Spain Are World Men’s Football Champions!
…Dethrone Argentina by a Lone Goal.
Defending Champions, Argentina were shoved aside by La Roja of Spain with a late goal in a match played at New Jersey, New York in USA on Sunday night that was the worst drab match after the 1999 world cup finals.
A lot of people were disappointed by the performance of both teams until Barca ace player, Ferran Torres broke the ice in the 106th minute of extra time through Nico Williams assist.
Spain had two goals rejected by Ref Slavo Vincic of Slovenia first in the 90+3 minute when Enzo Fernandez beat Emiliano Martinez in goal but the Ref said he fouled on Pau Cubarsi before scoring and the second was Nico Williams who scored but was said to have fouled on Otamendi before scoring. The Ref did not check the VAR machine on both occasions.
Three times world champions and current no 1 world ranked, Argentina simply did not perform at all in this final but big thanks to Emiliano in goal who saved 10 glaring chances while his counterpart simply controlled the game from his post without a single save to make.
Argentina neither had a shot at goal or on target at half time but Spain finally had 20-3 shots at goal with 11-0 on target; European Champions Spain fully tutored Argentina real football in 68-32% balls possession, stringing a disgraceful 803-443 passes around the former champions. As Spain got 9-4 corner kick advantage all thwarted by Emiliano Martinez.
The Argentines were nervous as Spain pocketed their magic wand in Lionel Messi so the former champions resulted in rough plays earning 24-21 foul calls with 5-0 yellow cards of which Fernandez Torres got his 2nd yellow and a marching order in extra time.
It was a sad end for megastar, Lionel Messi whose magic failed this time. If he had scored in this final, he would have joined the five world legends that scored at two world cup finals. Kylian Mbappe of France scored in 2018 and 2022; Zinaden Zidene also of France in 1998 and 2006; Paul Breitner in 1974 and 1982; Pele of Brazil in 1958 and 1970 as well as Vava also of Brazil in 1958 and 1962.
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It was an occasion that experience did not get Argentina the crown being champs in 1978 when they hosted, Mexico 1986 and Qatar 2022. They were Silver medalists three times when they lost to Uruguay in 1930, at Italia 90 when they lost to West Germany in a drab match like 2026 World Cup final and Brazil 2014 when they again lost to Germany.
Spain tonight won their 2nd title after the South Africa 2010 victory when they clinched it 1-0 from Netherlands like this year.
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Both sides had met 14 times with each side having 6 wins and 2 draws. Spain won their last 4 meetings before today. They met once at the world cup on 13th July 1996 in a group game where Argentina won 2-1 at the Villa Park in Birmingham before 42,738 fans under Dimitar Rumenchend of Bulgaria as Ref with Artime scoring a brace in 66th and 79th minutes while Pirri scored for Spain in the 72nd minute.
A devastating rain with thunderstorm again threatened the match falling earlier in New York but receded allowing music before the match. Nigeria’s Burna Boy thrilled the crowd at half time with Afro music.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
#FIFA #2026WORLDCUP #EUFA #CONMEBOL #CAF #CONCACAF.
