Spain vs Argentina

The World Cup final is upon us. Spain are in their first final since 2010, Argentina come into it having been here four years ago in Qatar...

Spain face Argentina this Sunday in New Jersey. Can Argentina become back to back world champions, or can Spain win their first World Cup since 2010?

There’s a lot to unpack about this fixture on Sunday evening. Lamine Yamal vs Lionel Messi, Lionel Scaloni vs Luis de la Fuente and most importantly Spain vs Argentina, a fixture we haven’t seen on a World Cup stage since 1966…

Spain’s run in the knockouts rounds:

Austria 3-0 win
Portugal 1-0 win
Belgium 2-1 win
France 2-0 win

Spain came into this World Cup with an unshakeable confidence, and rightly so. I think people have forgotten that they’re European Champions after their win against England in Berlin two years ago. Spain boast the best defensive record in the competition so far, having conceded 1 goal across the group stages and the knockouts, that goal was scored by De Ketelaere of Belgium.

The Spanish are like robots it’s a system, sort of similar to having 11 computers on the pitch, something that was even more apparent against Kylian Mbappe and his French side. A serious robust defence from Spain, saw France post an xG of 0.30, their lowest total in the whole tournament. An insane statistic, and actually the lowest total France have posted in a World Cup since records began in 1966.

If Spain win on Sunday, it’ll make them the current holders of the European Championship and the World Cup. Something only Spain themselves, Germany and France have done. Spain achieved this in 2008, 2010 and then went onto win the Euros again in 2012. A historic achievement which only they have done!

Key Players

Aymeric Laporte

The ever present in the heart of that Spanish defence. He has looked like a rolls-royce in what is probably going to be his last World Cup for Spain. A part of the defence that’s kept 6 clean sheets, Mr consistent posting only one below a 7 rating according to Fotmob. Laporte and Cubarsi compliment each other perfectly, Laporte wins the battles and Cubarsi mops it all up.

Mikel Oyarzabal

What else can we say about Mikel. He took A LOT of stick for his opening game performance against Cabo Verde, but I tell you what he’s responded. He’s scored 5 goals in the tournament and assisted once, his best game came against Austria. Scoring twice and showing that he definitely can lead that Spanish front 3. The man for a final, he’s scored in Copa del Rey finals and Euros finals. Can he add to that this Sunday? You wouldn’t bet against him.

Argentina’s run in the knockout rounds:

Cabo Verde 3-2 win
Egypt 3-2 win
Switzerland 3-1 win
England 2-1 win

Although they’ve conceded 7 goals in the World Cup, Argentina have scored the most. The argentines have scored 19 goals, that’s already 4 more goals than they scored in their entire 2022 World Cup campaign, which they went onto win in Qatar…

A win on Sunday would see Argentina join an elite club. Can they become back to back champions? Something only Italy (1934 & 1938) and Brazil (1958 & 1962) have accomplished. It does feel like something that Lionel Messi could do, which is scary. Considering the amount he has achieved in the game of football, is this his final peak…

Argentina boast a 100% win record in the World Cup, unlike Spain they have won all their games. It hasn’t always been so straight forward but they’ve managed to get the job done whenever there has been a question asked. Probably the biggest of questions was asked against England in the semi finals. A firey encounter which saw Argentina come out on top after going a goal down, after Anthony Gordon opened the scoring for England.

Key Players

Lionel Messi

Obviously, Leo Messi. I didn’t mention Lamine Yamal for Spain as a key player, well because it’s a bit obvious. But how can we ignore these Leo Messi statistics though…
8 goals, 4 assists, xG 5.3, 25 chances created & 8 big chances created. Carrying Argentina once more?

We don’t get to watch Messi as much anymore since his move to Inter Miami. But I always think about something I saw on Twitter in 2022 and again in 2026. Someone tweeted ‘It’s that time again where Lionel Messi shows everyone he is still the best in the world’.

Against England he didn’t score, but he assisted twice. The second of those assists was absolutely fantastic, weaker foot cross stood up towards the back post, an open goal for Martinez to send Argentina to the final.

Enzo Fernandez

The Chelsea man has been brilliant. He just grows for Argentina, his influence grows and grows. His passing has kept this Argentina side ticking over, scoring a massive goal in the semi final a whipping shot that flew past England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

A consistent goal threat from midfield, which I’m sure will be something Luis de la Fuente will be ensuring his players know all about.

Things you should know 🇦🇷 🏆 🇪🇸

• Spain are the first team in World Cup history to keep 6 clean sheets in one tournament

• Argentina have won their last 14 matches, their longest run in World Cup history

• Spain have won 8 consecutive knockout matches at major tournaments, that’s a European record

• Lionel Messi is 39 years old, and still the best player in the world…🐐

Lionel Scaloni vs Luis de la Fuente

It’s master vs the apprentice in the final

This will be the first time the two have faced off against each other, and what a place to do it, a World Cup final. In 2017, Lionel Scaloni enrolled into the Spanish Federation to complete his coaching badges, it was there he met current Spain boss Luis de la Fuente, who at the time was in charge of Spain’s u19 side.

Luis de la Fuente is aiming to become a World champion for the first time, Lionel Scaloni is aiming for back to back titles. That isn’t too bad for two managers who have never managed a single minute of top flight football between them.

There is genuine respect between the pair from their time working together. Scaloni heaped the praise on the Spain boss, calling him a “great guy’’ also explaining how it’s “a pleasure to see how he speaks, and carries himself’’ Luis De La Fuente responded by saying Scaloni is “a true master and great figure’’.

But who comes out on top?

Lamine Yamal vs Lionel Messi

The boys from La Masia. Barcelona through and through. And yes we all know about the infamous bath picture. Finally fate has brought them together on the biggest of stages. Both are absolutely no stranger to these types of occasions.

Lamine Yamal at the tender age of 19 has already played in UCL semi finals, European championship finals and now a World Cup final. By his own admission and standards, Yamal hasn’t had the best of World Cups but let’s not forget he was injured coming in this. He needed to be managed into the tournament after picking up an injury towards the end of the season at Barcelona. Completing his first 90 minutes against Portugal on the 6th July, he’s a constant threat is Lamine, and definitely someone who Argentina will be keeping a close eye on.

In an interview over the last few days, Leo Messi has described Lamine Yamal as ‘‘one of the worlds very best young players’’ after talking to Tom Brady about the infamous picture. Messi also went onto say he has been keeping a close eye on Lamine’s progress as he does play for the club he loves dearly. He also described the picture as ‘‘something crazy’’ later stating that ‘‘life is full of surprises’’.

Similar to Scaloni and De le Fuente, the two are facing off for the first time in their careers, and of course it would have to be a World Cup final, the only stage big enough to host 2 of the world’s biggest stars.

Messi vs Lamine comparison at 19 (Taken from The Metro)

Safe to say Lamine has had quite the start to his career already, many more appearances, goals, assists and international appearances. At the same age, the one big honour Messi holds over Lamine is a champions league winners medal, something Messi won in 2006 after Barcelona defeated Arsenal 2-1. Yamal has one more year to even that playing field however…

Primera Scout prediction

This has got all the attributes to be one of the best finals we could ever see, mainly for the things mentioned above, the reunions.

I am going to go 2-1 Spain. I just don’t think Argentina will have enough defensively to keep out Lamine Yamal and co. Spain won’t do an England, they aren’t going to drop off towards their own goalkeepers 6 yard box, if they get a chance they will take everything, something I genuinely believe Argentina won’t be able to live with.

As ever thanks so much for reading, enjoy the final!