Spain’s World Cup victory over Argentina is a triumph of the Spanish style and their commitment to football possession. football news

It wasn’t the thrilling final of four years ago, or even the carefree goal-fest of the previous evening, but Spain still deserve huge credit for beating Argentina in one of the more one-sided World Cup finals in memory. It was total dominance.

Ferran Torres scored the winner from his twentieth shot of the match – and every one of them came from Spain. They made another 400 passes in Argentina’s half before a frustrated Enzo Fernandez reduced his team to 10 men.

While it was billed as Lionel Messi’s grand exit, his glorious swansong, the legendary No. 10 was also watching the game from the stands. He was a passenger until Argentina tried late on and failed to equalise.

They went off the pitch. Spain showed that they are the best team in this World Cup by defeating France in the semi-finals. In seeing off Argentina and keeping another clean sheet, their control over the opposition indicated what sets them apart.

Of course, a goalless draw in their opener with Cape Verde was an inauspicious start. But even that performance, for which neither Lamine Yamal nor Nico Williams was fit to start, featured a passing game that proved unmatched.

Of this, Spain was in possession of 74 percent. Luis de la Fuente’s side had more possession in all eight of their matches at this World Cup. Keeping the ball proved an incredibly effective defensive weapon. They conceded only one goal in the entire tournament.

Rodri provided most of the control in midfield, with Aymeric Laporte playing a key role behind him in defence. But while Rodri was named player of the tournament, just as he was at Euro 2024, Spain’s success cannot be explained by any one person.

“The Spain manager sent off Laporte and Rodri in the 0-0 draw,” said Sky Sports’ Gary Neville ITV After the game “I think it’s incredible. You talk about the bravery of the substitutions in the match. They are probably the two most influential players in Spain with that clean sheet.”

But De La Fuente has depth at his disposal. Eric Garcia arrives to join his Barcelona team-mate Pau Cubersi, winner of the young player award. Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi is introduced. David Raya is not needed as Unai Simon takes the Golden Glove.

Incredibly, Simon made fewer saves in the entire World Cup final than Amy Martinez. France captain Kylian Mbappe was involved in as many goals on his own Spain scored a total of goals.

It’s ironic that in a tournament lit up by goals from the game’s superstars, the World Cup’s individual accolades all end up going to Spain players who haven’t scored a single goal between them.

Neville added: “What they have is the best team, the best collective. And the best system of the game. That comes most in international football when you’re playing in 35 degree heat every four days. Technically and tactically, they’re outstanding.

“Possession wins this World Cup.”

What a testament to their commitment to Spanish football and their style of play. It hasn’t been sunshine and rainbows since winning the World Cup for the first time in 2010. The win over Austria was their first World Cup knockout win in 16 years.

But Spain have never wavered from the way they play, with De La Fuente’s appointment itself proving that they still believed that this Spanish style had to be part of the solution rather than the problem. A new generation has emerged with the same old principles.

Now, this second World Cup win sits alongside that 2010 win and three European championships in the last 18 years, all these glories serving as a testament to Spanish football. Another win for the positional game, for the passing game.

“Everyone was impressed with that approach to football and it came again at a moment when people were thinking maybe we were going more direct, that we were trying to change the style,” added Neville. “But the Spanish way won.”

It was certainly too much for Argentina. Speaking afterwards, Mikel Merino cited Spain’s unity as their superpower but many other teams, including their final opponents, had that quality in spades. What Spain had was more important.

“We knew we were the best team in terms of football,” added Marino. After six weeks and a total of 104 matches in the biggest World Cup ever, it was impossible to disagree with that verdict. The best team wins. And that team was Spain.