Spain ‘must be prepared’ for Argentina’s physicality in World Cup final

Leandro Paredes (l.) defends during Argentina's July 15 World Cup match against England.

Luis de la Fuente had no interest in taking the bait when asked Friday about Argentina’s physical — maybe even dirty, suggested the questioner — play.

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“Oh, please, no,” the Spain manager said. “I would never dare to say that. I respect everybody’s opinions and just out of respect, I should say that I have the utmost admiration for this national team.”

Fair enough, given de la Fuente’s relationship with Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and given the obvious reasons not to stir the pot in front of the world’s media.

Nevertheless, and whatever word you want to use to describe it, Argentina’s physicality will be an obvious factor in Sunday’s World Cup Final.

“I think Sunday’s match will be quite different,” Spain captain Rodri said. “It will be more physical and we must be prepared.”

Indeed.

The first half of Argentina’s semifinal against England was one of the most physical stretches of soccer of the World Cup, largely thanks to Leandro Paredes, Giuliano Simeone and Enzo Fernández, who went hard into every tackle.

Leandro Paredes (l.) defends during Argentina’s July 15 World Cup match against England. Shutterstock

Ismail Elfath, the American referee in charge of that match, didn’t intervene until late in the half, when he gave out yellow cards to England’s Elliot Anderson and Argentina’s Cristian Romero, which brought down the temperature somewhat.

While the final shouldn’t be as emotionally charged as the semifinal between Argentina and England, given their political history, Slovakian Slavko Vincic — the referee in charge of the final — will have a huge task on his hands.

While phrases like “street football” come with a negative connotation and can be stereotypically applied to South American sides, the physical tone Argentina plays with and the mind games it excels at are very much real.

More than that, they could play a large role in the final, and act as a counter of sorts to Spain’s possession-based game.

“Of course each team will try to take the game to their own side,” de la Fuente said. “I believe that both Spain and Argentina will have a game plan where talent and good football will rule over everything else.”

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Still, that side of the game will be something de la Fuente has talked about and planned for, regardless of what he says in public.

“That’s part of football,” Rodri said. “We will see how the game plays out. I like to think that they are a national team that gives their utmost and they don’t go down that way. But if we enter such a stage of the game, obviously we must ignore that and try to play our game so that we don’t fall into provocations.”

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