Argentina President Javier Milei has declared a national bank holiday following the country's loss to Spain in the World Cup final, despite the defeat. The announcement came hours after a chaotic end to the match in New Jersey, where Argentine players reacted angrily to their 1-0 extra-time loss, with a goal from Ferran Torres sealing Spain's victory.
Chaotic Scenes and Red Cards
The final descended into disorder at full-time. Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, who had scored the winning goal against England in the semi-finals, was sent off during the match for a reckless tackle. Further ugly incidents occurred as Argentina's Leandro Paredes received a red card for kicking out and shoving opponents after the final whistle.
Lionel Messi, aged 39 and likely playing his final World Cup game, was in tears after the tournament ended. This was his third World Cup final, having beaten France in Qatar four years ago but losing to Germany in extra time in the 2014 final held in Brazil.
President's Announcement
Milei, who did not attend the final due to superstition, announced the holiday via social media. In a post translated from Spanish, he said: "WORLD CELEBRATION. Given the concern about the celebrations for the achievement reached by the Argentine National Team, I inform the population that, depending on what the players and the technical staff decide regarding the day to celebrate, it will be declared a national holiday."
Unlike the bank holiday declared after Argentina's 2022 World Cup win, which took place on the Tuesday following the final when players returned to Buenos Aires for a parade, this holiday's date will be chosen by the players themselves.
Team's Future Uncertain
Head coach Lionel Scaloni left his post-match press conference in tears when asked about his future, as his contract expires in December. "I have to be honest and say that I have to take time and think about the future," the 2022 World Cup-winning coach said. "Because I'm not sure this can be achieved again."
Argentina will likely enter the next World Cup without Messi, who would be 43 by the time the tournament is held in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with three matches in South America to mark the World Cup's 100th anniversary. Scaloni praised Messi, saying, "He is 39 years old, it is unbelievable. It was always crystal clear to me that he would play until he chose to stop and that everyone would support him. I hope everyone is proud of him, because he is the best football player ever to set foot on a pitch."
Scaloni's Reflection
Scaloni attempted to calm his players during the post-match altercations and acknowledged Spain's superiority. He added: "I feel sadness but knowing that we left everything out there. I have a lot of things to say about how we got here, but it's not worth it. I want to thank these guys eternally for giving us another World Cup final and for competing until the end. They were better, that's the truth. But I'll hold on to an enormous memory of what they have done, of what it's worth to get this far. We have to give it huge validity because it takes a lot to get here."
