“The greatest team of the 21st century”: the international press paid tribute to Spain and thanked them for “saving football” by winning the World Cup on Sunday against Argentines criticized for their behavior.
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“The new kings,” headlines the French sports newspaper l’Equipe, excited about what is already “the greatest team of the 21st century,” with their three European Championships (2008, 2012, 2024) and two World Cups (2010 and 2026).
Dominant throughout the match, La Roja was held back until the second overtime by a practically harmless Albiceleste, which took its first shot on goal at the 117th minute.
Playing rough beyond what was allowed, as reflected by the expulsion of Enzo Fernández (90+3), Messi’s side did not clean up its image, and rather got involved in some scuffles after the match.
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“On a New York afternoon, like a worm in the middle of the Big Apple, Argentina finally paid for trying to turn a football match into a street brawl,” criticized the British tabloid The Sun, which celebrated the outcome as a “fairy tale.”
The English press took up that caustic tone: “cynical tactics,” pointed out The Guardian, while The Daily Mail attacked some Argentines who “lost their heads” at the end of the match, with Leandro Paredes leading, prominently shown pushing an opponent by the neck.
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“Football 1-Criminals 0. It took overtime to achieve it but, thank God, it was done. Sport prevailed (…) Anything else would have felt like a crime,” roared The Telegraph.
“The destructiveness of Argentina was punished,” “Messi was left without a triumphant exit,” highlighted the Swiss German newspaper Tages-Anzeiger.
At home, the media were equally euphoric in celebrating the Spanish victory. “The Kings of all time!!!“, exclaimed the sports newspaper Marca on its website alongside a photo of the Spanish national team.
“End of the dream,” titled the Argentine newspaper La Nación. “The Argentine team fought until the end but never managed to impose their game,” it added.
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Page 12 was harsher, criticizing a “very bad match” by the Albiceleste that was saved thanks to the great performance of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
In Italy, the Gazzetta Dello Sport emphasized La Roja’s total dominance: “20 shots against two (…) this figure illustrates one of the most deserved victories in World Cup finals.”
“On the football level, the final was very disappointing,” summarized the German newspaper Bild, criticizing the lack of Argentine attack.
Between hydration breaks turned into commercial breaks, and the omnipresence of President Donald Trump, who delayed on the podium while the Spaniards lifted the trophy, the World Cup has clearly been one of excess.
And yet, it ended with “probably the worst World Cup final ever remembered,” considered ESPN, a reference in the sports press in the United States.
SPORTS
With AFP
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