Spain beat defending champions Argentina to lift World Cup for second timepublished at 07:10 BST
Spain 1-0 Argentina (AET)
Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at New York New Jersey Stadium
Spain deservedly won a desperately disappointing World Cup final as Ferran Torres’ extra-time strike finally broke the resistance of 10-man Argentina.
The European title holders had created the best opportunities against the defending world champions, who mainly resorted to spoiling tactics and had Enzo Fernandez sent off just before the game went into extra time.
Torres was the hero for Spain when he collected substitute Nico Williams’ header to beat Argentina keeper Emiliano Martinez with a powerful shot from close range after 106 minutes.
The game failed to live up to expectations as it descended into a war of attrition – while away from the action, this was the World Cup where razzmatazz and superstars came to the showpiece.
President Donald Trump flew in to New Jersey in one of a fleet of helicopters before kick-off, while Shakira, Madonna and Justin Bieber performed in the first World Cup half-time show, stretching the interval out to 27 minutes.
Argentina came back to beat Egypt and England in the knockout stage – but could not repeat the feat here as Spain won the men’s World Cup for the second time, 16 years on from their first title.
And it means they become the first nation ever to be men’s and women’s world champions at the same time.
Spain lift World Cup trophy
