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Ferran Torres’ 106th-minute goal gave Spain its second world title on Sunday in a tense but one-sided win over Argentina.
The shot was Spain’s 12th on target, all while defending champion Argentina had produced zero. Yet despite the frequency with which Spain peppered the Argentine defense with shots, their brilliant goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez repelled every Spanish attempt and set a record for saves in the World Cup final with 11.
Martínez, however, was unable to stop Torres’ shot after Nico Williams headed a pass towards him in extra time.
“I honestly didn’t think about it too much,” Torres said on the Fox broadcast after the game. “I just saw the ball coming towards me and I shot with the power of all the Spanish people.”
The championship dethroned Argentina, which was seeking to become the first repeat champion since Brazil in 1962.
Among those celebrating Spain’s victory in the stands of New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium were members of the 2010 Spain team that won the World Cup in South Africa.
Torres appeared to seal the match later in extra time when Spain received the ball on the counterattack and he was all alone as he ran towards goal and beat Martínez again for an apparent 2–0 lead. But Torres was held offside by the shoulder, and Spain were left to survive a wild few minutes as Argentina eventually produced two shots that threatened to set up an equalizer in the dying moments.
Argentina played with 10 men for the final 30 minutes after Enzo Fernández was sent off for receiving his second yellow card after his challenge sent Spaniard Pau Cubarsí wild.
Putting one man down didn’t help Argentina’s chances, after they went all 90 minutes of regulation without generating a single shot against Spanish possession. Lionel Messi finished with 54 touches but just one shot.
He even cried after the match.
Spaniard Rodri won the best player award,
Cubarsi is the best young player while Unai Simón is the best goalkeeper.
