"Football 1-0 Argentina" | Kaveh Solhekol analysis as Spain win the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Spain are world champions for the second time thanks to Ferran Torres' goal in extra time against 10 -man Argentina.Pure joy for Spain fans.These are scenes at full -time at a fan park in Madrid.Spain celebrating becoming world champions just two years after winning the Euros and 16 years after their first World Cup triumph.Let's cross live to New York and speak to our hosts.Chief correspondent Carvey Solicor who was there after the game and my goodness I mean it was intense that's what you can say but perhaps not a classic as far as World Cup finals are concerned.

Carvey what was your read of it?

Well the way I would sum it up is it was football one Argentina nil.Spain were by far the better team, they proved again today that they are the best team in the world.I know it wasn't a very entertaining game to watch but if you are a football purist you will have been delighted by what you saw because Spain are a complete team the way they dominate possession the way all their players are so technically good is a joy to watch and it was really noticeable each time they made substitutions the players they brought on were as good if not better than the players they were taking off of course England could have been in this final but when I was watching the game I was thinking maybe it's a good thing that England didn't make it to this final because I think it would have been very, very difficult for them to beat Spain because Spain are the best team in the world.

Yeah, let's put that into a little bit of context here because it wasn't that long ago under Vicente del Bosque that they won Euros, World Cup, Euros.What about this crop now that have gone Euros, World Cup in 24 and 26?

Well, they are repeating what the class of 2010 did.Of course, they haven't won the World Cup for 16 years.I thought it was a really nice touch by the match director, actually, because when Ferran Torres scored, we didn't see that.get shots of celebrities in the stands.We didn't get shots of Gianni Infantino and President Trump.We got shots of the class of 2010 in the stands celebrating.

You have to say, Spain have an incredible sporting culture.It seems whatever sports Spaniards turn their hands to, they end up being world champions at it.And I have to repeat again, It wasn't pretty, it wasn't entertaining.If you're the kind of person who is maybe tuning into the World Cup Final for the first time, somebody who is in America trying to find out what the fuss is all about, what is this soccer game that everyone is talking about, you really won't have been impressed.I was also thinking that perhaps President Trump was a little bit bored during the game because it wasn't the kind of entertainment that he's used to.We know he's into things like UFC and wrestling and boxing, this was really, really one for students of football.

It won't go down as a classic, but you have to say Spain are an absolutely exceptional team, an exceptional squad actually, because their substitutes were as good as their starting eleven.

Yeah, two substitutes combined for the goal, Nico Williamson and Ferran Torres.And what about Argentina though?One of the reasons why it wasn't a classic is because of their approach to the game.So why do you think they did that?And is this the last that we're going to see of Lionel Messi at a World Cup, would you say, Carvey?

Well, look, I thought at the end Lionel Messi conducted himself really, really well.There was no tears.He wasn't trying to be the center of attention.I and a lot of people in the stadium were just mystified by the way that Argentina approached this game.What is the point of being in a World Cup final if you're not going to win?have any goal attempts, if you're basically going to be playing for penalties from the start of the game?

What is the point of playing like that when you have the greatest player of all time in your starting 11?I felt when I was watching that game like I was watching the Argentina side from the 1990 World Cup in Italy, when they were very, very defensive, when they were masters of the dark arts and when they relied.on the incredible talents of Diego Maradona.Perhaps, perhaps Wednesday night against England took it out of this Argentina side.I think that was such an emotional high for them.that maybe it was difficult for them to lift themselves again against this exceptional Spain side.

Worthy winners, Spain.Lionel Messi, let's wait and see what he has to say, because he may say that he's going to retire from international football, but I think he can carry on playing.I think he's so good that we could see him at the next World Cup as well.

And so many fans will be desperate to see him, at least for a few more seasons.Thank you very much indeed, Carver Solicar, Chief Correspondent, reporting live from New York.Well, here we are.The scenes of celebration continue in Madrid.We'll bring you more reaction here on Sky Sports News.