World Cup 2026: Spain’s ‘victory for football’ over ’embarrassing’ Argentina

Fernandez was first shown a yellow card for dissent, then a second yellow card for an extraordinary late challenge that sent Cubarsi tumbling.

After the final whistle, Paredes got into a fight with Rodri, Gavi and Borja Iglesias, and his teammate Nahuel Molina was also seen punching a passing Spanish player.

BBC pundit Wayne Rooney said: “It’s a shame to see this sort of thing after the match has been played.” “Someone was declared World Cup champion. That’s not good enough.

“Paredes is better than that. It doesn’t stop there. It keeps going and going.”

Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni broke down in tears at the post-match press conference and tried to defend his team’s performance, but could only accept that the best team had won.

“I would like to know what would have happened if there were still 11 men on the field, even though they were superior to us until the 85th minute,” he said of Fernandez’s dismissal.

“We managed to go all the way when the game was so open and this could not have happened. They deserved the win, that’s the truth.”

Argentina could have taken the World Cup final to extra time (five of the last six teams could have gone that far) but that could not mask their inferiority.

“Argentina can have absolutely no complaints about what happened,” former England goalkeeper Joe Hart told BBC One. “Disgusting behavior.

“I don’t think Rodri needed to get in their face, but after 120 minutes you realize you were wronged and the referee has your back.”