Sports psychologist explains factors behind Argentina's World Cup final loss to Spain

Argentina's loss to Spain in the final was heavily influenced by the players' accumulated fatigue and distractions outside the game, according to sports psychologist Adriel Levy.

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From the mental, from the anemic, the adrenaline, which also translates into a lot of physical fatigue, little recovery time, and well, the match against England with everything that surrounded it, extra-footballing issues.

Levy explained that the team suffered from "anemic fatigue" due to a demanding schedule of previous matches, including those against Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland. He noted that the emotional toll of these games, combined with minimal recovery time and "non-footballing issues" surrounding the match against England, left the players mentally drained.

"The team, without wanting to, fell into the trap of thinking it was already won," Levy stated, adding that the opponent's performance and the players' exhaustion were significant factors. He contrasted this with the Spanish team, which he suggested arrived at the final with more freshness.

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The team, without wanting to, fell into the trap of thinking it was already won.

Levy also commented on the players' emotional responses after the defeat, including Lionel Messi's vulnerability. He described the team as "sensitive," clarifying that this does not imply weakness but rather the capacity to feel. He lauded coach Lionel Scaloni as an "ideal leadership model" for his approachability, listening skills, and firm decision-making.

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The opponent influenced and the fatigue played a role, even if the players may not want to admit it.

Scaloni himself echoed this sentiment in a post-match press conference, stating, "We are great in victory and we have to be great in defeat; we are showing today that we know how to lose." Levy advised that the team needs time and space to process the emotional blow before drawing definitive conclusions.

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I think Scaloni is the model, what he has shown so far, the ideal model of leadership, close to the player, a person who listens, but firm in making decisions, who leads well.