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

Spain has secured its second World Cup title, triumphing over defending champions Argentina in a dominant final performance in New Jersey. This victory marks the culmination of a tournament where the young Spanish squad demonstrated remarkable growth, evolving from a frustrating opening draw to becoming undisputed champions.

The team, boasting the sixth-youngest squad among the 48 participating nations with an average age of 26.19, maintained an impressive unbeaten streak stretching to 38 games. Throughout the competition, Spain conceded a mere single goal, highlighting their defensive solidity and tactical discipline.

Their journey began with a surprising goalless draw against debutants Cape Verde, raising questions about their potential. However, Spain quickly found their rhythm, securing victories against Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in the group stage. The knockout rounds presented tougher challenges, with late goals from substitute Mikel Merino proving decisive in their quarterfinal and semifinal victories against Portugal and Belgium, respectively.

Key young talents, including 19-year-olds Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal, and 24-year-old Nico Williams, who provided the assist for the winning goal, were instrumental. Even when star player Yamal did not score, the team's collective strength and depth allowed them to secure crucial wins, underscoring their cohesive and resilient approach to the tournament.

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no one will remember whether I scored goals