The Telegraph calls Argentina 'criminals' after World Cup final loss

The British newspaper The Telegraph celebrated Spain's victory in the 2026 World Cup final, while harshly criticizing the Argentine national team. The publication labeled the Argentinian players as "criminals" and accused them of mistreating their opponents.

In an article titled "Football 1, criminals 0," The Telegraph declared that "sport triumphed" with Spain's 1-0 win, emphasizing that it was essential for Spain to win the final. The newspaper had previously been critical of Lionel Scaloni's squad after their semifinal loss to England.

The Telegraph specifically targeted several Argentinian players. It accused Nahuel Molina of punching Rodrigo and stated that coach Lionel Scaloni, usually calm, "got involved in the scuffle" despite entering the field to separate players. The paper questioned Leandro Paredes, suggesting he "should try to play football instead of mistreating rivals," citing an incident where Paredes allegedly grabbed Eric García by the neck and pushed Gavi.

Lionel Messi also faced criticism. The Telegraph noted that despite his brilliance, his most memorable contribution was attempting to get Marc Cucurella sent off. The paper concluded that no one needed to cry for Argentina after Messi received his runner-up medal in what was likely his last World Cup appearance at age 39.

Furthermore, the newspaper deemed Enzo Fernández's expulsion "correct," marking him as the third Argentinian player to be sent off in a World Cup final. The Telegraph wrote that Argentina "used the same dirty tactics from decades ago."

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Quizás debería intentar jugar al fútbol en lugar de maltratar a sus rivales. Agarró a Eric García por el cuello y empujó a Gavi. ¡Menudo espectáculo!