Football flamenco has once again captivated the planet, Spain is once again world champion - completely deservedly, just like 16 years ago in South Africa.
Football won in the New York sun, "la roha" "strangled" the defending champion Argentina for a long time in the final, and then Ferran Torres became the hero - from the 20th shot of the match, in the 106th minute, Spain scored the goal that put the second star on the red jersey (1:0).
Andres Iniesta in 2010, Ferran Torres in 2016 - both in extra time. The party in the Pyrenees can begin.
Argentina? A sad farewell to the world champion from the Golden Goddess, because how else can you describe a finalist who only had some sort of attempt in the 120th minute, and at the moment he conceded a goal, the shot ratio was 20:0 for his rival.
Lionel Messi is probably sad too, but as this legend said, he finished his game three and a half years ago in Qatar.
Luis de la Fuente once again led the match like a doctor, Rodri conducted the midfield, Spain's youth through Lamino Jamal and Pau Kubarsi charmed, while the heroes from the bench, Nico Williams and Ferran Torres, showed what kind of team the new world champions really are.
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Sports, music and film stars filled the stands of "MetLife", expecting a "big bang" from the first minute of the final, but in the first half, "la rohi" and "gauçosima" seemed to have "tied their feet" as if the importance of the match had "tied their feet".
More precisely - Spain tried to play its own game, kept the ball, looked for a gap, but had a hard time finding it. They had their best chance at the start through Jamal, while the most beautiful action - like in a video game, all from the first - was not crowned by Ojarzabal with a better shot in the 39th minute.
The world champion only made a few attempts to open up the high-placed defense of his rivals, but if anything did get through, there was goalkeeper Unaj Simon, who stopped everything like a stopper.
The second half brought the same picture, with Spain even better, but Argentina's "wall" was incredible. Alex Baena, Ferran Torres, Pedri, Aymeric Laporte and Jamal tried to score from free kicks, but the ball didn't go into the goal, and the excellent Emiliano Martinez didn't either.
After 90 minutes, the statistics showed 15 shots by Spain and zero against the world champions.
The final went into extra time, and Argentina had to play with a player less because Enzo Fernandes earned a second yellow card for a wild tackle on Pau Cubarsi at the end of the match.
Spain had great chances through Williams and Mikel Merino in the extra 30 minutes, and then the moment they had been waiting for arrived in the 106th minute. Jamal crossed, Williams masterfully headed the ball down, and Ferran slammed it into the net.
And then just a little bit from Argentina, of course thanks to the inspiration of Messi, but it also seems that Giuliano Simeone scored in the 121st minute to make it all a football injustice.
In the end, individuals showed that they were not great at defeat, like Leandro Paredes who clearly wanted to get even with everyone from the winning team.
SPAIN IS THE WORLD CHAMPION - THE TEAM THAT PLAYED FOOTBALL IN THE FINAL WON.
The hero is Ferran Torres, who scored the 20th "la rohe" shot of the match in the 107th minute to knock down Argentina.
120' - What a chance for Argentina, after the action of Messi and Simeone, but one of the Spanish defenders saved a clean sheet in front of Senesio.
A minute later, after a corner kick, Simeone had a great chance, but he shot over the goal from seven meters.
119' - Argentina is trying to do something with one less player that it didn't do throughout the entire match.
115' - The first shot on goal for Argentina, although it was more of an unsuccessful cross from Messi.
113' - Ferran scores again, but this time from offside.
107' - GOOOOOOOL! Ferran Torres - Spain has been waiting for him for a long time at this World Cup.
From the 20th shot, the European champion opened the scoring for Argentina, who still didn't have a single shot on Unai Simon.
Jamal crossed, Nico Williams headed it in masterfully, and Ferran slammed it into the net.
The first extra time is over, Spain had several good chances, but Argentina refuses to capitulate.
103' - What a chance for a guy who has solved many matches as a wildcard - Merino headed wide of the goal, from an excellent position.
99' - Zubimendi and Eric Garcia come in, and Rodri and Laporte come out.
96' - The net finally shook, Williams scored, but Vinčić disallowed the goal due to an alleged foul by Merino on Otamendi.
Questionable decision by the Slovenian referee.
93' - The miracle of Dibu Martinez - a great ball from Pedri, a header from Williams, but the Argentina goalkeeper still saves his team.
It's over, extra time will be played - it didn't help Spain that they had a 15:0 shot advantage against Argentina in 90 minutes.
Can "la roha" find its way to the Golden Goddess, or will the "gauchos" wall hold up even with one less player?
90 + 8 - Dibu Martinez saves Argentina, excellent free kick by Jamala, but the "gauchos" goalkeeper was excellent - just like in the final three and a half years ago.
93' - Madness in stoppage time. Argentina finally opened up a bit, Spain counterattacked, and Williams' shot was saved by Martinez.
The ball reached the center, and then Enco Fernandes, who already had a yellow card, savagely fouled Kubarsi - there was no dilemma for Slovenian Vinčić, a second yellow, or red.
87' - Great ball from Merino, Ferran tried from a turn. It remains 0:0 in goals, 12:0 in shots.
81' - Nice action by Pedri and Williams, but after the cross, a bad header by Laporte.
77' - Another good move, but another weak shot - now Pedrija. Immediately after, a great attempt by Kubarsi, but Martinez is safe.
75' - After 75 minutes in the final, the world champion still has not had a single shot on the Spanish goal.
Scaloni used all the changes (Medina and Simeone also came on), while De la Fuente introduced Merino and Nick Williams.
67' - Great chance for Spain - Jamal did a great job, crossed the ball perfectly, but Ferran's header from an excellent position was weak, Martinez had no problems.
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