Spain World Cup Final Preview: Can Anyone Stop La Roja at MetLife?
Seven matches. Seven wins. Two goals conceded — both from penalty situations. Zero conceded from open play in six of seven matches. Goalkeeper Unai Simón was not required to make a save of note in 90 minutes today against France, the tournament's highest-scoring team. Spain have been better than every opponent they have faced at this World Cup by a margin that the scorelines consistently fail to reflect.
The question for Sunday's Final at MetLife is not whether Spain deserve to be there. It is whether either England or Argentina — whoever emerges from Atlanta today — can produce 90 minutes good enough to beat a team this organized, this deep, and this comfortable on the biggest stage.
Spain's Key Players
Lamine Yamal — drew the penalty today, had a goal ruled out for offside, and was Spain's most dangerous player in every phase of the match. At 18 years old, playing in a World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium on July 19. The magnitude of this hasn't fully registered yet.
Rodri — 94 possession recoveries today. Controlled the tempo against France so completely that Tchouaméni and Rabiot — France's midfield pairing that had dominated every previous opponent — were irrelevant. The best defensive midfielder in world football.
Mikel Oyarzabal — three knockout-round goals in three appearances. Scores when it matters. In a tight Final, he's the player most likely to find the decisive touch in the box.
Mikel Merino (off the bench) — two match-winning sub goals in this tournament. Spain's nuclear option in the 80th minute. If this Final goes deep and Spain need a goal, Merino comes on. It has worked twice already.
vs England: The 1966 Context
If England come through today, it's the first World Cup meeting between England and Spain since 1982. England won the 1966 World Cup. Spain won in 2010. One of them wins a second title Sunday. The tactical matchup: Bellingham's energy against Rodri's control, Saka's pace against Cucurella, Kane's movement against Laporte and Le Normand. Spain have handled England's pressing style better than any other type of opponent this tournament.
vs Argentina: Messi vs Yamal
If Argentina come through today, it's 39-year-old Messi — 8 goals, attempting to win back-to-back World Cups — against 18-year-old Yamal — the next generation of the exact tradition Messi represents. It is the most narratively perfect World Cup Final imaginable. Tactically, Argentina would try to exploit Spain's high defensive line with Álvarez's runs behind — the same ball that gave Switzerland's Ndoye his goal. Spain will be prepared for it.