SPAIN WERE WORTHY WINNERS IN 2026
The right team won.
And by team I mean a unified, telepathic ensemble.
Spain reminded us that the collective is greater than any individual. Having Lionel Messi, possibly the GOAT on your side, was not enough for Argentina. If the little magician has played his last game for Argentina, his performance was largely peripheral and uneventful, despite a final reminder of his lightning quick eye-feet coordination and footballing brain.
Nobody can complain about the second reign of Spain. La selección were the best outfit at the finals and improved as the tournament went on, peaking at the business end of the tournament.
They took more shots on goal (140) than any other team and were first for expected goals too (17.48). They scored 14, nowhere near England's 20, but only conceded one, in their 2-1 quarter final with Belgium.
Rodri, the worthy player of the tournament, made more passes than anyone (799). Second and third in the stats were teammates Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte. The Manchester City anchorman ran 96km during the tournament.
Yet while the European champions were one of the favourites going into the tournament, most of us thought France were a step ahead, which makes the Dallas semi-final the real showdown. Argentina tugged, niggled and fouled their way through the actual final, and despoiled what was left of their reputation with their violence and lack of respect after the final whistle, but it was clear the best two sides in the cup met in the previous round.
The flamboyant, flowing football of Les Bleus hid their shortcomings, Achilles' heels that the Spanish exposed. Like a lot of countries, France looked wonderfully impressive until they came up against a top side. And Spain were top of the tree.
In their semi-final, Spain looked so comfortable against the favourites they were almost in cruise control. Their spacing around the field looked textbook, their football almost effortless. They reminded us of the supremacy of controlling the game as the ball travels faster than any human being. Counter attacking is exciting to watch but it was not as effective as the possession game in 2026.
What was different from their somnolent 'passenaccio' of 2018 was a team spirit that had remained from Euro 2024, a determined belief in their system that had been distilled for years by coach Luis de la Fuente, who has worked his way up through the youth ranks.
Beyond Rodri and Lamine Yamal, the World Cup winners do not have any real stars. Marc Cucurella and Dani Olmo are very good players but do not trip off the lips like Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe or Cristiano Ronaldo. It does not matter - they got the job done and lifted the cup.
Their top scorer, 29-year-old Mikel Oyarazabal, came only seventh in the race for the Golden Boot and plays for Real Sociedad, hardly a giant of the club game.
Spain's strength lies in their teamwork. They know exactly what to do with and without the ball. France's high-octane attackers found their runs tracked, tackled and nullified by a very organised ensemble who never looked like losing. Spain's covering of space and pressing was watertight when the French had possession and once they won possession back they moved it around with confidence and precision.
The only points Spain dropped in the tournament were in their opening 0-0 draw with Cape Verde, which was the best time to fall short.
With Argentina's shenanigans at the final, the rest of the world was egging on the Spanish to take the crown. For the sake of football they did.
The next World Cup is mostly in Spain, where La Roja will be expected to win again.
(c) Sean O'Conor & Soccerphile