Spain fans hail new generation, as Argentina says goodbye to an icon

New York City – Just moments aft the last whistle, the enactment for La Roja fans began successful Times Square.

For many, Spain’s triumph connected Sunday implicit Argentina, which topped a resolute run crossed football’s astir prestigious tournament, represented much than conscionable a victory.

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It signified the dawn of what could beryllium a caller aureate epoch of Spanish football, helmed by a nationalist squad with an mean property of 26, and a platinum-footed guardant successful 19-year-old Lamine Yamal.

“It’s similar destiny,” mused 33-year-old Joanne Wasson, who could not assistance but spot symbolism successful the viral representation of Argentina’s young-adult Lionel Messi with an babe Yamal.

“There was that photograph of Messi bathing Lamine [Yamal]; present he’s handing him the trophy.”

To beryllium sure, the last was nary casual work. Spain whitethorn person dominated possession and acold outpaced Argentina connected chances, but the Messi-led squad proved a stubborn adversary, holding a 0-0 people until precocious into other time.

Even Enzo Fernandez’s reddish paper successful the 93rd minute, which near Argentina with conscionable 10 players, did not beryllium an contiguous decease knell for La Albiceleste. That came 13 minutes aboriginal with Ferran Torres’s 106-minute goal.

Spain fans observe their squad winning the World Cup extracurricular the Rockefeller Center, New York City [Joe Stepansky/Al Jazeera]

“Spain controlled the crippled from commencement to finish,” said 27-year-old instrumentality Charlie Webster, a lifelong Spain protagonist from England.

“They deserved to win, but Argentina knows however to grind retired games. I was a small nervous, due to the fact that if it goes to penalties, it’s similar a lottery.”

“Obviously, immoderate squad that plays Argentina is outnumbered due to the fact that of the fans that they instrumentality to each azygous match,” helium said. “But the champion squad won”.

Spain fans observe their squad winning the World Cup extracurricular the Rockefeller Centre, New York City [Joe Stepansky/Al Jazeera]

For 42-year-old Saray Monzon, who travelled from Spain for the match, the triumph represented thing deeper for her country.

“We are so, truthful arrogant of them,” she said of Spain’s young squad, besides helmed by 23-year-old midfielder Pedri and 19-year-old defender Pau Cubarsi.

“I deliberation they correspond each the imaginable that we arsenic a state have. They correspond portion of what Spanish radical are.”

Brian Lacey, who besides journeyed from Spain for the match, saw a changing of the defender successful shot talent.

“It’s the opening of a generation,” helium said. It’s a generational change, due to the fact that Messi present is done, and present it’s Lamine Yamal’s time.”

Spain’s guardant Lamine Yamal lifts the World Cup trophy [AFP]

“What next?” helium wondered. “The Euros? The adjacent satellite championship?”

“In sport, astatine the apical of the satellite is football. Spain is astatine the apical of the world,” helium said.

“We request to celebrate. Not look astatine the past, not look astatine the future, look astatine that we are satellite champions”.

Argentina fans bespeak connected extremity of era

Argentina fans, meanwhile, grappled with not lone a title nonaccomplishment but the astir assured extremity of the tally of a antheral credited with returning the state to its days of shot glory.

Argentina instrumentality Lily, who declined to springiness her past name, held a Messi doll successful her arms successful Times Square.

“What helium did, cipher has done, not adjacent Pele,” she said, referring to the Brazilian icon. “Pele lone went to the last twice; Messi took america to three.”

“He gave america truthful overmuch happiness,” she said.

Despite the loss, immoderate Argentina fans observe the World Cup tally successful New York City [Joseph Stepansky/Al Jazeera]

Marvin Reyes, a 22-year-old of Argentinian descent from New Jersey, described Messi’s relation arsenic thing abbreviated of transformative to the nationalist team, which broke a 36-year World Cup adust spell successful Qatar successful 2022.

“What did helium bash for the nationalist team?” helium asked. “Everything.”

“He gave them anticipation and conscionable stepped up arsenic captain,” Reyes said. “He truly took it connected his shoulders to transportation the team.”

Argentina instrumentality Lily holds a Lionel Messi doll successful Times Square, New York City [Joseph Stepansky/Al Jazeera]

Joaquín Martinez, 48, who travelled from Argentina, reflected connected however his 12-year-old and 11-year-old sons person not known immoderate different squad person than Messi.

“To me, Maradona was everything, but to my kids, it was Messi,” helium said, referring to 1986 satellite champion Diego Maradona.

“Messi is Messi. The squad volition person a batch of enactment to bash present that determination volition beryllium nary much Messi,” helium said.

“After today’s match, of people we consciousness bad,” helium added. “But this is football.”