – Spain: Unai Simón; Pedro Porro, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte (Eric García, 99′), Marc Cucurella; Fabián Ruiz (Pedri, 62′), Rodrigo Hernández (Martín Zubimendi, 99′), Dani Olmo (Mikel Merino, 75′); Lamine Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal (Ferran, 62′) and Alex Baena (Nico Williams, 75′).
Coach: Luis de la Fuente.
0 – Argentina: Emiliano Martínez; Gonzalo Montiel (Nahuel Molina, 58′), Lisandro Martínez (Nicolás Otamendi, 45′), Cristian Romero (Facundo Medina, 71′), Nicolás Tagliafico; Enzo Fernández, Alexis McAllister, Rodrigo de Paul (Giuliano Simeone, 71′), Nico González (Leandro Paredes, 46′); Leo Messi and Julián Álvarez (Marcos Senesi, 102′).
Coach: Lionel Scaloni.
Goals: 1-0: 106′: Ferran Torres.
Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia). Sent off Enzo Fernández for a second yellow (82′ and 93+’). Booked Argentines Lisandro Martínez, Leandro Paredes, Alexis McAllister.
Incidents: World Cup final played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford before 80,663 spectators.
