LIVE World Cup Final Watchalong: Spain vs Argentina | ESPN FC

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Join Alex Aljoe, Julien Laurens, and Nedum Onuoha for a live watchalong of the FIFA World Cup Final. Follow every minute of the action as they react to the biggest moments, key decisions, goals, and drama from the match. Be part of the conversation by sharing your thoughts and comments live with fans from around the world. Don't miss this complete 90-minute World Cup Final watchalong experience. ✔️ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: https://plus.espn.com/ ESPN

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Heat. Heat. >> [music] [music] >> FC Live is presented [music] by Colog Guard Plus. >> [music] >> Welcome to ESPN FC Live sponsored by Color Guard Plus. We are going to be watching the World Cup final with you at home. So, make sure you send in all your questions and comments during the game and we will feature them on our broadcast. We have watch parties in Buenosides in Madrid. We'll be checking in on them. We have Jules. We have Need in the studio. Guys, how excited are we? >> Let's go, man. [cheering] Come on. Let's go. >> It's here. It's finally here. I know. >> So good. Like from my perspective, >> to be fair, maybe everyone's perspective, like this is always the most important day in football. You know, not like a domestic or whatever. This important day in football, whether you are like 5 years old kicking the ball for the first time, if you've played, if you're playing, like this is the very peak of what I think is the biggest game in the world. >> And whatever country you're from as well, right? Of course. >> Better if you're an Argentina fan, but still. >> Yeah, that's fair. But it's it just for me this stuff like doesn't matter as such because before I was in the studio and to my left was Frank who's won it Mano who's played for England and like Craig who you know played for the World Cup for Scotland. I remember watching them all play and thinking oh my god yeah this is so significant and I was just yeah I love I love this day more than anything >> and also it's been a long it's been great but it's been long you know the longest World Cup ever. This is going to be the longest final ever because of the water breaks that >> halftime whatever you want to call it. And finally we we're here. Uh and yeah, we've been waiting for this day for the last what six weeks or so. >> You know, you know what? I do totally agree and I think so I went back to England halfway through and what it reminded me of is the fact that not everybody's consuming every single game. So some of the tiredness that some people have cuz like we've kind of had to cover that but for some they've been picking and choosing if they have done they've seen some great games and going to see a great >> not been doing that have we? >> No no both ends 104 matches but obviously the World Cup final. Now I have gone bold in my prediction. And I know you >> Oh, have you? Wow. >> Yeah, I've won really bold. >> Super bold. Yeah, super bold. >> Yeah, I've committed to a 3-0 win for Spain. >> Okay. >> Uh just cuz I think they've been >> they've been so good >> defensively. So strong. >> I think Lamin is is due >> a worldly performance. >> I hear you. >> So what better time than a World Cup final? >> And I do feel like Argentina I'm not saying they've been lucky to get to the final. >> That's kind of what you're saying. That's kind of [laughter] what you're saying. It's kind of what you're saying. I'm saying they've been fortunate. They've been fortunate. Of course, they have the experience. Eight of their starting 11 started in in 2022. So, they do have that. Uh, but I still think, yeah, I think Spain are going to dominate. >> Spain are the better team. There's no doubt. >> But then >> Argentina have gone from miracle to miracle to miracle to miracle, which is not a coincidence and not an accident either. When you do it once, you can say, "Okay, they got to be lucky." But when you do it almost three games in a row, it can't be an accident anymore. And they have Messi. And I think with Messi, >> anything can happen. If you're Thomas and you mess things up, that would help Argentina. If De La does the same today, that would help Argentina. But overall, I think Spain, if they don't mess it up, should win this final. >> Yeah, I think it can be that simple. But in reality, you know, it just will not be that simple. Like, if it's 3-0 to Spain, we've probably seen one of the best performances we've probably ever seen at this sort of like level at this stage because they will be controlling the tempo. They'll have their attacking players being key. Like let me before we were speaking and they were talking about how he's not really had a great influence on this team. >> But then imagine if he does today like it's like well this is going to be Spain's but again >> he was saving himself. >> But the way he talks as a 19-year-old you think to yourself this guy's like it's ridiculous. But then he's 19. He sees the world of football very differently. Yeah. Sees the [clears throat] world very differently to other people. And he's also like he's already won European championship. He's won domestic titles. >> He's played nearly 200 games in his career. >> Yeah. and he's he just knows that when he's on his best, he's basically unplayable. >> I was just going to say he is playing for the team as well. It's obviously what Luis Deuente wants. He doesn't want this team to be about superstars. I I [music] I interviewed Defeent earlier in the tournament and I I asked it like that name like this. >> Who does she think is going to win the whole thing? >> Why didn't she mention Ibrahimovic yesterday with Ibrahim, seen [laughter] it, discussed it. [gasps] No, but what I was going to say is I was asking him about Laminia Ma, but everyone else was asking about Laminia Mal and it was so early in the tournament and you could see that he didn't want the whole narrative to be about Laminia Mal being that superstar. I think he's done really well to to to manage that Lamin situation. >> I agree. The only thing I would say on Spain is that their best game has been against France, right? Because they were not that great against Belgium, not that great against Portugal and in the group stage they went from strength to strength. Okay. But the one thing that was missing from the French point of view in that semi-final was intensity, winning your jewels, which that's what Argentina are going to do today. You know that they don't have to play too high. They're not going to press because they can't they don't have the the legs outside of Nikico Gonzalez, I guess. >> But then you you know in every jewel they're going to be there in midfield at the back and Spain will have to deal with that. It won't be as easy as it was against France for an hour or so, >> but I still expect them to be able to keep that ball and and control the tempo. You know, to be fair, like it looked like it was easy against France because they were doing things so well. You know what I mean? >> Because the French were so passive, too. >> Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. Exactly. So, it' be very very interesting to see like how Spain approach this game. And I think going for Rodri and Fabian Ruiz, >> like if they get that engine room right, then you'll see why they'll win the game. >> Best in the world. >> They definitely can be. And I think if the Argentinians get into them trying to affect their rhythm, getting in their faces and say Fabri Fabian and Rodri like react to it, >> then you know the game's going to be changing cuz if you give them if you make them have an off day and I think that that sort of collapses everything >> and with Kianapp's two goals against England, he's now the leading scoreer in World Cup history. Then >> are you somebody that's okay earlier? >> Cuz I know >> Yeah, cuz I know some people that aren't Mark Ogden, for example. >> Well, they shouldn't count. >> That's what >> they're still a World Cup match. >> Yo, listen. I'm just I'm just curious about what you'll see. >> No, but in that case, the the third group game in your group sometimes doesn't mean anything cuz you're already top the group and the other team is in that case that doesn't count either >> cuz it's a it's like a friendly. >> It's just one of those other like stupid points from Mark. [laughter] >> I'm kidding. Love. >> Okay. Right. We are underway. The 2026 World Cup final has begun and let's see how well how it goes. I'm I'm excited. >> Yeah. Yeah. 100%. Do you know what's interesting with Argentina? Like my opinion. Yeah. The way that they defend they can be so much on the front foot, but we've never praised Messi for his defending. Yeah. Never ever ever. >> So it's like they almost attack with 12 and defend with 10. You know what I mean? >> Exactly. >> But they still find ways to like >> maintain the way that he is. And again, we were talking about on the show earlier. The thing about Messi is like really interesting to me is that for the early part of his career, probably the first twothirds of it and so on, all the praise that he was getting was around his like club football, you know what I mean? He was an icon with it. But then as time has passed, all of a sudden, look at the goals he scored in these last two tournaments. >> As a 35year-old and a 39y old, >> some would have probably in other countries probably would have made the case because he has retired as well, hasn't he? >> Yeah. A couple of times I think he said like, "I'm done with the national team." probably would have made the case again. I'm [laughter] >> probably made the case that at 35 you shouldn't build a team around him, but he's been so good these last two tournaments. It's like, well, why wouldn't you, you know? >> Yeah. Very different to the Cristiano Ronaldo situation, right? >> Well, do you know the Cristiano Ronaldo one? Obviously, the two of them are iconic or whatever. >> But it's more so a case of like uh what's it called? The >> it's the style of play, the way that they sort of help their sides out. Because for Ronaldo, in my mind, it's about the service whereas Messi is the service, he's the finisher, like the positions that he can play in. >> Yeah. And as a consequence, he'll always get more touches on a game of how talented he is. That means like it'll speak for itself, doesn't it? >> Yeah. >> And and I think Portugal have have struggled to create a collective that works as well for a player like Cristiano, like Argentina have done under Scalonia, which >> they've built this team for Messi around Messi and and they've done that really well with the player that they've had. Port would have struggled to do that anyway. >> And Spain the only team yet to trail in a World Cup match by the So if Argentina were to score the opening goal. >> Yeah, that's true. >> It'd be interesting to see how how they react because they haven't had to. >> Yeah. Do you know some things like that like I feel sometimes that can be lean lent into quite a lot but the fact they've not trail is because they're just so good anyway. I feel like with the Spanish side their identity won't change. You know if they're leading like they there were games where they were leading one leading 2-0 and they're still going to pressing as high as possible to try and put the opposition under pressure. So I don't think anything really changes from that standpoint. The only time it would change is if say time's like running out. You know what I mean? And they think they have to do something different, but >> that's not really the way they operate. They just That's true. They just It's really good. Really, really good. >> Well, well, so Nem and I have rewatched this the Argentina England semi-final, especially the second half. >> Sickos that we are by the way. >> No passionate. >> No sickos. >> And and the way and the way Argentina obviously held by England and the tactics by two, etc., etc., you know, but how they started playing from, let's say, the hour mark, which I think is something they can do again today. And Fernandez starting ahead of Paredes in that kind of number six position in front of the back four. You see he's touched the ball a lot already. He's dropping between the two center backs. We see him there, number 24. um which is what Parades usually does um when he plays is interesting because if you ask Enzo to do that and play so deep, there's obviously no runs from Enzo into the opposition box like he loves doing like he did with Chelsea in the season or like he did against England. I mean again it was it was a bit different in that case. So you take away what is maybe his best attribute um and yet I think Parades will come on after the hour >> and then Enzo will play a bit higher up on the pitch and that last half hour I think Argentina would benefit massively from Menzo being higher up the pitch but for now it probably makes more sense to have him in front of the back four for Argentina than Paredes. >> Yeah it's fair really fair. >> What about the decision to leave Pedri on the bench again? I mean for me Fabian is amazing and I know some people probably you know don't don't know much maybe about him or his qualities and he's been injured a lot with PSG last season so didn't have the same impact than the previous season but he's a he's incredibly good for the balance of your team he and we will see him in this game how smart he is in his own movement and also to compensate the movement of others so let's see this on the right hand side >> oh that was blocked first I think by Tagico and been saved by Duo Martinez but the first chance for Spain there. >> Yeah. Yeah. Lamin already making his mark >> with Daniel Mo. I don't think we see enough praise names for Daniel. >> Daniel has been brilliant. >> Yeah. He's been he's been fantastic but like a lot team have you know what I mean and it it's so good the way that they've got this superstar in Lamin but they've also got the the rest of the team and the patience and everything else. >> Oh almost almost. Yeah the patience the way that they play. Like we're talking about Lumin 5 minutes into the game having essentially his first or second touch. They don't need to try and build everything around it. They're still more than happy to do as they as they would normally. >> Oh, nice Messi through Simon >> reading that really well. >> Yeah, Uno Simon has been absolutely superb as well. David has sat on the bench. Join Garcia sat on the bench, but >> but Uno Simon has um certainly repaid the trust that that trusted him for a long time. >> Yeah, for a long time. even if he hasn't really been tested that much because against the French in the semi in the semi-final really was only he read he read a few through balls really really well but there was nothing much for him to do and he would be busier in in the final obviously today but we've seen already it's only five minutes in >> but we've seen very much what we expected no >> Spain to have quite a lot of the ball moving it well good passing people coming inside into the half spaces all of that and then Argentina I think being very happy know to have the ball and in that kind of medium to low block. >> Yeah, for sure. Do you know what's interesting as well? The move just when Nunai Simmon came forward and like cleared it up. It was messed. It was playing on the shoulder and then behind. >> You know, it's 39 years. >> Yeah, there's a limit to the genius. >> Well, there are certain people who are possibly younger who don't play on the shoulder. >> So, I'm just going to put that one out there into universe. There's value in always doing it. >> Always. >> But this is what Spain are so good at, aren't they? Just just moving the ball around. They look so composed, so controlled. >> Yeah, for sure. I think as well from um playing against them standpoint, there are some games where like a team will be losing 1 nil and it might as well be like 10 and it's just because essentially like when it comes down to it um like if you if you're not the ball you're basically just doing cardio. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And nobody's trying nobody's trying to do cardio. That's the thing. >> Yeah. Well, we saw it with the um the France game with the O. >> Yeah. Yeah. No, you're right. >> It was it was crazy to see uh they make it look so easy. >> Yeah. and Rodri going forward there. How impressed have you been with Rodri in this tournament considering >> the season that he had with City? Although Guardola said I think back in April he said you'll see Rodri will be at his best >> for the for the World Cup. That was a good one too again on the edge of the box there from Spain and >> Yeah, I thought it was a foul to be honest. >> Yeah, me too. >> Yeah, Rodri's looking like Ballindor Rodri, isn't it? There were there were times at the beginning of the tournament I was thinking not sure and obviously Martin Zuba Mendy hasn't hasn't had >> Sub men by the way he's having a >> personally it's a tough 2026 isn't it >> the last four months have been >> but yeah with with Rody like Guardiola said you'll see they'll see the best of him in the summer and you know that's coming back from injury getting into a rhythm and so on and from a man's perspective I'm sure he would have wanted him to be like good and available for like the the running and so on but this is football you know nothing you can't necessarily like just plan for everything to be great for you. >> But yeah, he has been excellent. And also it's how how are we going to say that the only team that stopped Spain from winning a game this tournament is Cape B. >> I know. I know. You know what I mean? It was unbelievable that >> Argentina could not beat them over 90 minutes either, which is incred. I think they they're really proud of what they've achieved because it's been an incredible World Cup for them. >> Obviously, Spain should have won that game with the chances that they had. That's that's the context that goes missing sometimes when you look at a result. >> We'll see. The hero >> of course goalkeeper never played in a World Cup and >> 40s great age. That's why we love the World Cup though for [laughter] you're peing it peaking when you're 40, aren't you? >> Yeah, it's great. Imagine I wouldn't. No. >> Yeah, of course not. Just Just imagine just imagine Messi at 40. This is him at 39. Be incredible. What a player. >> You think that means chance again. I think that was a that was a good that was a decent chance. >> Yeah, it was. It ended up being a decent save because of the deflection. >> Mhm. >> I need to look at the expected goals of it, but I think that was a a good chance and maybe didn't hit the ball like he should have. No, I don't think so. I don't think so. Do you know what's interesting? Like the Fabian like Pedrick thing cuz they are so different players even though they do both play the position so well. Like it feels to me like Pedrick wants to take more touches and sort of dribble his way through things >> whereas Fabian Ruiz is more so like understanding tempo. You know, sometimes it's one, sometimes it's two touches on occasionally he might take four or five or whatever, but it's more like gets into a rhythm. And I thought when they played the last game in the semi-final against France, it's like oh the fab is doing great and then I think Pedro came on and complimented the moment as well. You know what I mean? >> You just I'm not sure Almo as we see uh >> president of the United States with the World Cup trophy. >> Yeah, he's going to hand it over later. >> Is that Ronaldo in the back? Did you see that? Just stuck his head down there. >> Brazilian Ronaldo was there. I think so. Maybe. Yeah. >> Yeah. The other one's on his holidays >> from the top rope by the way. Alex Aljo from the top row. >> Top row. >> Wow. Didn't you like that, Alex? >> No, not really. >> That trans [laughter] is is10 [snorts] xG, but 27 on target. So, usually when you hit it on target. >> Yeah. >> Um, from that from exactly where he hit that shot, it's usually a good one. >> Yeah, for sure. >> Not to name drop again, guys, but >> but you're going going to >> No, no. When I was with Latan, he was talking about uh Ma and he said, "Oh, he is Latan, isn't he?" To everyone. >> No. >> Um, no, he was just saying he was just saying that he hoped that Laminia Ma wasn't starruck by Leon Messi because we've all seen that photo, haven't we, that of him giving him a bath. >> What do you think? What do you thin