Spain is the reigning European champions until someone attempts to dethrone them at the 2028 Euros. They’re now the defending World Cup champions until someone attempts to dethrone them at the 2028 World Cup after a dominant effort over 2022 champions, Argentina. A 1-0 scoreline in extra time, with the winning goal coming after the extra time break, does not belie how good Spain really was.
Spain Sprints Through Argentina for World Cup Title
From the opening kickoff, Spain was dominant in the World Cup final. After ousting tournament favorite France with a rousing 2-0 victory, the Spaniards came in as the deserved favorite against Argentina. Ridiculous comebacks are fun, but Argentina’s propensity for late drama necessary to advance didn’t imply a great team, while Spain had been scored on only once all tournament.
That was pretty much how this finale went. The Spanish defense was smothering, and they dominated possession. Argentina didn’t even register a shot on goal in the entire match. In 120 minutes, they mustered 0.17 expected goals in 120 minutes, and much of that came after falling behind by a goal.
They were, quite frankly, lucky to even get to extra time. Enzo Fernandez committed a silly foul in stoppage time after the 90th minute, which was his second yellow in a matter of minutes. He was sent off, and with the Spanish side already dominating, it felt like a winner was in order.
The only reason the defending champs got to extra time after putting zero pressure on their opponents for 90 minutes and change is because of standout goalkeeper Emi Martinez. He was outstanding in keeping the Spaniards out of the net for 105 minutes. He made 11 saves in total, keeping his side alive despite being overwhelmed by pressure.
Eventually, though, and especially with Argentina down to 10 men, a Spain win in extra time felt inevitable. They had an early goal wiped away because of a foul in the build-up and a later goal wiped away for offsides, but the winner from Ferran Torres, who came off the bench, was both well-deserved and felt like the end of it.
Even still, with 10 men on the field, Lionel Messi’s squad didn’t give up. They created a few chances for the first time after conceding, and they were fairly close to a dying equalizer to somehow send the game to penalties. That would’ve been something, but Unai Simon’s wall would not be breached by Messi and company.
After getting a second life with Lamine Yamal and Torres linked up for a second goal that was ruled offside, Argentina nearly had a last-gasp comeback. A Messi cross off of a corner tested Simon, but it narrowly swept over the bar for a goal kick. A few minutes later, Mikel Merino, who scored a couple of winners in the World Cup off the bench, blocked a potential equalizer off the foot of Messi. Merino literally blocked it with his face.
In the 120th minute, Messi played the ball into the box, but brilliant defending from Pau Cubarsi and Merino cleared it for a corner. The Argentinians never really threatened again, and Spain was deservedly crowned for the second time ever and the first since 2010.
The Argentinians were off their game on Sunday, committing quite a few bad fouls leading to several yellow cards (and one red) all without getting much on offense. They couldn’t get the ball to Messi often, and by the time they did, it was too little, too late. Messi’s late magic that has defined perhaps his best World Cup run ran out, and it put a disappointing cap on what could be the last World Cup outing for the nearly-40-year-old.
