Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain was followed by criticism of the team’s conduct on the pitch, with former England players condemning the reaction after the final whistle. The result also sparked fresh uncertainty over the futures of Lionel Messi and manager Lionel Scaloni.
Messi was in tears at the end of the match, while several Argentine media outlets suggested the final could mark the end of an era. The 2022 World Cup winner later wrote on social media: “The pain is immense, and this wound will take time to heal. But I also hold onto all the good things.”
Criticism Over Argentina’s Reaction
Former England captain Alan Shearer said Leandro Paredes’ actions crossed a line during the post-match scenes. “Paredes threw two or three haymakers into someone’s face. He went for them. There is no place or space for that,” Shearer said.
Shearer said Argentina’s disappointment was understandable but argued the players needed to respond differently to defeat. “We know how much it means to them and we know how much it hurts to lose, but there is a way to lose,” he said.
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart was also sharply critical of the scenes. “The game’s done, they can have absolutely no complaints about what happened. Disgusting behaviour,” Hart said.
Scaloni sought to lower the temperature in his post-match interview and urged his players to accept the result. “We are gracious in victory, and we must be gracious in defeat,” he said.
The Argentina manager insisted the loss should not erase the work that carried the side to the final. “We lost the match, and we accept it, but that doesn’t mean we stop living or forget everything we did to get here,” Scaloni added.
A Run Built on Late Drama
Argentina had won their first seven matches in North America before their defeat to Spain, overcoming Algeria, Austria, Jordan, Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland and England. The run included two major comebacks, according to www.bbc.com.
| Opponent | Stage | Key Match Detail | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | Match | Argentina trailed 2-0 before scoring three late goals | 3-2 win |
| England | Semi-final | Argentina trailed 1-0 until the 85th minute | 2-1 win |
| Spain | Final | Argentina’s first defeat of the tournament | Loss |
Against England, goals from Fernandez and a Lautaro Martinez header turned the semi-final around after the Three Lions had held a 1-0 lead late in the game. That comeback sent Argentina into the final with the chance to add another title to their triumphs in 1978, 1986 and 2022.
The defeat to Spain ended that bid and left questions hanging over Messi’s international future. Argentine media have suggested Scaloni could also leave his post, while Messi is considered unlikely to play at another World Cup.