Spain secured a historic victory against Argentina in the World Cup final, defeating their opponents after maintaining strong possession and defensive control throughout the tournament.
Spanish media outlets celebrated the triumph, highlighting the national team's unity and dedication to hard work during a turbulent political period.
Media Praise for Team Values
An editorial in El País described the win as "the triumph of Luis de la Fuente and of an extraordinary group of footballers who – in a sport of stars and social media divas – have prioritised team values, joint intelligence, and the conviction of hard work."
The publication further noted that the victory provided a vital moment of collective emotion and national pride.
El Mundo shared this sentiment, stating, "Our country has lived a unique collective experience." The publication praised the young squad for embodying modern and exciting values.
"Thanks to a group of young people who are as dazzling as they are relatable, we have seen the finest values of a Spain that is modern, exciting and capable of looking to the future with huge confidence," said El Mundo.
Other media outlets focused on the contrasting behaviors of the competing teams on the pitch. Writing for ABC, Rubén Cañizares noted the sportsmanship displayed by the Spanish side.
"Unlike Argentina, De la Fuente’s team had the courtesy to give Argentina a guard of honour as the ‘worthy’ runner-up … and even Sergio Ramos, who was in charge of carrying the World Cup trophy to the stage where Infantino and Trump presented it, embraced Messi in a warm, consoling hug, as Messi began to dissolve in a sea of tears," said Rubén Cañizares.
In Marca, José I Pérez analyzed the technical superiority of the champions during the final match.
"Spain had more possession, created more chances, had more shots than Argentina, and looked more dangerous," said José I Pérez.
The sports daily emphasized the team's exceptional defensive record across the tournament.
"The team was the better side in the final … Argentina, like all the other teams in the tournament except Belgium, couldn’t score against Spain, who have only conceded one goal in their eight World Cup matches.
It’s a spectacular record. It’s unprecedented in the World Cup for a winning team," said José I Pérez.
Writing in La Vanguardia, Jordi Basté reflected on how the team's persistence cut through external distractions at the tournament.
"If a Martian had landed on Earth yesterday and turned on the television, he would scarcely have guessed that the World Cup final was about to begin," said Jordi Basté.
The writer highlighted the purity of the sport amidst various high-profile events.
"He would have thought he was watching the opening of a casino or billionaires’ convention," said Jordi Basté.
Basté concluded by underscoring the core element of the tournament.
"Because when the noise dies down, when the drones are withdrawn, when the VIP boxes empty, all that’s left is the game.
And in that respect, the Spanish team was the best in the World Cup," said Jordi Basté.
