Spain Beat Argentina 1-0 in Extra Time to Win World Cup — SkimNews
SkimNews Take
A substitute scoring the decisive goal in extra time underscores how tournament outcomes increasingly hinge on bench depth and late-game tactical swaps rather than starting-XI pedigree alone.
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- Ferran Torres struck in the 106th minute as a substitute to seal Spain's 1-0 extra-time World Cup final win over Argentina at New York/New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium).
- Argentina mustered no shot across the opening 90 minutes and were reduced to 10 players just before extra time when midfielder Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card.
- Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez repeatedly kept dominant Spain at bay before Torres finally broke through with the Barcelona forward's first goal of the competition.
- Torres told FIFA broadcasters that 'destiny was written' and credited the win to Spain's roughly 47 million people, adding that facing Messi-led Argentina 'you do get worried, but we always backed ourselves.'
- Torres acknowledged he had 'been criticized throughout the whole tournament' before his title-clinching strike, saying 'destiny was written' and thanking God for granting things 'to those that most deserve them.'
- Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni conceded Spain 'were better, that's the truth,' but expressed pride in players who 'left everything out there' and said the squad would 'own' the defeat.
Why it matters: Torres's 106th-minute strike — his first goal of the tournament after sustained criticism — settled a tight final where Argentina failed to register a shot in 90 minutes, lost Enzo Fernández to a second yellow, and leaned entirely on Martínez before Spain finally broke through.
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