Spain secured their second World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Argentina, a match that saw Ferran Torres score the decisive goal in the 106th minute. The win sparked celebrations among the Spanish squad, who departed the New Jersey New York Stadium laden with trophies and memorabilia.
The post-match scene in the dressing room was one of jubilation, though brief, as the team had a scheduled flight back to Spain. Players were seen with various items, including replica World Cup trophies in Louis Vuitton trunks, Lego versions of the trophy, and commemorative rings. Rodrigo Hernández, who had previously experienced Spain’s first World Cup win as a 14-year-old, collected the main trophy, along with the award for the tournament’s best player. Pau Cubarsí received the young player award, and Unai Simón was honoured with the Golden Glove.
The celebrations included players cutting pieces from the net and gathering shirts, balls, and boots. Borja Iglesias was seen with a large red speaker playing music, while Lamine Yamal, after passing through anti-doping, appeared in orange sunglasses and multiple chains. Many players wore their medals, which were described as thick discs, and commemorative shirts bearing “Spain 26” on the back.
Before the final, Marc Cucurella reportedly buried a coin in the pitch, a gesture reminiscent of Joan Capdevila in 2010. Following the victory, Sergio Ramos brought the trophy back to the plinth for the new generation, having previously shown it to the stands after the semi-final. Nico Williams found his mother in the front row to hand her his medal, and Lamine Yamal shared an embrace with Lionel Messi, an image noted for its significance.
The match itself saw Spain dominate, with Ferran Torres’s goal being their 20th shot of the game. Argentina, in contrast, did not register a shot until the 115th minute and failed to have any on target throughout the entire 120 minutes. This performance led to some national newspapers in Argentina defending their team, citing national pride despite the loss. Headlines from Clarin, La Nacion, and Ole focused on the team’s effort and national pride.
Conversely, Spanish front pages were filled with joy. AS declared “The world is ours,” while El Periodico stated, “The world surrenders to Spain.” ABC highlighted Spain’s “invincible” status, noting their 38-game unbeaten run in international football. El Mundo proclaimed Spain to be “on top of the world,” with multiple papers calling them “double champions” and “superstars.”
The victory was attributed to the collective effort and the system implemented by coach Luis de la Fuente. His coaching journey began in the third tier with Deportivo Alavés, and after a period out of club management, he joined the Spanish federation’s youth system. He achieved success with the under-19s and under-21s, winning the European Championship with both, before leading the senior side to a European Championship and now the World Cup.
A notable moment of the celebration involved Marc Cucurella, who had promised to get a tattoo of Luis de la Fuente’s face if Spain won. The coach joked about the promise, stating that Cucurella had made a “bad mistake” but acknowledged that the players were “men of their word.” This commitment highlights the strong bond within the squad, with many players having worked with De la Fuente at junior levels, including Rodrigo Hernández, who was part of the Under-19 Euros winning team in 2015.
The match also saw moments of ill-discipline from Argentina. Enzo Fernandez received two yellow cards, one for dissent and another for a challenge on Pau Cubarsi. At full-time, Leandro Paredes was sent off for his reaction, and Nahuel Molina was involved in a confrontation with Spanish players. Despite these incidents, the focus remained on Spain’s triumph, a victory built over 51 days and culminating in New York.
The team’s flight back to Spain was scheduled for 11pm, indicating a swift return to continue their celebrations at home following their significant achievement.
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Source: theguardian.com
As Latest News UK's Sports Reporter, Hannah Whitfield reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name covering the county circuit and Team GB at two Commonwealth Games. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Loughborough University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Hannah lives in Bristol, where she plays club tennis and coaches a junior side. “Sport is at its best when you let the athletes tell the story.”