Will Spain lift it for only a second time since 2010, or will reigning champions Argentina make it title No 4, having clinched it in 1978, 1986 and 2022?
KUALA LUMPUR: With the 2026 FIFA World Cup title showdown between Spain and Argentina looming large, there is heated debate among local football analysts, pundits and fans as to who will lift the coveted trophy.
Will Spain lift it for only a second time since 2010, or will reigning champions Argentina make it title No 4, having clinched it in 1978, 1986 and 2022?
Bernama asked former national strikers Mohd Safee Mohd Sali and Azlan Johar, as well as analyst Stanley Bernard, for their opinions. Guess what? Safee and Azlan are going for Spain, and Stanley’s leaning towards the Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina.
Safee is basing his prediction on the convincing manner Spain took France apart in their 2-0 semi-final win, saying that has put head coach Luis de la Fuente’s La Roja on the right track to emerge victorious.
“Spain have the upper hand over Argentina because they played exceptionally well against France. One could see they were superbly disciplined in midfield. Lamine Yamal may be 19, but he shone the brightest… they are motivated and look highly determined to outdo Argentina in the final.
“Having said that, Argentina do possess tonnes of fighting spirit. They are the comeback kings. So, Spain cannot underestimate this Argentine team,” he said, as he predicts a close 2-1 win for Spain.
Safee reckons that midfield control holds the key to victory for Spain, with Rodrigo Cascante (better known as Rodri) and Pedro López (widely known as Pedri) set to play pivotal roles as they pull the strings and dictate the tempo for their team.
Azlan, meanwhile, views the final as the coming together of two different footballing philosophies, with Argentina preferring to build their attack in stages and Spain opting to be front-footed right from the first whistle.
“Argentina make more crosses and passes, but when they face Spain, they will come up against the best defensive outfits in this tournament, with Spain having conceded just one goal in seven matches,” he said.
He believes that Spain’s swift transition from defence to attack, high-intensity game and solid defending capabilities will stand them in good stead as they set their sights on a second World Cup crown.
“Spain are fast, right from the get-go, and they maintain their high-intensity and high-pressing game. That’s their strength, so why should they change?” he said, while predicting a 2-0 win for Spain.
Azlan also opines that the goalkeepers – Spain’s Unai Simon and Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez – could well be the difference between victory and defeat, especially in launching quick counterattacks from the back.
“In modern football, goalkeepers hold the key to changing the outcome of a game. Their role is not just about making saves, but it is what they do with the ball after that. A good goalkeeper will exploit any space left by the opposition by launching a swift counterattack,” he said.
Stanley, however, believes that as much as tactics matter in the final, it is the competitiveness and mentality of reigning champions Argentina that will eventually prevail.
He may have a point there. After all, Argentina have fought back to win three times in this edition of the World Cup.
In the Round-of-16, they trailed Egypt 2-0 before going on to win 3-2; in the quarter-finals, they conceded a second-half equaliser but fought back to win 3-1 in extra time; and in the semi-final against England, they trailed 1-0 in the 55th minute before Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez scored late in the second half to secure a 2-1 victory.
“I think Spain are the most tactically astute team in this World Cup, while Argentina are the most resilient. Spain will probably score first, but Argentina have shown throughout this tournament that they always find a way back.
“The biggest difference is that Argentina no longer carry the pressure of having to win the World Cup for Messi. That was achieved four years ago. Now, they are playing with more freedom, and I think that could be their biggest X-factor in retaining the title,” he said.
Pushed for a prediction, he’s going for Argentina to retain their crown with a 3-2 win over Spain in extra-time.
Whatever happens in the final at the New York New Jersey Stadium in the United States on Sunday (3 am Monday Malaysian time), get ready for an absorbing contest.
