Spain celebrated their second World Cup triumph with replica trophies, a distinctive red speaker, and a tattoo bet, following their 1-0 victory over Argentina. The celebrations in the dressing room at the New Jersey New York Stadium were brief, as the team had a flight scheduled to return to Spain.
The winning goal was scored by Ferran Torres. Rodrigo Hernández, who received the award for the tournament’s best player, collected the main trophy. He was among the last players to leave the dressing room, needing assistance to carry the various items.
Each Spain player received a replica of the World Cup in a Louis Vuitton trophy trunk, along with a Lego version. Pau Cubarsí was recognised with the young player award, while Unai Simón received the Golden Glove. Players also cut pieces from the net, and were given rings in an NBA style.
Before the final began, Marc Cucurella buried a coin in the pitch, a gesture reminiscent of Joan Capdevila in 2010. After the victory, Sergio Ramos brought the trophy back to the plinth for the new generation to collect. Players like Borja Iglesias and Lamine Yamal were noted for their reluctance to shake hands with Donald Trump before Rodri lifted the trophy.
Nico Williams found his mother in the front row to give her his medal. Lamine Yamal embraced Lionel Messi, who stood for the young player. Actor Javier Bardem was seen hugging Iglesias. Ferran Torres spoke of a “great liberation” after the match.
In the dressing room, which Cucurella noted was the same one used for last year’s Club World Cup, champagne was opened. Iglesias was seen carrying a large bag and a distinctive red speaker, playing music as the team prepared to depart. Lamine Yamal, after anti-doping, emerged wearing orange sunglasses and multiple chains.
Match Dominance and Argentine Reaction
The final match saw Spain dominate, with Ferran Torres’s goal being their shot of the game. Argentina did not manage a shot until the 115th minute and had no efforts on target throughout the entire 120 minutes. This performance led to comments from the Spain camp that they had given Argentina “a battering.”
During the match, Enzo Fernandez received two yellow cards, one for dissent and another for a challenge on Pau Cubarsí, leading to his sending off. After the final whistle, Leandro Paredes was also shown a red card for his angry reaction, and Nahuel Molina confronted Spain players.
Despite the loss, Argentina’s national media defended their team. Clarin featured a tearful image of Messi with the headline, “They gave it their all, nothing to blame them for.” La Nacion echoed this sentiment, stating, “Argentina gave it their all – and they’re a source of national pride.” Ole used the headline, “May they be eternal,” also with a tearful image of Messi.
Triumph of a System
In Spain, newspapers celebrated the victory with joy. AS declared, “The world is ours,” attributing the win to “absolute justice.” El Periodico stated, “The world surrenders to Spain,” while ABC called Spain “invincible,” noting their unbeaten run in international football. El Mundo proclaimed Spain was “on top of the world,” with multiple papers referring to them as “double champions” and “superstars.”
The victory is also seen as a triumph for coach Luis de la Fuente and his system. His coaching career began at Deportivo Alavés in the third tier, where he managed for games. After a period out of club management, he joined the Spanish federation, coaching the under-17s, and winning the European Championship with the under-19s and under-21s, before leading the senior side to both the European Championship and the World Cup.
The team’s journey to this victory spanned days, culminating in their success in New York. The team’s insatiable desire for success was highlighted by De la Fuente, who, when asked what was left to win, responded, “the next game in September.”
Cucurella, meanwhile, faced a personal challenge, having promised to get a tattoo of De la Fuente’s face if Spain won the World Cup. The coach joked about the situation, stating, “I said: ‘You made a bad mistake’,” but added that his players are “men of their word.”
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Source: theguardian.com
Lucy Ashby is a Sports Reporter at NewsGB. She reported on the county circuit and Team GB. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Durham University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Durham, she plays club cricket and follows distance running. “The best sport reporting starts by listening.”
