Argentina were deservedly beaten 1-0 by Spain in the World Cup final, but it took until extra time for Ferran Torres to break the deadlock after Lionel Scaloni's team disgraced themselves with a catalogue of dirty tricks. The defending world champions resorted to underhand tactics as Enzo Fernandez and Leandro Paredes both saw red cards, attempting to kick and cheat their way to a penalty shootout.
Shameful Display from the Start
Just as when Argentina faced England in the semi-finals, confrontations, brutal challenges and frequently shameful behaviour were abundant during what should have been a magnificent showcase of football artistry. Instead, Argentina had three shots with zero on target during 120 minutes, showing exactly how they came to play. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at all 27 of the dirty tactics Argentina tried against Spain, all to no effect.
4 mins - Gonzalo Montiel seizes Alex Baena on the halfway line with the ball overhead and dramatically appeals for a foul. The referee awards it the other way. 6 mins - Alexis Mac Allister hauls Pedro Porro back as he attempts to play a one-two on the edge of the Argentina area. No foul awarded. 8 mins - Nicolas Tagliafico hurls himself to the turf after the gentlest contact from Lamine Yamal. 14 mins - Mac Allister lunges in recklessly and catches Dani Olmo in a dreadful challenge. Should have been booked but wasn't.
Persistent Fouls and Simulation
19 mins - Cristian Romero shepherds Baena off the pitch and then glares at him as he towers over him in a threatening fashion. This was swiftly followed by Fernandez tumbling to the turf after alleging he was caught from the throw-in. 29 mins - Tagliafico once more drags down Yamal and is practically clinging to his back. Textbook booking but no card shown. 41 mins - Spain try to counter after regaining possession but Lisandro Martinez chops down Mikel Oyarzabal and receives a yellow card. He was withdrawn two minutes afterwards.
51 mins - Paredes recklessly shoulder-barges Rodri in the centre circle with the ball nowhere near. He then brutally shoves Olmo to the ground and is shown a card during the ensuing melee. 56 mins - Julian Alvarez rises for a challenge with Aymeric Laporte and catches him with an elbow. The Spain star collapses holding his face. 76 mins - Paredes strikes again, having also committed a foul just outside the box before the hydration break, lunging dangerously into Spain substitute Mikel Merino. Should have been his last warning.
Red Cards and Disgrace
77 mins - Pedri unleashes a threatening effort from just outside the Argentina penalty area but is shoved twice by Alvarez, who puts him off. No foul given, but the gamesmanship works. 81 mins - Giuliano Simeone pursues a loose ball behind Marc Cucurella and drives an elbow into the Spain defender's spine. 82 mins - Fernandez appeals for a foul but doesn't receive one so he takes out his anger on the referee and waves his hand in fury. He's cautioned for dissent. 84 mins - Minutes after receiving his booking, Fernandez hauls down Merino as Spain attempt to counter-attack. The Chelsea midfielder then positions himself in front of the ball, blocking a swift free-kick.
90 + 1 mins - Lionel Messi charges straight into Laporte, knowing precisely what he's doing and earning a late free-kick in a threatening position. 90 + 3 mins - The pivotal moment of normal time. Fernandez, already on a yellow, lunges into Pau Cubarsi as the ball is cleared. He sends the Spain defender spinning through the air and incredibly attempts to protest his innocence as he's shown a second yellow card and given his marching orders.
Extra Time Chaos
90 + 4 mins - Adding to Fernandez's shameful conduct, captain Messi recruits his team-mates to try getting Cucurella dismissed for covering his mouth while speaking. The Real Madrid defender placed his fingers to his lips for barely a moment. 90 + 5 mins - Paredes fells Ferran Torres just outside the Argentina penalty area. Yamal comes close from the subsequent free-kick and the match heads to extra time with La Albiceleste still without a shot on target. The second time Paredes escaped a red card.
Extra time - 92 mins - Tagliafico barges into Porro with his elbow raised. He catches the Spurs player in the jaw. 96 mins - A cross into the Argentina box isn't cleared and substitute Nico Williams tucks it away. But Nicolas Otamendi had thrown himself into the air and shrieked as the delivery arrived and because Merino barely touched his foot, the goal is ruled out in incredibly soft fashion. Goalkeeper Emi Martinez remains down afterwards for good measure.
104 mins - Simeone waits for Cucurella to reach him as a high, arching through ball is played into Spain's half and goes down screaming. The referee was having none of it, as replays showed Simeone had already sprung up like a salmon before Cucurella made contact. 105 mins - Tagliafico and Yamal clash again, this time, all the Argentina players rush over to a scuffle on the touchline. Manager Scaloni got involved in what was a trivial incident. 105 + 2 mins - Tagliafico is barely brushed by Torres as Spain have a throw-in but he embarrassingly crumples to the ground once more.
105 + 3 mins - Paredes again. The midfielder ploughs into Merino's legs as the Spaniard leaps for the ball in a challenge that could have ended up far worse than it did. 111 mins - Merino is taken out by Mac Allister, who gets booked more than 100 minutes after he should have. Argentina have conceded now and the underhand tactics cease to an extent as they chase the game.
Post-Match Disgrace
Full time - Spain clinch the World Cup and Argentina are disgraced in the ensuing celebrations. Paredes is sent off for throwing punches and wrestling with Spanish substitute Gavi. Other players, including Otamendi and Nahuel Molina, also have a go as what was supposed to be a showcase of the world's top footballers ends with La Albiceleste shamed.
