How much did fans pay for World Cup final tickets?
Before the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, fans share how much they paid for tickets.
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — It only feels right for Spain to win the World Cup.
Apart from the first match against Cape Verde, they were the best team in the tournament. This was confirmed by their 1-0 victory over Argentina on Sunday, July 19th, as they clinched their second World Cup title.
Conceded 1 goal in 8 games. Goals were scored by seven different players, including Ferran Torres, who converted Nico Williams’ header in the 106th minute to score the winning goal. That’s the kind of dominance befitting a World Cup champion.
“Today we knew this was the final,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said. “And we wanted to win it.”
And even though it would have been poetic for Lionel Messi to end his World Cup career as champions, Argentina didn’t need to win a second consecutive title. If you don’t make a single shot, not just a shot on goal, but any type of shot, by the end of overtime, you won’t be able to win the AYSO tournament, let alone the World Cup.
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni said, “It’s disappointing.” “In the end, they deserved to win. That’s the reality. We need to accept that.”
Incidentally, the fact that the final went into extra time is not a reflection of Spain’s control of the match. La Roja were the better team throughout the match, but it wasn’t even close. Did I mention Argentina didn’t have a single shot on goal?
Throughout this World Cup, Spain’s midfield was extremely ferocious, keeping Argentina in check and strengthening La Roja’s attack. They took shots from everywhere on the field, and the only thing that kept it from being a laughing stock was a near-perfect game by Argentine goalie Emi “Dib” Martinez.
Martinez bristled multiple times. In the first 20 minutes, Lamine Yamal had two shots. A goal scored by Mikel Oyarzabal, Spain’s top scorer at this tournament, in the first half. Torres heads in from close range. Yamal’s free kick screams.
Coach de la Fuente said: “It was a very perfect game. If it wasn’t for the opponent’s goalkeeper, we could have won a bigger victory.”
Despite Argentina trying to taint the game like so many others at this World Cup, Spain also kept its cool. La Roja accepted the foul and continued playing, refusing to allow Argentina to focus on anything other than the title.
Argentina were in dangerous situations throughout the tournament, needing a late goal in every match in the knockout stages. And that luck finally ran out when Enzo Fernandes received the man of the match award, or rather, a cumulative red card for three minutes of stoppage time.
Spain almost ended the game three minutes later. Martinez blocked Merino’s shot in the sixth minute of stoppage time, but was unable to corral the ball. Williams converted the ball into the goal and Martinez scrambled to regain his position.
However, the goal was disallowed as Merino stepped on Nicolas Otamendi’s foot during the play.
But the best teams find a way to win, and Spain’s victory was inevitable. Torres won in style, sparking raucous celebrations on the bench and among the fans, including King Felipe VI.
“I feel a sense of pride, satisfaction and appreciation for these great people and great football players in history. It was an honor to work with them,” de la Fuente said.
The work isn’t finished. In the locker room after the game, the team was trying to figure out what to do next. After some discussion, they decided to play their next match in September.
“This team is relentless,” de la Fuente said.
In the end, it may become timeless. This is a young Spanish team. Yamal and the tournament’s young player, Pau Kvarsi, are both only 19 years old. They are already World Cup and European champions.
Spain is the best in the world. In this World Cup, and probably in other World Cups in the future.
Follow USA TODAY sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
