How a young and cohesive Spain took down Lionel Messi’s Argentina

Spain claimed their second World Cup title with a commanding final victory over Argentina in New Jersey, showcasing the effectiveness of their youth-oriented squad strategy. Manager Luis de la Fuente's team demonstrated remarkable defensive solidity throughout the tournament, conceding only a single goal across all matches while extending their unbeaten run to 38 games.

The Spanish squad's composition reflected a deliberate choice to prioritize youth over experience. With an average age of 26.19 and only six players over 30, Spain fielded the sixth-youngest squad among the 48 competing teams. Key contributors included teenagers Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsi, both 19 years old, alongside 24-year-old Nico Williams and Barcelona midfielder Pedri, aged 23.

Spain's path to the trophy demonstrated steady improvement as the tournament progressed. Their campaign began inauspiciously with a goalless draw against tournament debutants Cape Verde in mid-June, a result that raised questions about their championship credentials. However, they subsequently defeated Saudi Arabia and Uruguay before advancing through the knockout stages with increasing confidence.

The knockout rounds required greater resilience, with substitute Mikel Merino scoring late winners against both Portugal and Belgium to secure Spain's progression. Mikel Oyarzabal led the team's scoring with five goals, while Merino and Pedro Porro each contributed two. Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the final victory.

Despite limited goal contributions, Yamal emerged as a standout performer, featuring in every match and earning player-of-the-match honors against Belgium in the quarterfinals. His presence and creativity proved instrumental to Spain's attacking play throughout the tournament.