England’s attempt to double-team or even triple-team Lionel Messi didn’t faze the Argentine. Will Spain’s better drilled side do better?
| Photo Credit: AP
Mumbai
As Spain and Argentina prepare to lock horns in Sunday night’s FIFA World Cup final, two of European football’s biggest names have highlighted the tactical intrigue that could define the contest while stopping short of predicting a winner.
Former England striker Robbie Fowler and legendary Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, speaking as Zee5 experts ahead of the summit clash, agreed that Spain has set the benchmark throughout the tournament but felt Argentina possess enough quality to test the European champion if it can exploit the few spaces on offer.
“The obvious one is Spain’s going to have a little bit more of the ball,” Fowler said here on Thursday. “How we stop Messi from dominating games is you don’t let them have the ball. It’s easier said than done, but Spain are a possession-based team with a purpose. It’s not possession for the sake of it. They play forward, break presses and look to attack in transition.”
The former Liverpool stalwart felt Spain’s ability to monopolise possession also serves as its primary defensive weapon. “They’ll try to control the ball, control areas of the pitch and stop Argentina from having the ball. That’s a great defensive attribute. How do you stop teams from scoring? Don’t give them the ball,” he said.
Kahn, meanwhile, admitted he had struggled throughout the tournament to identify a weakness in the Spanish side. “I have asked myself the whole tournament: how is Spain beatable?” Kahn said. “They are playing like clockwork, without any weaknesses.”
The legendary goalkeeper suggested that Spain’s only vulnerability could arise if its attacking full-backs, Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro, push too high up the pitch alongside Rodri, leaving space for Lionel Messi & Co. to exploit on the counter.
“But the question is whether Spain will offer this space to Argentina. Spain’s players are so intelligent. They have high playing intelligence and are extremely smart on the field,” Kahn said.
“This game is a match between rational guys playing super-smart football against fully emotional, aggressive guys playing a totally different style. It is a battle between systems and tactics, but you also have outstanding players like Rodri, Yamal, Messi, Martínez and De Paul.”
Published – July 16, 2026 08:23 pm IST
