Spain are world champions once again after a dominant FIFA World Cup campaign, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final. But beyond the result, the tournament has sparked fierce debate over contrasting footballing philosophies, refereeing decisions and the narratives that shaped the competition.

FIFA final: Spain’s absolute domination over Argentina explained

In this episode of In Focus, we unpack Spain’s rise under Luis de la Fuente, how their possession-based game has evolved since 2010, and why they emerged as the tournament’s standout team. We also examine Argentina’s gritty run to the final, the criticism of its physical approach, and whether allegations of favourable refereeing and FIFA bias stand up to scrutiny.

Guest: Sandeep Menon, journalist and author

Host: Reuben Joe Joseph

Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

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It’s quite easy, in this modern world, to miss the forest looking for trees.

In footballing parlance, this equates to lacking perspective and blindly over-rating goals and assists at the expense of the hidden metrics that make the game tick.

It is in this context that Rodri securing the Golden Ball in the FIFA World Cup calls for attention and praise.

The Spanish captain, who led La Roja to their second global crown, could’ve easily been overlooked for the glamorous numbers of Lionel Messi (eight goals & four assists) or Kylian Mbappe (10 & four).

But the quiet and assured presence the defensive midfielder commanded was enough to make him the first outfield player to win the Best Player award without recording a single goal or assist.

Rodri’s genius is not easy to quantify; it lies in his simplicity and positional discipline. He conducts play in possession and smothers danger in defence, ensuring that everything flows through his vision while nothing gets past his shield.

Rodri, with a record 26 tackles to his name, was the first line of Spanish defence that only conceded once in the tournament. He completed 790 passes, eclipsing his own record (638 in 2022) for the most ever registered by a player at a World Cup.

In the semifinal and the final, Rodri stood tall against the creativity of France and the physicality of Argentina alike. He was the main reason the defending champion, led by none other than Messi, struggled to even take a shot at Unai Simon. In fact, Rodri & Co. ensured that the Spanish ’keeper only faced 10 shots across their eight-game campaign.

Winning silverware is second nature to Rodri, the only man to claim a World Cup, Euro, Champions League, Premier League and Ballon d’Or title.

As if that wasn’t enough, the 30-year-old has to his credit a trio of EFL Cups, multiple FA and Super Cup triumphs, and one each of Nations League, Club World Cup, and Community Shield crowns.

The complete midfielder, as the evidence says, has completed football!

In the race for the 2025-26 Ballon d’Or, England and Bayern Munich marksman Harry Kane’s goal-scoring masterclass (73 goals & eight assists) is in the way of Rodri’s championship-winning credentials.

The Spanish skipper, though, is no stranger to making heads turn and look at the big picture.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente said his side had revived the spirit of their 2010 World ​Cup triumph after a commanding 2-0 win over France on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) sent them into ‌the final and left them one victory from a second ​global title.

Spain, who won their first World Cup 16 years ⁠ago, neutralised a France attack that had scored 16 goals before the semi-final and had been regarded as one of the tournament’s most dangerous. France did not ‌manage a shot on target until after the 80-minute mark.

Also read: France vs Spain, FIFA World Cup semi-final highlights

“The message was that we were up against one of the best ‌teams in the world, but that they were up against the ‌best ⁠team in the world,” De la Fuente told a press ⁠conference.

“These players show commitment, solidarity and talent. They make the difficult look easy. They have talent and the right attitude towards life and sport. I see a happy dressing room and ​a nation behind us. We’ve ‌recaptured the spirit of 2010. The character of this team is evident in the fact that those who didn’t play have stayed behind to train after the match,” he said.

De la Fuente praised a squad he said ‌had been built on humility, shared purpose and the absence of ​egos, saying Spain’s strength came from everyone moving in the same direction.

“I believe the most important thing is knowing how ⁠to choose your travelling companions. If you make the wrong choice of travelling companions, you could end up with a problem,” he added.

“We know that ‌this team — not just the players, but everyone who makes up the squad — works towards a common goal, with the same enthusiasm, and we are ordinary, generous people who seek the common good before our own individual interests,” De la Fuente said.

Spain, who won Euro 2024, has now equalled Italy’s record of 37 consecutive unbeaten matches, but De la Fuente said his players still had ‌room to grow.

“This team never ceases to amaze me. The scope for improvement is ​endless,” he said. “It was a labour of love, a process. It was about reaching the crucial moment in the best possible ⁠shape.”

De la Fuente said he would like to face Argentina in the final ⁠because of his close friendship with manager Lionel Scaloni, while also praising England and describing the other semi-final as a match ‌that “could easily be the World Cup final”.

“I don’t believe in the idea that finals are there to be won. They’re there to be ​enjoyed,” he said. “What’s to come could be the icing on the cake.”

Spain suffocated France deep in the heart of Texas on ‌Tuesday, powering into their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in ​2010 with a spellbinding 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro ⁠Porro.

From the opening whistle, the Spaniards wrapped themselves around France like an anaconda, tightening their grip with every wave of pressing and every spell of possession until the life had been squeezed from a French attack that ‌had looked irresistible throughout the tournament.

France vs Spain, FIFA World Cup semifinal Highlights

The European champions are now within one victory of completing a double of the game’s biggest prizes. They will discover their final opponents ‌on Wednesday when England face Argentina in Atlanta for a place in Sunday’s showpiece.

For a ‌country ⁠that waited generations for its first World Cup, a second title 16 years later ⁠would herald the arrival of another Spanish golden era, this one built around Lamine Yamal and a side as comfortable without mercy as it is with the ball.

Expectation and tension were high in Arlington as ringside announcer Bruce Buffer, a man ​who has never knowingly used an indoor ‌voice, bellowed the teams onto the pitch to launch a heavyweight clash worthy of the introduction.

A contest that had promised so much, however, swiftly tilted into a lop-sided affair as the Spaniards controlled the tempo as comprehensively as the ball, and left France chasing shadows.

Lethal attack

France had ‌come armed with the most lethal attack in world football, but it made little ​difference. Spain monopolised the ball, closed up the space and starved Les Bleus of the one thing their forwards needed — possession.

Incredibly for an international team, the Spaniards ⁠played like the best-drilled of club sides, telepathic in their movement and passing. France were reduced to spectators almost from the start and mustered just two shots on target.

It took 22 minutes for Spain to ‌break the deadlock. Marc Cucurella swung a deep cross into the French area that Lucas Digne brought down on his chest, but as the left back tried to clear, Yamal stepped across him and was caught by the follow through. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Oyarzabal drilled the penalty high into the net, giving Mike Maignan no chance despite the keeper diving the right way. France had not trailed at this World Cup and the scheduled hydration break could ‌hardly have come at a better moment for Didier Deschamps, handing him an immediate opportunity to settle his rattled ​side.

Still, France could find no breathing space for their free-flowing football and could have been 2-0 down 15 minutes later when Fabian Ruiz was denied by Dayot Upamecano’s ⁠last-ditch challenge with the goal at his mercy.

So potent against every other nation, France were nullified. Michael Olise was ⁠a virtual spectator, smothered by Cucurella, Ousmane Dembele offered little and even their star skipper Kylian Mbappe was unable to conjure any magic.

Spain tightened the coil another notch just ‌before the hour, when Porro doubled Spain’s lead, calmly exchanging passes with Dani Olmo before side-footing home, leaving France staring into the abyss.

There was to be no respite for the increasingly ​desperate French and Spain’s formidable side raised their arms and eyes to the skies as the final whistle blew.

Mikel Merino came off the bench again to save Spain, scoring the go-ahead goal in the 88th minute to defeat Belgium 2-1 in a World ​Cup quarterfinal in Inglewood, California, on Friday (July 10, 2026).

A spot in the July 19 final will ‌be at stake when Spain plays France in Arlington, Texas, on ​Tuesday (July 14). The French are seeking a third straight trip to the ⁠final having won in 2018 before losing on penalties to Argentina four years ago.

Merino, who was on the field less than six minutes before scoring the winner in second-half stoppage ‌time against Portugal in the round of 16 on Monday, entered in the 86th minute and smashed in a rebound after substitute goalkeeper ‌Senne Lammens spilled a soft shot by Pau Cubarsi.

Lammens replaced the ‌injured ⁠Thibaut Courtois (four saves) in the 71st minute.

In the second minute ⁠of second-half stoppage time, Spain defender Aymeric Laporte bailed out goalkeeper Unai Simon with a clearance in front of the goal.

Spain had not conceded a goal in the tournament through five matches ​but found themselves tied 1-1 at the ‌half.

Fabian Ruiz put Spain ahead in the 30th minute with a rebound off a shot by Dani Olmo but a header by Charles De Ketelaere in the 41st was the equalizer.

Spain almost opened the scoring in ‌the 21st but a strike by star Lamine Yamal, who turns 19 ​on Monday, was wide of the left post and the lead came soon after.

A cross by Pedro Poro from the left ⁠flank was well struck by Olmo at the center of the box, forcing a right-handed save by Courtois.

Ruiz, who got the start over Barcelona’s Pedri in ‌the midfield, was in perfect position for the putback.

La Roja allowed Belgium back into the match with uncharacteristic poor clearing and Timothy Castagne sent a service in from the right to De Ketelaere, who got inside positioning on Pau Cubarsi and powered the ball past Unai Simon.

The goal came a minute after Yamal again was just off target from distance, this time at the right post, ending ‌Simon’s World Cup record stretch without conceding a goal at 650 minutes dating back to ​the 2022 World Cup.

It was wide open briefly at the hour mark when Spain’s Lamine Yamal, who twice had barely missed scoring, ⁠had a shot from outside the box stopped by Courtois.

At the other end, Kevin ⁠De Bruyne’s shot was saved before Spain responded and Courtois denied Mikel Oyarzabal at the right post.

Courtois (four saves) was replaced by Lammens in ‌the 71st minute after sustaining an apparent leg injury.

Belgium captain and midfielder Youri Tielemans sustained an undisclosed injury during warm-ups and was scratched from the ​starting lineup. Hans Vanaken replaced him.

Belgium had their 18-match unbeaten streak end. Spain claimed their only title in 2010.

Football, like life, has a habit of changing fortunes quickly.

Less than a week ago, Mikel Oyarzabal found himself attached to an unwanted statistic after Spain’s goalless draw against Cape Verde. For nearly 30 minutes, the striker went without touching the ball, a reflection of an afternoon when little seemed to work for one of the tournament favourites.

Six days later, Oyarzabal walked off the same pitch with two World Cup goals and an assist in Spain’s 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia.

The turnaround was fitting for a player who has spent much of his career being quietly effective rather than loudly celebrated.

Unlike many of Spain’s stars, Oyarzabal did not emerge from the academies of Real Madrid or Barcelona. The 29-year-old grew up in the industrial Basque town of Eibar, where former teachers remember him as a respectful, hardworking and mature child who never sought attention despite being the best footballer in the schoolyard. He joined Real Sociedad as a teenager and has remained there ever since, becoming captain and a symbol of a club that continues to challenge Spain’s giants despite operating with a fraction of their resources.

His value to the national team, filled with stars, extends well beyond the goals he scores. The Basque forward has 27 goals in 55 appearances for Spain.

“People who know about football value Mikel greatly,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said after the win.

“The impact he has on the team is massive and is probably bigger than any other. The other day, he broke a record of not touching a ball for 30 minutes and today he scored two goals and had one assist.”

The 29-year-old has now been directly involved in 21 goals — 14 goals and seven assists — in his last 13 games for Spain.

Unlike most of his Spanish teammates, he is not a striker who constantly demands possession. Instead, Oyarzabal occupies defenders, creates space, leads the press and often makes the runs that allow others to shine.

Yet, when the moment arrives, he is usually in the right place.

“He is a footballer who can make history,” De la Fuente added.

He has already played his part in a few historic moments. He scored in the 2019-20 and 2025-26 Copa del Rey finals as Real Sociedad lifted the trophy, and he also struck the winner against England in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.

After yet another match-winning performance, Oyarzabal was happy to have reignited Spain’s World Cup quest. “I’m happy to have scored, to have helped the team. One way or another, I’m always trying to do what’s best for the team. When you don’t do things well, when things don’t go your way, you criticise yourself, you look internally to try to improve,” he said. “We knew we could do much better than the other day. We were looking forward to turning it around. It was very important to start with the right foot, and that’s what happened.”

Against Cape Verde, Oyarzabal had become the subject of an awkward statistic. Against Saudi Arabia, he has reminded everyone why Spain and De la Fuente keep selecting him.

Spain stars Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams took part in training on Thursday (June 11, 2026), allaying fears over their fitness ahead of La Roja’s World Cup opener against Cape Verde.

Both wingers shone as Spain romped to Euro 2024 glory, but have been beset by injury problems this season.

Barcelona’s Yamal has not played since suffering a hamstring injury on April 22.

Williams has also not featured for a month after missing the end of Athletic Bilbao’s season.

Spain open their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta on Monday and coach Luis de la Fuente said earlier this week he was confident the duo would be fit to play some part, but that it was unlikely they will start.

“We know that both of them are coming back from important injuries,” Spain right-back Pedro Porro told reporters.

“They are recovering, they are happy, they are with the group and that is the most important thing.”

Spanish media reported De la Fuente will name the same side that beat Peru in their final warm-up friendly 3-1 on Monday, with Alex Baena and Ferran Torres deputising for Yamal and Williams on the wings.

The 2010 winners also face South Africa and Uruguay in Group H.