Spain and Argentina are set to face off in the World Cup final, with both teams having navigated dramatic matches to reach this stage. Argentina has captivated fans with a series of comebacks, including victories against Egypt and England in the Round of 16 and semi-finals, respectively.
Spain has also demonstrated resilience, securing narrow wins in their knockout matches. Mikel Merino scored a stoppage-time goal in the 91st minute to give Spain a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the Round of 16. He followed this with another crucial goal in the 88th minute of Spain's 2-1 quarterfinal win against Belgium.
"On Sunday, we will watch a great show," said de la Fuente, referencing the upcoming final.
Commentators have highlighted Spain's collective strength and ingrained playing style. "Their star has been the collective," noted Holden. "This is their identity. It's cultural. From 5 years old, you play this formation, this style. There's a cohesion. There's a fluidity to the way they play."
Spain's striker Mikel Oyarzabal, who plays for La Liga team Real Sociedad, is the team's leading scorer in the tournament with five goals. Teammate Yamal has one goal, scored against Saudi Arabia during the group stage. If Spain emerges victorious, Yamal would become the third-youngest player to start and win a World Cup final, trailing only Pele and Italy’s Giuseppe Bergomi. His teammate Cubarsi, approximately six months older, would rank as the fourth-youngest.