Two things we liked, two we didn't like as Spain edge World Cup win

For 105 minutes, Emiliano Martínez stood between Spain and a goal that seemed increasingly inevitable, producing a string of saves that kept Argentina's hopes alive despite their near-total inability to threaten at the other end.

Everything changed in stoppage time at the end of regular play when Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card for a challenge on Pau Cubarsí, leaving Argentina to face the additional 30 minutes a man short.

Ferran Torres needed only seconds of the second extra-time period to settle matters, finishing from close range after Nico Williams headed Pedro Porro's cross back across goal. Argentina's defence of their world title ended without mustering a single shot on target during the 90 minutes of regulation.

Two Things We Liked

Emiliano Martínez's one-man resistance

The Argentina goalkeeper produced a display that deserved better than a losing medal, making 11 interventions across the match and repeatedly denying Spain when goals seemed certain.

His save from Nico Williams's header in the 94th minute, diving to his right with extraordinary reflexes, stood as perhaps the intervention of the tournament.

He tipped away Lamine Yamal's curling free kick late in regulation, held Aymeric Laporte's close-range header at 81', and parried powerful strikes from Nico Williams and Pau Cubarsí that could easily have nestled in the net.

That Spain needed extra time to beat ten men owed everything to Martínez's refusal to yield.

Ferran Torres's decisive contribution from the bench

Introduced in the 62nd minute, Torres provided exactly the cutting edge Spain's patient approach required. His movement troubled Argentina's tiring defence, and when Nico Williams nodded Porro's cross back across goal at 106', Torres arrived unmarked to finish first-time with his left foot.

The substitute also had a header saved and saw another goal correctly ruled out for offside at 114', but by then Spain were already protecting the lead his composure had secured. Luis De la Fuente Castillo's decision to introduce him proved the match-winning intervention.

Dazn Media

Two Things We Didn't Like

Enzo Fernández's costly indiscipline

Argentina's numerical disadvantage for the entire extra-time period stemmed directly from Fernández's failure to manage himself across the 90 minutes.

His first yellow at 82' came for simulation or dissent, and his second followed a reckless challenge on Cubarsí at 90+3' that left the young defender requiring treatment after being sent tumbling.

Forced to defend with ten men against Spain's relentless pressure, Argentina could not maintain the resistance that Martínez had made possible. The red card was Argentina's first of the tournament, and it arrived at the worst possible moment.

Argentina's invisible attack

Not until the second period of extra time did Argentina register a shot on target, a remarkable attacking failure in a World Cup Final.

Across the full match, they managed only two shots, with Lionel Messi's blocked effort at 117' and Giuliano Simeone's volley over the bar representing their sum total.

Messi had just 54 touches compared to Rodri's 116, starved of the ball by Spain's territorial dominance and closely marked whenever he did receive it.

Julián Álvarez was withdrawn for a defender at 102' having created nothing, and the absence of any genuine counterattacking threat meant Argentina were always defending the inevitable.

Dazn Media

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