It might be premature, with confetti still drifting across the New Jersey evening, to deliver a definitive verdict. That clarity will only emerge once the dust has truly settled, when recollections have had time to crystallize, and when the ripple effects of pivotal decisions become apparent. Still, let us attempt to gauge where this tournament, […]
Continue ReadingThe World Cup final grew contentious after extra time as Spain claimed the title. Here is a frame-by-frame account of what unfolded. The match is over… or is it? When referee Slavko Vincic sounds the final whistle, Spain’s substitutes rush onto the field to celebrate winning the World Cup with their teammates. Molina throws the […]
Continue ReadingAppearing on football’s biggest platform for perhaps the final time, Lionel Messi looked poised to deliver one last iconic moment in this tournament decider. But as the sun slipped below the west stand at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, it grew increasingly apparent that Argentina had lost the spark that had carried them […]
Continue Reading1 Argentina attempt to go all the way using physical tactics As a dull first half neared its end, a troubling thought emerged: could the entertainment during the interval surpass the match itself? It was a grind. Argentina were unable to replicate Spain’s possession-based style, but they had methods to even things out. Scaloni’s team […]
Continue ReadingSpain Unai Simón Reacted swiftly to deal with the danger following Cubarsí’s early mistake. Otherwise had a very comfortable evening. 7 Pedro Porro Shows no traces of someone who was fighting the drop just a few weeks back. Delivered another exceptional performance. 8 Pau Cubarsí Recovered well from his initial slip and was flawless thereafter. […]
Continue ReadingMeet the match official Slavko Vincic will become the first referee from Slovenia to take charge of a World Cup final. He previously officiated the 2024 Champions League final at Wembley, where Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0, and handled Spain’s 2-1 victory over France in the semi-finals of Euro 2024. The 46-year-old’s World Cup […]
Continue ReadingThe World Cup showpiece will pit the title holders from South America and Europe against each other for the first time. Argentina and Spain occupy the top two spots in FIFA’s men’s global rankings. Opta’s predictive model identified Luis de la Fuente’s team as the leading contender to lift the trophy, with Sunday’s opponents rated […]
Continue ReadingSpain’s manager Luis de la Fuente has ruled out deploying a dedicated marker on Lionel Messi during the World Cup final, despite the Argentine captain’s staggering tally of eight goals and four assists in the tournament and a personal lesson that hints otherwise. Ahead of Sunday’s showpiece in New Jersey, De la Fuente recalled his […]
Continue ReadingDuring the 37-minute stretch where England first seized the lead against Argentina and then surrendered it, they managed to hold the ball for just 12 percent of the time. It’s safe to say the World Cup final will present an entirely different kind of test against Spain. The Spanish don’t share that deep-seated English impulse […]
Continue ReadingSpain appear invincible. Their 2-0 win over France extended their run without a defeat in regular or extra time to 37 games, a streak that Opta noted equals the longest ever by a European side. That said, Spain were beaten in the 2025 Nations League final by Portugal in a penalty shootout. This undefeated sequence […]
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