Spain 1-0 Argentina - Argentina Woeful and Spain Relentless as La Roja Win the World Cup

Spain Relentless to Defeat Pitiful Argentine Anti-Football

Pathetic. Insipid. Utterly bereft of ideas and totally against what we expect from this sport. No, I'm not on about the 2026 World Cup Final half-time show, I'm talking about Argentina's performance as Spain rightfully defeated them to win the World Cup.

Ferran Torres was the hero of an outstandingly tense final, one that didn't see Argentina have a single shot at goal until deep into extra-time. It ended up being a game of relentless Spanish attacking and desperate Argentine defending, but La Roja were the team who kept on the front foot and won the day in New York, USA.

Spain 1-0 Argentina as it Happened

We didn't have long to wait for the first big chance of the game to fall someone's way, and it was by way of the much-revowed teenage phenom Lamine Yamal. Some sharp Spanish play on the edge of Argentina's box between him and the in-form Mikel Oyarzabal saw the recently-turned 19-year-old aim a low effort on goal from close-ish range, but Aston Villa's Emi Martinez got down low to the soft shot in time.

A tasty pair of Argentine challenges followed in soon after. A traditional give-and-go between Pedro Porro and Oyarzabal saw the former make a trademark dash forward, but he was totally impeded by Alexis Mac Allister only for the referee to wave away the worthy protests. The Liverpool midfielder would clatter through Dani Olmo soon after, getting none of the ball with a clumsy attempt, but whilst this did get blown for it did not precede a yellow card. Not exactly helping the "fixed" allegations.

Just as I was beginning to fall asleep, Spain got themselves another chance through Oyarzabal. Play came from the left of their attack, with an in-field ball left well by Olmo for the Real Sociedad star, but his eventual left-footed drive was lacking in power and straight to Martinez. With half-time beckoning, Marc Cucurella had a speculative drive from distance with his favoured left peg, but dragged it wide as the interval curtain fell.

Halftime Score - Spain 0-0 Argentina

After an absolutely awful half-time show and an even-worse advert from the BBC, the second half got underway in New York with Alex Baena trying his luck from range, only to send it straight to Martinez.

Spain continued their general dominance, with a great ball forward eventually being fed to Oyarzabal on the edge. He sent it into the middle of the box for Fabian Ruiz, looking for a give-and-go, but the eventual return pass was swept away well by Substitute Nicolas Otamendi.

Dani Olmo was next to try his hand at an effort from range, getting onto the end of a central flick from Baena to spin an effort at Martinez. It was, once again, too close too the Argentine to make a difference, but the Aston Villa stopper did spill the effort - that had a few of the Spanish players hoping briefly for a surprise opener.

After Nicolas Tagliafico carelessly gave away a corner, Nicolas Otamendi cleared the initial Yamal delivery straight back to the teenager to recycle into a good right-footed cross for substitute and Barcelona colleague Ferran Torres, who's firm header had Martinez concerned briefly but, again, it was straight at him. By the way - not one Argentine shot of any form by this point, 68 minutes in.

And AGAIN Martinez was made to sweat in the midst of a pitiful Argentine performance as Yamal caused some chaos on the right-wing, with his eventual cross being thwarted by another injury-enforced change in Facundo Medina (for Cristian Romero). This eventually made it's way to the pushed-up centre-back, Pau Cubarsi, who let rip with a great strike from range that forced Martinez into a good stop before denying Yamal of a follow-up.

Rodri, the 'Clutch King' of Manchester City and one-time Balon d'Or winner, had dictated midfield brilliantly for Spain throughout the affair, and looked for a trademark clutch winner from distance with mere minutes on the clock, but his standard-issue right-footed drive was high and wide of the target.

With extra-time beckoning, and with Argentina STILL having not had a single shot all game, their extra half-hour of play would be made incredibly more difficult as Enzo Fernandez got himself sent off. It was needless, high, raking challenge up the leg of Pau Cubarsi with the Chelsea wantaway already on a yellow card.

Leandro Paredes, a half-time substitute also should have gone as well deep into stoppage time. He gave away a free-kick in a very dangerous area, not too far outside of the area and should have seen himself get a second yellow, in truth. Yamal stepped up, with a late World Cup win well within his shooting range, but Martinez saved the shot and the game went into extra-time.

Full-time Score - Spain 0-0 Argentina

Now fighting with a numerical advantage and the absolute dominance of the whole 90 minutes that came before, Spain would keep their control as extra-time started. They almost finally broke the deadlock through substitute Nico Williams, who guided Pedri's clip forward on goal for Martinez to prevent.

The ball did finally go into somebody's net with six minutes of the extra allotted elapsed. Mikel Merino guided a lacking flick on target, which Martinez flapped away into the path of Williams who guided it home with aplomb. However, Merino was judged to have stood on the foot of Otamendi in the meantime, and the goal was ruled out for a (rather soft) foul.

Merino, the perennial super-sub, came inches away from clinching an opener with only few remaining of the fist bonus half, with Marc Cucurella sending a perfect cross onto the Arsenal star's bonce in the box, but the big man guided it barely wide of the mark.

Halftime in E.T. - Spain 0-0 Argentina

FINALLY we saw a goal as the second half of extra-time. A dime of a cross from the right-hand side was headed down brilliantly by Williams into the path of fellow sub Torres, and the Barcelona man lashed home an outstanding powerful effort to finally, mercifully break the deadlock of the 2026 World Cup Final against Argentina's ten men.

Torres had the ball in the back of the net again with around ten minutes to go, slipping in behind to latch onto a great ball from Yamal, but his shoulder was offside in the build-up. With Argentina's ten men reeling, Williams had another great chance in off of the left-flank in the area, but fell over his own feet in comical fashion to spoil it.

Tottenham new boy Marcos Senesi came from the bench with a chance to steal a shocking goal in the final minute of extra-time, throwing himself at a desperate cross from the right-hand side with minutes left, but he could only spur it wide of the right-hand post.

But alas, a game that felt like it took an eon to finish finally did - Argentina's awful performance did not come with a surprise reward, and Spain are once again champions of the world!

Full-time A.E.T - Spain 1-0 Argentina

Spain 2026 World Cup Final Player Ratings

• Unai Simon - 6 - Could have had a lie down.

• Pedro Porro - 7 - Industrious on the right.

• Pau Cubarsi - 7 - Outstanding young talent. Thwarted things.

• Aymeric Laporte - 7 - Solid.

• Marc Cucurella - 7 - Clinical crosses and three lungs attached.

• Rodri (C) - 8 - The general. The juggernaut. The dictator. Argentina didn't lay a glove on him.

• Fabian Ruiz - 6 - He was alright, I suppose.

• Dani Olmo - 6 - Class between the lines, without the zip needed.

• Alex Baena - 7 - Teasing threat from the left flank.

• Lamine Yamal - 7 - A quiet first half and a dangerous second.

• Mikel Oyarzabal - 6 - Some good bits of play and some chances he should have finished.

Substitutes

• Ferran Torres (62') - 8 - A super-sub written into World Cup, and Spanish, folklore forever.

• Pedri (62') - 7 - Ticked things over very nicely indeed.

• Mikel Merino (75') - 7 - Came very close to working his super-sub magic.

• Nico Williams (75') - 8 - A MASSIVE threat off the bench, and assisted the winner.

• Eric Garcia (99') - 7 - Kept a quiet Messi quieter still.

• Martin Zubimendi (99') - 7 - Took hold of Rodri's reins nicely.

Argentina 2026 World Cup Final Player Ratings

• Emi Martinez - 8 - The only Argentine to put any effort in.

• Gonzalo Montiel - 5 - Who?

• Cristian Romero 🟨 (from the bench) - 7 - Booked from the bench. A few key tackles.

• Lisandro Martinez 🟨 - 5 - Did okay-ish, went off injured.

• Nicolas Tagliafico - 8 - Pretty damn good on the left.

• Enzo Fernandez 🟥 - 3 - What on earth was he thinking?!

• Alexis Mac Allister 🟨 - 5 - No involvement. But few mistakes.

• Rodrigo De Paul - 6 - Yeah, he was playing.

• Nicolas Gonzalez - 5 - Absent.

• Julian Alvarez - 5 - A few strides up, but largely quiet.

• Lionel Messi (C) - 4 - Completely silent throughout.

Substitutes

• Nicolas Otamendi (44') - 7 - Veteran's instincts from the bench.

• Leandro Paredes 🟨 (HT) - 4 - A minor miracle that he didn't get sent off

• Nahuel Molina (58') - 6 - He's is rather quick, isn't he?

• Facundo Medina (70') - 7 - Solid display as Argentina held on for dear life.

• Giuliano Simeone (70') - 5 - Little bastard, but a clever little bastard at that. Didn't do much (besides being a little bastard.)

• Marcos Senesi (102') - 4 - Missed a shock huge chance, and that was about it. Harsh, sure, but we didn't have much to go off of.

2026 World Cup Final Man of the Match - Emi Martinez

Emiliano Martínez vs Spain pic.twitter.com/5sjRGe5nox

— Hater Report (@HaterReport) July 19, 2026

They may have been defeated and he may not have lifted a second-straight World Cup, but Emi Martinez is the only player in the blue-and-white of Argentina who can keep his head high without doubt.

He was helpless to what eventually proved to be the opener and the winner, and was the only thing standing between Argentina and an absolute battering in New York.

But shout-outs are reserved for Rodri, Ferran Torres, Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal of the winning La Roja.

Bad Day at the Office - ALL of Argentina apart from a few

mds o MORTAL que o Enzo Fernández deu no jogador da Espanha… foi muito bem expulso pqp#ESPxARG pic.twitter.com/sPDwVJBSTq

— ☙ (@layzhis) July 19, 2026

Yes, a touch dramatic perhaps but exactly what is deserved after that utter anti-football tripe.

The ones we will spare are Otamendi, Martinez, Tagliafico, Medina, Molina and Senesi. Literally everyone else, manager included and Messi as well? Hang your heads in bloody shame.

A shameful, shameful display of poor sportsmanship, dirty fouls, petulant complaining and utterly pathetic football. A win for Spain tonight was a win for football.

Yes, I'm English. Why do you ask?