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23 hours ago
11
Key events
64 min Olmo’s shot from 22 yards is fumbled round the post by Emi Martinez. It was straight at him by bounced awkwardly and startled Martinez when it bounced out of his grasp. The spin could have taken it into the net but it bounced wide of the post.
63 min These are the updated teams.
Spain (4-1-4-1ish) Simon; Porro, Cubarsi, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri; Yamal, Olmo, Pedri, Baena; Torres.
Argentina (4-1-3-2) E Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Paredes; De Paul, Enzo, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez.
62 min: Double substitution for Spain Pedri and Ferran Torres replace Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Oyarzabal.
61 min Yamal’s free-kick hits the wall.
60 min Argentina look like they’re waiting for the cold shower of going 1-0 down. They’ve offered nothing in attack, in total contrast to that devastating last half-hour against England.
Pedro Porro is fouled 25 yards from goal by Paredes, who has been booked and needs to be careful. The referee tries to spray his foam, which explodes in the face of Alex Baena. “Better than the half-time show, that,” says Lee Dixon on ITV.
59 min “My introduction to World Cup finals was as an 8 year old watching in black and white in 1966,” writes Brian Withington. “Can’t recall much about the half-time show but I do remember needing a trip to the garden for fresh air after the dastardly last minute West German equaliser.
“Fortunately the boys from West Ham were eventually able to make it their third Wembley trophy on the trot and proper order in the universe was duly established. Couldn’t imagine 60 years later watching this shower of shi colourful spectacle with England still waiting for a second golden star.”
58 min: Argentina substitution That’s Montiel’s last contribution; he’s replaced at right-back by Nahuel Molina. He didn’t look injured but it’s hard to be sure.
56 min Olmo gets the byline and cuts the ball back towards Cucurella. Montiel tracks him excellently and lumps the ball behind for a corner.
55 min The best move of the match from Spain falls down when Fabian Ruiz’s return pass to Oyarzabal is cut out. In truth Oyarzabal probably should have played the ball to Yamal rather than slipping a straight pass into Fabian Ruiz in the area, but it was a lovely move.
54 min “Argentina are holding onto 0-0 until the 85th minute,” says Mark Childs. “Is there a better way to unleash Messi?”
Make sure you’re 1-0 down in the 85th?
52 min Rodri goes down off the ball, which leads to a bit of pushing and shoving. Dani Olmo also ends up on the floor and Paredes is booked.
Replays show that Paredes blocked Rodri with a stiff arm. Not sure whether he was booked for that or whether he was the one who pushed Olmo.
51 min Okay, maybe not: Facundo Medina, known to his friends as Funky Cold, was getting ready to come on but has now sat back down.
50 min Argentina love overcoming adversity but this is ridiculous: they’re preparing another substitution, which can only be because of injury.
49 min “Well, that’s was genuinely lovely,” writes Matt Dony. “And I’m obviously talking about the poem rather than the match. I hope Ollie never grows up to be a cynical, grumpy football fan. (As if there’s any other type!)”
48 min Argentina win their first corner of the game. Nothing comes of it, but it’s a start.
46 min Emi Martinez makes a comfortable save from Baena after 43 seconds of the second half. Not for the first time, Spain won the ball high up the field, resulting in a shot from 22 yards by Baena.
46 min After a 27-minute break, the second half is under way. Argentina have made another substitution: Leandro Paredes for Nico Gonzalez. These are the revised teams.
Spain (4-2-3-1) Simon; Porro, Cubaris, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Olmo, Baena; Oyarzabal.
Argentina (4-1-3-2) E Martinez; Montiel, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Paredes; De Paul, Enzo, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez.
“Bob,” writes Mac Millings. “I’m still not over England’s collapse on Wednesday, yesterday didn’t cheer me up, and the lack of action in this game ain’t helping, either - making this the perfect time to present my All-Time Frustration and Annoyance XI.
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Tony You’ve Got to Be Kidding Me-ola
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Unbelievabel Xavier
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Nathan FF sAké
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Serginho Pest
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Gonzal Oh, Come Mon! tiel
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John Terryble
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Bobby I Can’t Take Any Moore
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Denzel Damnfries
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Pau Cubarsey
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Ryan Aggravationberch
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Lamine Your Mum
More half-time emails
“I love that Rodri plays with his shirt tucked in. Class (am I showing my age?)” – Norman Guy.
“The 19th-minute entry, a good example of total $hit. I guess this is an in joke. Pity I have no idea what it is talking about. Sorry I have other things in my life” – Steve Taylor.
“How big is your TV screen? Can you post a picture of yourself please? I am a Guardian fan, though” – Annu.
Half-time postbag
“Ah, I see they’re showing the muppets. And also Jim Henson’s famous creations, etc” – James Humphries.
“Can’t they have a two-hour concert with a penalty shoot-out at half-time, instead of this dross. Much more of this will cause me to lose the will to live. Out, at least, the will to carry on watching” – Asia Narcizo.
“Yamal did not take his chance and the game has grinded into a scrappy match-up. Super Merino will be the one to win this game for Spain. He’s the one who can unlock this game” – Imad Sabi.
“Spain must be a nightmare to play against, like being suffocated by a boa constrictor. As its victim breathes out, the snake tightens the grip, making it more and more difficult to breathe. When Spain advance, they occupy every bit of space their opponents leave unguarded. It’s undoubtedly impressive, but hard to warm to as a neutral” – Kári Tulinius.
“Do we name this the bathtub derby” – Krishnamoorthy V.
“At a watch party for refugees in our community in the Pacific Northwest, and every time Lamine Yamal touches the ball everyone under the age of 20 goes berserk. Messi will draw more attention in the second half, to be sure, but I think it’s hard to underestimate the enthusiasm he has within the Muslim youth community in particular…” – Chris Amirault.
“Your referencing Barry Davies’ commentary from that ‘91 FA Cup Spurs Arsenal semi-final makes me think of my favourite Davies line from that game, after Lee Dixon had upended (I think) the late Justin Edinburgh. ‘Well, if Lee Dixon’s had a worse-timed tackle this season I’m glad I didn’t see it. That really is a dreadful tackle for an international full-back’” – Martin Gamage.
“I’d like to reassure Niall Mullen about the credibility of this World Cup. As the great TV philosopher G. Costanza once said: It’s not a lie if you believe it” – Giovanni Cafagna.
Half-time entertainment
Those of you who followed our liveblog of Switzerland v Canada may remember a charming half-time poem written by Ollie, aged. 12. I’m delighted to say he’s written another poem for the final.
What a sensational World Cup!
Two more games to wrap it up.
48 teams, now down to four.
Football’s Big Apple munched down to the core.
Argentina v Spain for World Cup glory!
To finally end this thrilling story.
Messi’s on the for the Golden Boot
But will Yamal finally score that beaut?
In the semis, Spain made France look poor.
They managed to shut out that deadly front four.
Spain’s midfield held on to the ball
And Mbappé just couldn’t answer the call.
Meanwhile, in the other game,
Thomas Tuchel took some blame
For putting five in at the back
When we really needed to attack!
England’s run ended in tears
To the deafening sound of Argentine cheers.
Rooney, Hart and Richards dismayed
But admired the way that Messi played.
Right now I feel I need a day off
To recover from that third place play-off.
What a game! Jude’s skills were sick!
That banger from Rice! Bukayo’s hat-trick!
Spain v Argentina: the biggest match this year!
Hopefully it brings us lots to cheer.
Who will win it? I don’t know…
Please just give us a hell of a show!
He means the football, Gianni.
It’s time for the half-time show. I’m going to to take a break but you can follow it all with the great Tom Lutz. See you back here in a couple of hours for the second half.
Half time: Spain 0-0 Argentina
A forgettable first half in New Jersey. Argentina had no corners, no attempts at goal and no touches in the opposition area. Spain were much better in general play but struggled to create clear chances. It doesn’t help that the pitch is dreadful.
45+2 min “Telegram from the Department Of The Bleeding Obvious, but this match is crying out for a goal, as that will surely open it up,” writes Guy Hornsby. “Spain have all the possession and momentum, despite the stop/start nature so far. A goal feels likely from only one team too, but how many times has that blown up in our know-it-all faces, Rob?”
At last count, 714141325235234590.
45+1 min “Hello from a packed bar in NYC which I thought was leaning Argentina but has slowly revealed itself to be going for Spain,” writes Rachel Clifton. “Trump and/or Infantino getting booed hard every time they are on screen.”
It’s not their fault the first half has been crap!
45 min Four minutes of added time.
44 min: Argentina substitution Nicolas Otamendi replaces Lisandro Martinez, who has pulled something and needs to go off. To go off injured in a World Cup final must be devastating for any footballer. Martinez, tough as old boots, is impassive as he limps round the touchline.
43 min Cucurella uses the overlapping Baena by not using him – hat tip Barry Davies – and has a pop from the edge of the area. It rolls a few yards wide of the far post.
Spain have been the better team, no question, but Argentina will be comfortable with how little Emi Martinez has had to do. The deeper this goes, the more Argentina winning mentalty will kick in. They’ve got the collective will of Keyser Soze.
42 min I knew they shouldn’t have bothered with the football.
41 min De Paul has a cross blocked by Cucurella after a relatively rare Argentina attack. Spain break and Lisandro Martinez is booked for an entirely cynical foul on Oyarzabal. Might as well get it out of the way.
39 min Baena’s quick pass forward is stabbed round the corner by Fabian Ruiz. Olmo dummies it – what a lovely player he is – and Oyarzabal drives a low shot from 20 yards is comfortably saved by Emi Martinez. He didn’t quite get hold of it.
38 min “I’ve got a theory that if it wasn’t for his hair, Cucurella would be more widely recognised as a mostly very calm, solid defender,” writes James Humphries. “Case in point: he cleared up that dodgy ball from Porro very neatly, but because of his barnet it looked like a spaniel hurling itself enthusiastically into a river in pursuit of a tennis ball. You watch, if he gets a short back and sides and becomes a manager it’ll all be unfussy, sort the defence out and the rest will follow solidity.”
There’s definitely something in that. It’s probably both his hair and his hair-trigger temper, but he’s a seriously good player.
36 min It’s a pretty bitty game. I was going to say that suits Argentina more than Spain, but after Wednesday I’m not so sure.
35 min “I think you’re being a bit modest after tipping Spain to win it all along,” says Andrew Goudie. “Did you ever have any doubts?”
Do I look like somebody who is susceptible to crushing doubt, whose entire existence has been defined by it? Do I?
33 min Don’t shoot the messenger, but this is rubbish.
28 min The match is back under way, and with any luck we’ll have some excitement in the second quarter.
26 min Here’s something to read during the hydration break. Reading is good for the soul.
25 min Time for the ad break.
24 min Messi beats Rodri with a delightful touch and is pulled back. Rodri could easily have been booked for that, but he wasn’t so what’s your point?
22 min Yamal’s early shot remains the only attempt at goal, on or off target, by either side. Possession is roughly 63:37 in Spain’s favour (sources vary).
21 min It’s not a classic, folks. But nor was the 2022 final at this stage and look how what turned out.
19 min Argentina are starting to leave a bit on some of the Spain players. Nothing extreme, just the occasional reminder that physical contact has the capacity to be uncomfortable.
