Ferran Torres was in the right place at the right time to mercifully settle a boring World Cup final in extra time, as Spain’s superiority was finally proven against Argentina in New Jersey.
The current world champion was chasing history, aiming to become the third consecutive World Cup champion, but was unable to make an appearance. Despite having the genius of Lionel Messi, Argentina were ineffective on the biggest stage, failing to get a single shot on goal until the 117th minute.
After an uneventful first half, Emi Martínez was brought in to stop Dani Olmo, and the Spanish siege gradually turned into a lull. As Spain increased the pressure, Aston Villa’s star came to the rescue of Argentina with saves from Torres, Aymeric Laporte and many others.
And with extra-time looming, Enzo Fernandes was shown a second yellow card after the Chelsea midfielder dove close to halfway with Pau Kvarsi at 50-50, leaving Argentina with a mountain to climb.
Spain thought they finally had the goal they deserved early in extra time when Nico Williams sneaked the ball into the back of the net between the bodies filling the box and the ball was chalked away. However, Argentina and Martinez’s resistance was finally broken in the 106th minute when Torres grabbed the winning goal.
Introducing the topic of mirror football at the World Cup finals…
1. Argentina’s fate continues…until it doesn’t.
If you haven’t been in a tough spot over the past month, you’ve probably noticed that Argentina have benefited from some favorable refereeing decisions. Egypt were defeated in the most heartbreaking and spectacular way by the defending world champions in the Round of 16, with FIFA even claiming there was bias against coach Lionel Scaloni’s side.
In the match between England and Argentina, there were a number of situations in which the players wearing the blue and white stripes were lucky to avoid being reprimanded by the referee. And no matter where you stand on such arguments, Alexis Mac Allister’s escape from punishment for a late and reckless challenge on Dani Olmo early in the first half will do little to dampen such accusations.
Perhaps Argentina just suffered a green rub on the way to tonight’s final. However, some incidents in the frenzied run-up to the final left a very bad taste, including Mac Allister’s escape and the decision to have Williams’ goal canceled for a soft foul on Nico Otamendi in extra time.
2. Slow combustion
Alexis Mac Allister was lucky to escape punishment for his reckless challenge on Dani Olmo (Image: Daniela Porcelli)
Before the match, the big question on the BBC’s coverage of the final was who would be the unlucky soul following Jennifer Hudson and her epic performance of the American national anthem. But perhaps the real concern should have been for the match, which came less than 24 hours after a thrilling 10-goal bronze final between England and France.
Well, the occasion is not comparable, but there is no doubt that tension and nervousness played a role in a monotonous first half that saw the lowest number of shots in history (all 3 for Spain in the first half of a World Cup final).
Despite America’s extensive planning for pre-game coverage, not to mention the halftime show, the action on the pitch didn’t live up to expectations here. Even if you play for another 30 minutes.
3. Fernandes’ moment of madness
Enzo Fernandes was sent off just before the end of regular time.
Not even Argentina and its good fortune could survive the foolish decision to charge full force into Fernandes and Kvarsi in the final moments of extra time. He has already been given a yellow card for opposing opinions, but there is only one outcome.
Given that Argentina were on the back foot for most of the game, Fernandes’s easy dismissal felt like a sign that their chances of becoming the third country to win back-to-back World Cups were doomed.
Fernandes was distraught, but it was a crazy moment for a player who had saved Argentina just days earlier. If Fernandes saved Argentina’s World Cup hopes with his incredible goal against England, he definitely killed them here.
4. Martinez one-man stand vs Spain
Emi Martinez kept Argentina alive in the World Cup final with save after save (Image: Marvin Ibo Guengoer/GES Sportfoto)
Spain had dominated the match with 11 men on both teams within regulation time, so when the game finally went into overtime, there was a feeling that Spain would inevitably score the winning goal. But if there was one person on the pitch who didn’t deserve to be on the losing side, it was Martinez.
Martinez’s heroic performance in Qatar, Argentina’s penalty shootout victory over France four years ago, matched his performance against New Jersey, even if it wasn’t enough to lead his country to more history.
Martínez began inciting the crowd immediately after Fernández’s sending off, after jumping onto the grass to repel another Spanish attempt. However, even Argentina’s large keeper was unable to stop Torres’ powerful shot, and Martinez finally won on his 12th attempt.
5. Messi vs. Yamal final was a crushing defeat
Lionel Messi and Ramin Yamal face off in New Jersey (Image: Alex Livesey/Danehouse)
We’ve all seen that photo. Messi cradles baby Yamal, who was taken from him as a teenager when the Argentine magician had the world at his feet. This was the dream final that FIFA would have secretly been dreaming of months ago, a match between master and pupil, Messi and Yamal. Story-wise it was perfect.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Spain and Argentina engaged in tense sparring for more than two hours, with both sides on the sidelines for long periods of time, helpless.
The tournament cemented Messi’s reputation as the undisputed best player in the world, even at the age of 39, and was the tournament in which he bounced back against Cape Verde, Egypt and England to lead Argentina to a second successive World Cup final. However, their tournament ended here on a whimper. Argentina were virtually non-existent in attack and were never able to find a goal in regulation time. This was a meek surrender.
In Yamal’s case, there were flashes of genius that almost ensured he would enjoy a long and fruitful reign as one of football’s new icons. But like Messi, he too was on the periphery for much of this final. Indeed, it was such a tournament for Messi’s Barcelona successor.
This World Cup will be remembered for many things. Unfortunately, the final between Messi and Yamal will not be one of them.
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