VIVA ESPANA! Brilliant Spain overwhelm dismal Argentina to win the World Cup for second time before fight breaks out after final whistle

Finally, justice was done at MetLife Stadium. The one team who came to play football won against the kings of anti-football.

Ferren Torres was Spain’s hero even if it needed extra time to see off Lionel Messi and Co as holders Argentina lost their grip on the World Cup trophy.

It was no more than Spain deserved against the ten men of Argentina who did not manage a single shot on target and also had Enzo Fernandez sent off.

But this time their spoiling tactics failed as they overwhelmed by Spain who were deserved winners as the European champions now rule the world.

And after the final whistle, Leandro Paredes showed his class by swinging punches towards the celebrating Spain players.

The Argentines were stubborn defensively, but offered nothing going forward, with Ferran Torres finally breaking their resistance in extra time. That goal came after Enzo Fernandez was shown red for a reckless tackle while already on a card.

The pre-match show - complete with

boxing

announcer Bruce Buffer getting ready to rumble, music, a light show and Tom Cruise - made it feel like the football was a bit of an after thought.

Movie star Cruise gave us the Hollywood schmaltz about the World Cup being a long journey, 48 teams battling it out over the course of 30 days to get to the final.

Ultimately, FIFA got what they wanted with their new tennis-style seedings system setting up a final between

world

champions Argentina and reigning European champions Spain.

Who cares if kick-off was five minutes late? Clearly FIFA don’t. They have got other things in the schedule. This felt like it was about showbiz as much as football.

We needed

Lionel Messi

or Lamine Yamal to produce some magic on the pitch to remind us they are supposed to be the real stars of the show. Frankly, neither really delivered under the searing hot sun beating down on MetLife Stadium as the game struggled to come to life.

This World Cup has produced some classic games, like Argentina’s fightback against Egypt or Spain’s semi final demolition of France.

Sadly, this did not really live up to those standards. Spain did pass and probe as their midfield kingpin Rodri ran the game as he dictated and looked for openings.

Messi was back to playing walking football as it felt like Argentina were like a tiger waiting to pounce. They have become a “moments” team.

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The first big sight of goal came the way of Spain superstar Lamine Yamal who was denied at close range by Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez.

It was a real game of cat and mouse as both sides were feeling each other out, although Spain always felt more in control and the more likely to create chances with Marc Cucurella overlapping down the left and Dani Omol causing problems.

Argentina tried to stop them the best way they know how. Alexis Mac Allister scythed down Omol and was very lucky not to be booked.

Spain forward Mikel Oyarzabal saw his effort saved by Martinez before Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic finally cracked and booked Lisandro Martinez.

Argentina defender Martinez went off injured fairly soon afterwards to be replaced by Nicolas Otamendi. That felt like a significant blow to Argentina just before half time.

The stadium was then transformed for a choreographed show but, by the time they had rolled out a multicoloured sheet to cover the pitch, it was time to put it away again.

Argentina made another change at half time as Leandro Paredes for Nico Gonzalez to try and buck the trend of Spain’s possession. But the second half followed a similar pattern.

Finally, Spain really turned the screw and began to dominate as they pinned Argentina back. Rather like against England, Argentina were relying on grit, mentality and experience to stay in the contest. Mind you, they have plenty of that.

But that elite mentality was sorely lacking in injury time when Enzo Fernandez, already on a yellow for dissent, flew into Pau Cubarsi leaving the referee no choice but to show him a second caution and a red card.

Spain believed they had opened the scoring in the first half of extra time, but Nico Williams' goal was ruled out for a Mikel Merino foul in the build up.

But they did finally break the Argentine resistance in the second half of extra time when Torres was on hand to smash his strike into the back of Martinez's net.

The class of 2026 now join the team of 2010 as Spain's second champions of the world.

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