Spain win World Cup in triumph of football over Argentine felony

And Lionel Messi? For all the brilliance of the world’s greatest ever player – as England can sorely testify from the semi-final – his most memorable contribution was to try to get Spain’s Marc Cucurella sent off for covering his mouth.

That was in retribution after Enzo Fernández was rightly dismissed in the added time of normal time to become the third Argentina player to be sent off in a World Cup final, after two in 1990. They used the same dirty tactics as all those decades ago.

After he collected his runners-up medal there were tears from Messi, 39 now and surely, surely, at his last World Cup. But no one need cry for Argentina.

Now the deposed world champions, they deserved nothing because they did nothing as they became the first World Cup finalists not to even have a shot until the 121st minute, when Giuliano Simeone fired over from a corner when they were frantically chasing the game.

Instead, they pushed and shoved, fouled and fouled and stood over opponents on the ground with a few choice words. And tried to pressurise the referee, as they had so successfully done against England. But at least this time the official, Slovenian Slavko Vincic, eventually intervened with Fernández’s red.

In the first half, Argentina had more fouls – nine – than passes in the final third of the pitch – eight. This was nasty, depressing anti-football. And it got what it deserved.

The only goal came in the second period of extra time with Spain’s brilliant winger, Nico Williams, who should have started and made such a difference, cleverly heading back a Pedro Porro cross for another replacement, Ferran Torres, to lash high into the net. What a relief.

Spain should have won far more comfortably but the European champions lived up to the claim made by their coach Luis de la Fuente and proved they are the best team in the world – as they won this tournament for the second time and for the first since 2010 – having beaten the favourites France in the last four. They were worthy winners.

There is another European nation chasing that second star, the one beaten by Argentina in Atlanta last Wednesday.

If England ever want to win this again then here is the blueprint. From Spain. This is how the game should be played. Get the ball, keep the ball, love the ball, move the ball. Try to play. Be brave and stay brave. It is not complicated, but it requires a re-education.

Maybe one day English football will grow up and cherish ball-players of their own rather than Manchester City sign Rodri, who was magnificent here until he tired, or Arsenal Martín Zubimendi, who successfully replaced him.

Rodri was rightly named player of the tournament, in recognition of the football his nation played and the 30-year-old’s importance to that. He is their heartbeat and metronome. England do not just need to find a Rodri but cherish whoever that is.

Argentina will point to the fact they lost three-quarters of their back four to injury, and that did deplete them. But that would be a diversionary tactic. Their approach was clear from the first whistle and did not deviate as they attempted to rough up Spain the way they did England.

Except Spain are more evasive because they pass the ball quicker and better than England and are not afraid to just keep it. There is such a debate about possession-based football in the Premier League, the attempt by coaches, often unsuccessful, to copy Pep Guardiola. But that is what the best teams do; the winning teams. Especially in international football. We need to reduce the pace and physicality and remember what the purpose of the game is. Thomas Tuchel got it wrong and should admit it.

Spain again showed the way as they did in beating England in the final of the last European Championship, of course, and they will be the team to beat when it comes to retaining that crown in two years’ time. Which will largely be held in England.

This was not a great final. It was a hard watch and especially after the referee gave Argentina licence to play as they wanted as he somehow failed to book Alexis Mac Allister for a horrible lunging tackle on Dani Olmo. The ball was an afterthought for the Liverpool midfielder.

It prompted chants of “Fifatina” from the Spain fans; referencing the conspiracy theory that the governing body wanted Argentina, and more specifically Messi, to win it again.

Spain’s momentum was not helped by Argentina’s approach, or by the ridiculously long half-time break, with the spectacularly bad show, which lasted almost half an hour. But they kept going forward. They kept trying.

Finally the chances came, late in normal time, with Torres heading straight at Emiliano Martínez, when he had to score, with the goalkeeper denying Pedri before Aymeric Laporte headed weakly. Again, it should have been a goal as it should have been with two more headers from Williams and Mikel Merino.

The ball was in the net, from Williams, but those conspiracy theorists will have been in overdrive as it was ruled out for a non-existent foul on Nicolás Otamendi, who had held off Merino and threw himself to the ground.

But the goal did come and, with the world watching, justice was served. In this most controversial of World Cups, where the focus has sometimes been elsewhere, Spain won. Football won. Even if Argentina showed the final disrespect by turning their backs and failing to congratulate their opponents. Class against classlessness.

[Source: Daily Telegraph]