Luis de la Fuente was misplaced for phrases and swimming in satisfaction after Spain were crowned world champions for the second time of their historical past, beating Argentina 1-0 after further time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to finish the best double within the sport.
Ferran Torres settled one of many most interesting World Cup finals in latest reminiscence with a close-range end within the 106th minute, arriving to transform after Nico Williams had pulled a cross again into the field.
It was a objective that ended a contest Argentina had by some means stored goalless for 90 minutes by way of the extraordinary brilliance of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who made 11 saves to interrupt the World Cup last document and single-handedly preserve the defending champions alive lengthy after Spain’s domination had steered the consequence was inevitable.
Argentina’s resistance lastly crumbled deep into stoppage time when Enzo Fernandez was proven a second yellow card for a foul on Pau Cubarsi, lowering Lionel Scaloni’s facet to 10 males for further time.
From that second, Spain’s eventual victory felt solely a matter of when slightly than if. Torres offered the reply 37 seconds into the second interval of additional time.
The consequence means Spain have now gained the European Championship and the World Cup in successive summers underneath De la Fuente, who took the job in 2022 with, as he put it in his semi-final press convention, “an thought, a philosophy” that has taken the nation to the summit of world soccer.
Talking after the ultimate whistle, the Spain supervisor might barely include his emotion.
“A lot satisfaction. Satisfaction for this era of footballers which were rising with this concept, staying loyal to the thought, and doing their finest,” he mentioned.
“They’re an instance of a staff, a gaggle, a household, and a collective of nice gamers which were distinctive. I’m simply so proud to have accompanied them on this journey, to have been there with them on this trajectory is an honour.
“I can’t actually inform you how I really feel. All I can say was it was value it. In fact in the intervening time I’m very emotional, significantly having watched from behind the scenes.
“I’ve spoken a lot to the gamers, who mentioned to me, ‘Boss, we’ve gained all of it’, and it’s marvellous. This era of gamers is an instance for Spanish sport, for the Spanish youth. Collectively we’re a lot stronger, and that’s the reason we don’t overlook anybody.”
‘We prefer to endure’
De la Fuente acknowledged that even with that stage of dominance and with Argentina lowered to 10 males, the evening had demanded all the pieces Spain had.
“In fact we’d have appreciated to win the sport a lot sooner. The Martinez save prevented us from doing so.
“We tried and tried to get on the scoresheet however weren’t in a position to, however this can be a World Cup last, even towards ten males on the finish we needed to endure. However, we prefer to endure, and I’ll say it once more, we have been ready for all the pieces.”
