2026 World Cup final: "Exceptionally well-oiled machine" Spain are favourites against Argentina

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup final, Sports Mole's Football Editor Matt Law discusses Spain and their chances of overcoming the holders Argentina.

Matt Law, Football Editor: "The show of the tournament"

I thought they were conscionable unbelievable successful each facet of the game. Off the ball, connected the ball, the mode they controlled the game, the mode they took distant France's weapons. 

I work a batch afterwards astir what if Mbappe had done this, oregon Dembele had done this, oregon Olise had done this, but Spain didn't let them to bash that. Their signifier this summertime has been incredible. 

If you can't get Pedri successful your midfield, you've astir apt got rather a bully midfield - Fabian Ruiz is that antheral successful the mediate astatine the moment. He's been terrific. 

Rodri has possibly not been astatine his implicit apical signifier astatine each stage, but he's been an implicit elephantine successful the mediate for Spain. They're chasing the antiaircraft grounds - lone 1 extremity conceded astatine this World Cup. 

The grounds for the fewest goals conceded by World Cup winners is two, shared by France successful 1998, Italy successful 2006 and Spain successful 2010.

If Spain support a cleanable expanse successful this game, they'll instrumentality that antiaircraft grounds outright. I fancied France and Spain arsenic the 2 favourites pre-tournament. 

I saw thing astir however bully Pedro Porro has been this summer. 

Romero has been large for Argentina and Djed Spence has been 1 of the successes for England, truthful the Tottenham fans are astir apt reasoning they've got this 1 covered - and with Van de Ven arsenic well, a large defender, 3 players who person excelled astatine this World Cup. 

The afloat backs for Spain person been terrific. Nico Williams' absence, being successful and out, has fixed Alex Baena the accidental to measurement up and he's been terrific. A truly clever footballer who tin instrumentality the shot nether pressure, prime a pass, a truly intelligent player. 

Lamine Yamal hasn't rather had an unbelievable tourney - he's been good successful patches, winning the punishment against France, but he's not been astatine his apical level. 

He's inactive a teen and volition person galore much tournaments to amusement his quality. But this is conscionable the implicit epitome of an fantabulous team: fantabulous shape, each players who cognize what they're doing, a midfield that works.

Cubarsi has been unbelievable. When helium archetypal broke done astatine Barcelona determination was speech astir him being the adjacent apical centre-back, and this World Cup he's delivered connected that. 

Laporte has been fantastic. Unai Simon is truly good, a truly ascendant figure. 

Dani Olmo's performances of precocious person been of a truly precocious level - idiosyncratic who possibly goes nether the radar a small bit, but he's been excellent. 

It's conscionable an exceptionally well-oiled machine. Spain past clip retired against France was decidedly the show of the tournament.

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