It may be a little studied, almost academic at times, but there’s no doubt that Spain have crafted their own version of the beautiful game.
Sadly, everything about Argentina’s performance was ugly. They pulled, they jostled, they provoked, they stamped, they pleaded; but how little did they play. No shots on target in 120 minutes of football is dismal.
It looked as if they had no plan at all other than to disrupt Spain and see if they could somehow make it all the way to penalties. One of the most unedifying scenes was Lionel Messi’s pitiful attempt to get Marc Cucurella sent off for saying something with his hand covering his mouth: the Spaniard had in fact merely put a couple of fingers to his lips.
Messi is better than that and he’s way better than his laboured effort in the final. Argentina’s performance was one of the worst I’ve ever seen, though they’ll presumably argue that by sheer tenacity and will they still found themselves in with a glimmer of a chance in the final few minutes.
Their performance after the final whistle was even worse. It was, remarkably, more lacking in class than what they produced during the game.
They took a low bar and slithered underneath it, seeking to spoil Spanish celebrations with petty, pathetic antagonism. Lionel Scaloni cried in the post-match press conference and walked out.
Few tears will have been shed in sympathy around the world. Argentina’s run to the final had several fortuitous twists and turns to it, as well as repeated reminders of Messi’s genius. But the truth is they probably overachieved here.
In my preview column, I said: ‘They have retained much of the same squad (from the last World Cup). Older may be wiser but I suspect also slightly slower and Leo’s stardust will be more sparingly sprinkled. I don’t see them retaining their crown.’ It was only Messi’s stardust that I slightly underestimated. To the victors though, the spoils. And the plaudits, the praise, and the thanks of true football fans all over the world.
Spain played exactly as we knew they would: with confident mastery of possession, with patience, and with a cohesive structure that gives them an assured sense of control.
It’s football as a form of geometry and they have schooled all their opponents in it. Does it lack a little dynamism at times? Perhaps. Midfield fluidity sometimes flounders in the final third where they have a periodic tendency to overcomplicate things.
The goal, when it finally came, showcased a little more directness. The finish from Ferran Torres was carefully calibrated, in keeping with Spain’s overall performance.
Lamine Yamal, or “Lamal” as commentator Peter Drury bizarrely and annoyingly referred to him throughout the entire match, never quite imposed his extraordinary talent on the game or the tournament. Still, it felt like a baton-passing moment.
Yamal, having just turned 19 during the World Cup, is the future. He has greater flexibility within the system when he plays for Barcelona.
At club level, we’re more likely to see him switching wings occasionally or drifting into the number 10 role to create more uncertainty among opposition defences. It would benefit Yamal and Spain to grant him a little more similar freedom for the national team. It now seems like a long time ago since I boarded a flight to Boston on the opening day of the tournament.
Boston hasn’t forgotten the Tartan Army and many fans from all over the globe are back home with great memories of a real festival of a football summer. Remembered too though will be the VAR and other technology controversies, the ‘dynamic’ pricing of tickets, and a not particularly beautiful corporatising of the game.
Kick off countdowns, hydration breaks, and a half-time show in the final that was less Super Bowl and more super dull. I think Justin Bieber almost got substituted halfway through his song.
Now it’s time for some rest, some sleep, and the ongoing mission to complete the sticker album. Spain will step out to defend their crown on home soil in four years’ time, co-hosting with Portugal and Morocco.
Messi is unlikely to be there, nor Ronaldo, nor Modric. Yamal will be. And Pau Cubarsi. And Pedri.
The future is bright for Spain, who will have another World Cup star added to their shirts after this triumph. FIFA have floated the idea of adding more teams. Hopefully Scotland will be there. For so many nations, the time will come to dream again.
