EAST RUTHERFORD : Ferran Torres scored a dramatic
extra-time winner as Spain defeated holders Argentina 1-0 to win the World Cup
on Sunday and shatter Lionel Messi’s dreams of a triumphant farewell to
football’s greatest stage, reports BSS.
Barcelona striker Torres lashed home a thumping finish in
the 106th minute to reward a dominant display by Spain against an
Argentina team who failed to register a single shot on target in 120 minutes.
A star-studded crowd of 80,663 that included US President
Donald Trump packed East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium to see if Argentina
captain Messi could crown his glittering career with a second World Cup
victory.
But the 39-year-old maestro—almost certainly playing in
his final World Cup game—was reduced to irrelevance as Spain took control early
on against an Argentina team who committed cynical fouls throughout.
The South Americans’ skulduggery ended with midfielder
Enzo Fernandez being sent off after a brutal challenge on Spain defender Pau
Cubarsi in stoppage time.
For long periods though it looked as if Argentina may
somehow hold on for a penalty shoot-out as Spain struggled to make the
breakthrough.
But after Nico Williams had a goal controversially
disallowed in extra-time, Spain struck.
A lofted cross to the back post by Pedro Porro found
Williams who nodded into the path of Torres to crash home the goal that
clinched Spain’s second World Cup title after their maiden 2010 triumph.
“Ultimately, the goal belongs to 47 million people—not
just me or the 26 players,” goal hero Torres said, referring to Spain’s
approximate population.
“At the end of the day, all finals are tough; when you’re
up against Messi, there’s a certain nervousness, but we always believed in our
football and in ourselves.”
There were ugly scenes after the final whistle as
Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes triggered a melee by grabbing Spain
defender Eric Garcia around the throat in a skirmish that saw Spanish
substitute Gavi thrown to the floor.
Messi meanwhile was seen with tears streaming down his
face after receiving his runners-up medal in a ceremony headed by Trump—who was
subjected to deafening boos and catcalls as he walked onto the pitch alongside
FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Trump and Infantino later presented the World Cup trophy
to Spain captain Rodri, the midfield general who had orchestrated La Roja’s
superb win.
“We have won everything, and that is wonderful,” Spain
coach Luis de la Fuente said of his team. “They are a generation of footballers
who are a source of pride for Spain.” Before Sunday’s final, many pundits had
predicted a technically inferior Argentina would seek to disrupt Spain’s smooth
game with cynicism.
There was an early sign of the South Americans’ cynical
gameplan early on when Alexis Mac Allister went flying in with a studs-up
challenge that struck Dani Olmo’s ankle.
Mac Allister escaped an early yellow card although after
Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic only awarded a foul.
Spain made their presence felt moments later though, with
Alex Baena poleaxing Messi with an elbow to the back that again escaped
sanction.
Argentina continued to test referee Vincic’s patience with
a series of niggly challenges, and Nicolas Tagliafico was lucky not to be
cautioned after raking Lamine Yamal’s calf in a clumsy challenge.
Eventually though Vincic did reach for a yellow card, with
Lisandro Martinez booked for a cynical challenge on Mikel Oyarzabal.
The final’s controversial half-time show featuring
Madonna, Shakira and Justin Bieber stretched to 27 minutes but did little to
upset Spain’s rhythm.
The Spanish piled on the pressure in a lopsided second
half as Argentina hung on grimly.
De la Fuente sent on Pedri and Ferran Torres for Fabian
Ruiz and Oyarzabal and the chances continued with Argentina in full siege mode.
Pedri and Cubarsi both lashed long-range shots that Emi
Martinez failed to grasp at the first attempt but somehow Argentina continued
to hold on.
The arrival of substitutes Williams and Mikel Merino gave
fresh life to Spain’s attacking momentum, and the onslaught continued.
Fernandez’s reckless red card left Argentina down to 10
men heading into extra-time.
Martinez had one last save deep in stoppage time when
Yamal’s superb whipped free-kick was clawed wide.
The Spanish dominance continued in extra-time, with
Williams almost opening the scoring with a glancing header that Martinez got
down well to save one-handed.
Moments later it looked as if Spain had made the
breakthrough when Williams slid a low finish into the net but referee Vincic
blew for a marginal foul on Nicolas Otamendi.
But the breakthrough came with Torres’s winner.
Argentina made a desperate last raid on Spain’s goal but La Roja held firm to seal victory.
