Spain and Argentina they meet in the final World Cup in football, which kicks off at 21 p.m. on Sunday (July 19) at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Argentina is a three-time world champion and defending champion. Spain was once on top of the world after the 2010 championship in South Africa and is the current European champion.
Spanish Armada
Spain played its best game when it was most needed - in the semi-finals. Luis de la Fuente's men showed the kind of game that graced them during the 2024 European Championship when they dominated to claim the European throne.
The most deserving of such a Red Fury game was captain Rodri, who after a long time played a game that earned him the Ballon d'Or in 2024. After becoming the best footballer in the world, he tore his anterior cruciate ligaments and has seen a decline in his performances ever since. However, against France, he was the old one again – the main option for solving Tricolor's pressing and the distributor of the ball towards the final third. On the other hand, defensively he closed the corridors through which Michael Olise most often played his teammates.
Once again the right side of the Spanish attack, where Lamin Jamal and Pedro Poro attacked, was key to the attacking actions. Both goals came because of actions on that side.
Photo: AP Photo/Ashley LandisPedro Poro
Spain also played compactly in the defensive aspect, as it did during the whole tournament - it limited France to only four shots on goal and kept the net. Thus, the goal conceded by Belgium will remain the only one conceded by Spain until the final match.
Argentine perseverance
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made changes to the starting line-up in the semi-finals. After two unsuccessful experiments and a game without a winger in the starting 11, he decided to return the winger Giuliano Simeone, who is extremely responsible defensively. Thus, Scalloni made it difficult for the English to distribute the ball and made the defensive phase of the game easier for the entire team, which guarded Lionel Messi for 90 minutes.
Later, the Argentine scored with changes. As many times at the World Cup, it proved that timely and quality changes can change the rhythm of the game. With the introduction of another winger, Nick Gonzalez, Scalloni gained directness, and later with the changes of defenders and stoppers, he also gained freshness that helped Argentina's constant attacks.
What will the final look like?
Spanish coach Luis de la Fuente will have all players at his disposal. After the semi-final match, no changes are expected in the lineup. The only questionable place is the left wing, where Alex Baena settled. He is by far the weakest point of the Spanish team, but according to Fuente's actions so far, it does not seem that he will be replaced. First, because Nick Williams is still plagued by injury.
Photo: AP Photo/Julio CortezAlex Baena
Argentinian coach Lionel Scaloni, like Fuente, will most likely present the same lineup as in the semi-final match. The only dilemma he will probably have is with Nick Gonzalez, who introduced a change of rhythm in the semi-final against the English, but by placing him in the first line-up, he would probably remove Leandro Paredes, who during the World Cup brought aggressiveness and stability in the midfield. Therefore, the question is whether Scalloni will want to further weaken the midfield, because it is precisely the biggest strength that Spain has at its disposal.
During the knockout phase, Argentina showed that it is ready to suffer and that it rises in the finish of the match. So far, the Argentines have woken up four times in the middle of the second half. It's no accident.
Where is Argentina vulnerable?
Mark Kukurelja could be very important in the final match. Argentina is vulnerable on the right defensive side because Lionel Messi plays in that area, who is defensively passive. If Scalloni decides to start Simeone on the right wing again, he could stop the Spanish defender to some extent.
Argentina's defensive setup on the left side will be extremely important. Lamin Jamal, supported by Pedro Poro, will attack the left flank of the Argentine defense. Argentinians will probably choose to defend Jamal with midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who will assist the Argentine left back.
The World Cup final will also be specific in that Argentina's captain Lionel Messi will probably play the last game at the World Cup, who at the age of 39 led the Gauchos to the second consecutive final with eight goals and four assists. It will be interesting to see how Fuente approaches Messi and whether he makes tactical adjustments, such as putting Pedro on the left wing, to stop him.
Photo: AP Photo/Rebecca BlackwellAll of Argentina plays for Messi.
Judging criteria
Argentina performed aggressively in the semi-finals. The referee's criteria worked in their favor since the referee Ismail Elfat was very lenient in handing out cards. It is assumed that the Gauchos will have the desire to impose an aggressive tempo in the finals as well. A particularly aggressive approach is expected towards Lamin Jamal, who is the main star of Spain, just as Jude Bellingham was under special attack during the semi-finals.
The final will be refereed by the Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić, for whom it will be the last match of his career. Vinčić is a European judge who is much stricter when it comes to controversies surrounding his decisions in relation to Elfat. That's why the Argentinians can be in trouble if Vinčić decides to hand out cards due to objections. In addition, the Slovenian belongs to the European style of refereeing, so he will surely allow Argentina's aggressive game less.
Vinčić is connected to an affair from 2020 when, during the corona virus pandemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he was detained in a group of 35 people who were accused of elite prostitution and drug trafficking. He was acquitted, and UEFA and FIFA did not treat this case separately.
Historical and other tidbits
The interesting thing that connects the coaches of Spain and Argentina is that Luis de la Fuente was one of Lionel Scaloni's football instructors during his education at the coaching school of the Spanish Football Association.
A historical overview of Sunday's final indicates that Argentina has the opportunity to become the third national team to defend the throne of world champions. So far, it has been done by Italy, which won the World Cup in 1934 and 1938, and Brazil, which was champion with Pele and Garrincha in 1958 and 1962.
After 1930 and the first World Cup, two countries with the same official language will meet again. Uruguay and Argentina played in Montevideo 96 years ago, and then the common language was Spanish, which will be the same now.
According to bookmakers, Spain is the favorite to win this match - they are given a 60 percent chance of victory, compared to 40 percent for Argentina. The Red Fury is certainly the favorite in this match, but victory over Argentina will not be an easy task for the Piraeus team, as the Gauchos have shown that they are capable of winning from awkward positions even at the end of the match.
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