Spain wins second World Cup after beating Argentina in final
After a 16-year wait, Spain has claimed a second men's World Cup. Ferran Torres scored the winner in a deserved 1-0 victory over Argentina, which
After a 16-year wait, Spain has claimed a second men's World Cup. Ferran Torres scored the winner in a deserved 1-0 victory over Argentina, which means Spain is now men's and women's world champions. Patience proved the critical virtue for Spain. The players had to wait for a kickoff delayed by, among other things, a Tom Cruise speech. They had to wait twice as long as usual at halftime. And they had to wait for 106 minutes of play and their 20th shot before Ferran Torres lashed home the goal that would win them a second men's World Cup. "I'm very moved. Looking back and thinking about them, we've won everything, absolutely everything, with this generation of players," said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente. "The match should have been decided much earlier... but this is a World Cup final, and you have to dig deep even against ten men, and we’re prepared for anything." Spain's captain and player of the tournament, Rodri, lifted the trophy, but not before Donald Trump made his presence known. The US president was booed when he entered the pitch with FIFA's president, Gianni Infantino, and appeared keen to stay for the trophy lift, just as he had in the Club World Cup final last year. Rodri appeared to subtly attempt to usher Trump off the stage before Infantino jogged over to join Trump on the sidelines of the celebrations. Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino were booed by the crowd as they entered the pitch Image: Lee Smith/REUTERS Messi on the margins For much of Sunday’s final, that moment had felt purely a matter of time, as the European champions thoroughly outclassed their South American counterparts.
Just as they did in their impressive semifinal display against France, Spain dominated the ball early and their teenage superstar, Lamine Yamal, came close to opening the scoring in the fifth minute. Seconds later, at the other end of the pitch and the age scale, Lionel Messi was beaten to a through ball by Spanish keeper Unai Simon. It was as close as Messi, 39, got to a significant impact on the game, which may well be his last at a World Cup. "They were better, to be honest," Messi said postgame. "We lost the game, and we accept that. That doesn't mean that we will forget everything we've done so far, so I'd like to thank my people, my players and the country." As the first half wore on in the New York New Jersey stadium, Spain dominated the ball, but Argentina held firm, with a smart save from goalkeeper Emi Martinez save on a shot from Spanish striker Mikel Oyarzabal, as close as either side came before the elongated interval. Halftime show keeps players waiting For the first time in World Cup history, a Super Bowl-style halftime show was on the cards. Performers including Madonna, Justin Bieber and BTS took to the pitch with the break extended, contrary to both football convention and FIFA laws, to almost double the standard 15 minutes. Ferran Torres, on as a substitute, scored the only goal of the game Image: David Ramos/Getty Images/AFP It wasn't enough to change the pattern of the game.
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