Argentina came to survive. Spain came to play.
For 105 minutes, survival almost won.
The defending champions slowed the game down, broke Spain’s rhythm and committed fouls whenever the danger grew. It was ugly at times, but it nearly worked.
Read more: Soccermag
Emiliano Martínez was magnificent. He produced save after save and dragged Argentina towards the penalty shootout they desperately wanted.
In front of him, Argentina defended with everything they had. The problem was that Lionel Messi was left to feed on scraps at the other end.
This was billed as Messi against Lamine Yamal, the old king facing the young superstar. Instead, it became a battle between Argentina’s resistance and Spain’s refusal to yield.
READ: Spain dethrone Argentina to seize World Cup glory
Spain kept coming.
They moved Argentina from side to side, recycled possession and searched for the pass that had escaped them for most of the night. Even when the final became tense, scrappy and increasingly hostile, Spain trusted their football.
Argentina eventually pushed their luck too far.
Read more sports stories from AfricaPicks
Enzo Fernández’s second yellow card in stoppage time left them with 10 men, and Spain finally made the advantage count.
Just 37 seconds into the second period of extra time, Nico Williams headed Pedro Porro’s cross into the path of Ferran Torres, who smashed Spain into history.
The scoreline said 1-0. The match told a much bigger story.
Spain had 20 attempts. Argentina waited 117 minutes for their first. One team chased the trophy, while the other tried to outlast the clock.
This was also bigger than one final. Spain conceded only once in the entire tournament. Rodri led with authority, Pau Cubarsí played like a defender twice his age and Unai Simón stood behind a defence that gave almost nothing away.
ALSO: Unai Simón seals historic Golden Glove
Sixteen years after Andrés Iniesta delivered their first World Cup, Spain found another Barcelona hero in extra time.
Messi may have played his final World Cup match, and it ended in heartbreak. Argentina’s reign ended with it.
Spain are world champions again, and the best team has the trophy.
Picture: X/@premierleague
