Error code: %{errorCode}
Tactical analysis: How Spain's width and pressure finally cracked Argentina's low block in extra time
Spain 's 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the World Cup Final was a study in territorial dominance meeting organised resistance.
Luis De la Fuente Castillo's side controlled nearly every phase of the match, piling up 19 shots and forcing Emiliano Martínez into a string of saves that kept Argentina alive far longer than their attacking output deserved.
Argentina failed to register a single shot on target in regular time.
When Enzo Fernández's red card reduced them to ten men at the end of the 90 minutes, the defensive dam finally broke.
Ferran Torres struck within a minute of the second extra-time period beginning, and Spain claimed their second World Cup title.
Spain's right flank became the release point
Spain's attacking structure revolved around width and overloads on the right.
Pedro Porro pushed high throughout, combining repeatedly with Lamine Yamal to create two-on-one situations against Nicolás Tagliafico.
The right side was where Spain consistently found space to cross and where Argentina's compact midfield could be stretched.
The winning goal at 106' came directly from this pattern.
Porro delivered a cross from the right, Nico Williams headed the ball back across the six-yard box, and Torres finished first-time with his left foot.
It was a goal born from the same source Spain had threatened from all match.
Dazn Media
Argentina's deep block survived on Martínez's brilliance
Lionel Scaloni's approach was clear from the opening whistle.
Argentina sat deep, conceding the ball and territory to protect their defensive shape.
At halftime, Scaloni replaced Nico González with Leandro Paredes, adding another body in central midfield to further congest the middle of the pitch.
This structure denied Spain easy central access and forced them wide.
It worked, but only because Emiliano Martínez was performing at an extraordinary level.
His save from Nico Williams' header early in extra time required exceptional reflexes and was described as the most important save of the tournament.
He also denied Yamal's curling free kick, Aymeric Laporte's header from inside the six-yard box, and multiple efforts from Dani Olmo, Torres, and Pau Cubarsí.
Without Martínez, the scoreline would have been far more emphatic.
How the red card removed Argentina's last protection
Argentina's defensive structure was designed to survive, not to threaten.
But it depended on discipline and numbers.
When Fernández was sent off for a second yellow card late in stoppage time, the balance of the match shifted irreversibly.
Scaloni had already withdrawn Julián Álvarez for centre-back Marcos Senesi, adding a third central defender and signalling a clear intention to reach penalties.
With ten men, that plan became even more desperate.
Spain immediately pressed higher, and the numerical disadvantage meant Argentina could no longer sustain their compact shape while also clearing the ball effectively.
Within a minute of the second extra-time period beginning, Torres had scored.
Missed chances delayed the inevitable
Spain's dominance should have produced a more comfortable scoreline.
Before half-time, Marc Cucurella arrived unmarked at the penalty spot after a cutback, but Gonzalo Montiel produced a crucial block to deny him.
In extra time, Mikel Merino rose completely unmarked from close range but headed wide when scoring appeared easier.
Torres also had a well-taken finish disallowed for offside.
These missed opportunities extended the contest, but they did not change the underlying picture.
Spain created, Argentina defended, and eventually one chance went in.
The result reflected the pattern.
Spain's sustained pressure, structural advantage, and superior access to goal made the outcome logical.
Argentina's resistance was admirable, but it was never a contest of equals.
Watch the world's best football on DAZN
After the World Cup is over, there is so much great football still to watch on DAZN.
Premier League: All English top flight matches live and in full in Canada
Serie A: Watch all 380 matches of the Italian league live in the UK and Canada. Also in the US in Spanish language
Champions League: Watch every match of the 2026/27 campaign in Canada. Three matches per round exclusively in the US, in Spanish language
National League: DAZN is the home of the National League, with every game available either live or on-demand, plus selected North and South matches
FIFA+ on DAZN : Watch over 7,000 live matches a year, plus World Cup archive, iconic documentaries, films, and player profiles for FREE
