Players from Spain’s national soccer team pose with the World Cup trophy as they arrive at Madrid airport on Monday.Photo: AP
East Rutherford, July 21: It was a World Cup in which football’s biggest names sprinkled stardust over the tournament, yet in the end the trophy deservingly went to a formidable if unspectacular Spain side who were simply too strong, even without Lamine Yamal being at his thrilling best.
The 19-year-old winger was the focus of so much attention, but he initially struggled to find full fitness and finished with just one goal, in a group-stage win over Saudi Arabia.
This World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams, had an average of 2.96 goals per game, making it the most prolific since 1970.
Spain scored only 14 times in eight games, but they take the trophy home after silencing Lionel Messi and defeating a disappointing Argentina 1-0 at the end of extra time at the MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
La Roja completely outplayed the defending champions, but needed a Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute to become world champions for the second time.
The key to their success was a remarkable defence which conceded only once in the whole competition, against Belgium in the quarter-finals.
Protecting that defence as brilliantly as ever was the captain Rodri, and it was telling that he was named player of the tournament rather than Messi, Kylian Mbappe or any of the other attacking superstars on display.
There were echoes of 2010 in South Africa, when Spain won their first World Cup with a fantastic side whose success was also built around a watertight back line.
“When you don’t concede I think it is much easier to win,” said Marc Cucurella, the floppy-haired full-back who recently signed for Real Madrid from Chelsea.
“We attack together and defend together, and that is one of the key things about this team.”
Rodri outshines Messi
Messi and Argentina did not muster a single shot on target as their attempts to become the first team to successfully defend the World Cup since 1962 fell flat.
In the semi-finals, Spain had also shut out France’s remarkable attack, including Mbappe who still ended the tournament as the top scorer with 10 goals.
“If you could speak to all the gloves I have worn in this World Cup, I think they would tell you they didn’t have much work to do,” joked goalkeeper Unai Simon.
Behind Mbappe and Messi, who got eight goals, in the race for the golden boot were Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, reigning Ballon d’Or Ousmane Dembele, and Harry Kane.
Some of the most recognisable faces of this World Cup, but their teams could not match Spain, who are the first country to be world and European champions at the same time since they did the double themselves in 2008 and 2010.
The future looks just as bright — Yamal and fellow 19-year-old Pau Cubarsi are now part of an elite group of only 10 players ever to have won the World Cup as teenagers.
Hosts in 2030
Coach Luis de la Fuente, who took over following the disappointing last-16 exit at the 2022 World Cup, is a veteran at 65 but has achieved astonishing results and has a contract until Euro 2028.
Before the tournament, so much attention was on the big-name coaches who came into international football with huge reputations.
Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel failed to live up to the expectations of Brazil and England respectively, while Mauricio Pochettino could only lead the United States to the last 16 and Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany disappointed.
“These players are exceptionally talented and it is an honour to accompany them,” said De la Fuente, happy to stand back and let them bask in the glory.
The last two decades have seen Spain firmly shake off their reputation as international football’s great underachievers, and they have now won two World Cups and three European Championships since 2008, as well as one UEFA Nations League.
They will be back in action in just two months with Nations League games against England and Croatia.
For now, though, they can enjoy being world champions again, and think about the tantalising prospect of defending the trophy in 2030 — that will be the first time in World Cup history that the holders have defended the title on home soil.
Spain deserved to win: Scaloni
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted Spain were the better team following his team’s 1-0 extra-time defeat in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday.
“They were the better side — that’s the truth — but I’ll cherish the memory of them (his team), of what they achieved, and of the value of making it this far,” said Scaloni, who later broke down in tears at his post-game press conference.
“We have to place immense value on this because it takes so much effort.”
Scaloni, who had to break up an ugly skirmish after the final whistle that involved Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes, said his team must accept defeat with the same grace they had shown when celebrating recent successes.
“We are gracious in victory, and we must be gracious in defeat. Today, we are showing that we know how to lose,” he said. “We lost the match and we accept it, but that doesn’t mean we stop living or forget everything we did to get here.”
He thanked the fans for their incredible support throughout the 2026 tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States. “To the people, my players, and the country, I want to say that we gave it our all,” he said.
“We arrived here facing a realistic situation, but if the players leave everything on the pitch, as they did today, it sets a great example for our people and our country.
“We have to pick ourselves up again, there is no other way,” he added.
Scaloni, 48, said Argentina’s achievement in reaching a second successive final should be appreciated.
“I certainly value the runners-up spot because it takes so much to get here, and I think it deserves huge recognition,” he said. AFP
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