Spain's players would prefer to face Argentina in the World Cup final rather than England, according to reports from Spanish media. The preference stems from a desire for revenge against the Argentine press and a sense of unfinished business after a cancelled friendly.
Spain's Semi-Final Victory
Spain secured their place in the World Cup final with a 2-0 win against France in the semi-final on Tuesday. The victory set up a potential showdown with either England or Argentina, who play each other in the second semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday. The final is scheduled for Sunday at 8pm BST.
Dressing Room Preference
According to Juanfe Sanz, El Chiringuito's World Cup correspondent, Spain's players are 'eager' to see Argentina beat England so they can face Lionel Messi and his teammates. 'I have less than 23 hours to learn songs I'll probably never sing again, because I really want to face Argentina in the final. I don't even want to see England, I want Argentina in the final,' Sanz said after Spain's win over France in Dallas.
Sanz added: 'I think, and I'm sure of this, that in the Spain's dressing room, the team they're most eager to face is Argentina. It's crystal clear – they don't want a final against England, they want Argentina.' He also expressed a desire to 'crush Argentina' and said he would celebrate an Argentina victory over England in the semi-final.
Reasons for Preference
When asked why Spain's players prefer Argentina, Sanz cited polls from shows like El Chiringuito that reached the dressing room, fans' sentiment, and comments from the Argentine press. 'It's the perfect storm, especially after the Finalissima that never happened [Spain's friendly against Argentina was cancelled in March due to unrest in the Middle East], where they accused us of pulling out because we were afraid of them,' Sanz said. He added that he hopes for a long extra-time period in the semi-final, leaving Argentina exhausted, but would celebrate a penalty shootout win.
Coach's Stance
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente, however, said he has no preference. 'We were talking yesterday about how this Spain – France semi-final could be an early final, but I also think I mentioned that the Argentina – England match is another early final,' De la Fuente said after the France match. 'And believe me, right now we're not in a position to have preferences, we don't care.' He acknowledged his friendship with Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni but also expressed respect for England's potential.
Context and Impact
A World Cup final against Spain would offer England a chance of retribution after their defeat to Spain in the European Championship final in 2024. The match also pits two of the top four FIFA-ranked teams against each other, a historic first according to De la Fuente. The semi-final between England and Argentina will determine Spain's opponent for Sunday's final.
