FIFA World Cup 2026 Results & Discussion Thread [R]

temesgen · Jul 20, 2026

madridismo said: ↑

One of the most impressive stats for me is how Spain have conceded just one goal in the tournament, and kept France and Argentina to essentially nothing in 90 minutes.

It doesn’t look like a fearsome backline - Porro almost got relegated with Spurs, Laporte was playing for Al Nassr until last year, Cubarsi is 19, and Cucurella has passed under the radar for years.
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The entire squad presses, they all work like a unit and we see the results. Romario playing for Brazil used to say his job was to get a goal, that mentality won't win you a WC today, you need 10 guys fighting for everything. The game has evolved.

4x4s · Jul 20, 2026

temesgen said: ↑

The entire squad presses, they all work like a unit and we see the results. Romario playing for Brazil used to say his job was to get a goal, that mentality won't win you a WC today, you need 10 guys fighting for everything. The game has evolved.
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Not really if we're honest. Yamal isn't out there putting miles on miles on miles.

It's sort of become the "oh, they all press and defend" standard but Spain over everything else controlled the pace of the game and the clock. They didn't go on a track and field competition up and down the field vs Spain, they just did what a lot of teams do now and ate up the clock. Game went by like a flash. Their opponents often have quick breaks and peaks after halftime and the drink breaks but they slowly reel the game back in after 5-10 minutes.

It's fascinating at tournament length, but when a team does it over an entire season and thousand of hours of football like Arsenal did, the response is very different.

dooda · Jul 20, 2026

I find the "the whole team needs to press is the new meta" a bit funny when Argentina made it all the way to the final with Messi breaking walking records and still being his teams best player.

4x4s · Jul 20, 2026

dooda said: ↑

I find the "the whole team needs to press is the new meta" a bit funny when Argentina made it all the way to the final with Messi breaking walking records and still being his teams best player.
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Haaland barely moved a muscle at times vs England. He was used in clearances in defensive situations, but so was Ronaldo, and he was (rightly) considered a cone for the entire tournament.

Oversimplification really but it's fine. I think the perception flipped when Spain completely upset France. Patrick Viera was on the BBC broadcast telling people Spain doesn't stand a chance to France. So it's not some "real ball knowers know" situation. There were actually smart people that know a lot about the sport completely writing Spain off.

HZinho · Jul 20, 2026

So well deserved from Spain. They did what the majority of the world wanted: passing Argentina into oblivion, suffocating them and creating chances. It's a shame this went to ET, but that's the only weakness this Spanish side had, the lack of a clinical finisher. This Argentina simply doesn't belong in a WC final, but thankfully Spain finished the job. Couldn't be happier for them and De La Fuente!

And still...Tuchel will be kicking himself that he let this opportunity slide. Absolute donkey of a manager.

Lyra · Jul 20, 2026

petros93 · Jul 20, 2026

4x4s said: ↑

The idea to make coaching licenses available at this kind of scale and cost has really been paying off big.
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Hey, can you elaborate a bit on that?

Lyra · Jul 20, 2026

this guy handsome af

WhiteRM · Jul 20, 2026

I honestly can't decide what's funnier: the meltdown from Argentina fans and Messi fanboys after Spain completely outclassed them, the endless tears over Rodri winning the World Cup Golden Ball, or the desperate claims that the referee handed Spain the victory.

Watching them jump from one excuse to another instead of accepting they were beaten by the better team has been pure entertainment.

Excape Goat · Jul 20, 2026

Doc_Exec said: ↑

1990 was the worst until today. These classless thugs just delivered the absolute worst performance in World Cup final history.
After their infamous match 60 years ago (in the 1966 World Cup), England's World Cup winning coach, Sir Alf Ramsey, described the Argentine players as 'animals'. Today, they matched every single bit of that description, just like their disgraceful performance in the 1990 World Cup final.
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And the Germans beat them with a dive.... Kohler drew a red card for them. It was poetic justice.

This year, I do believe that FIFA is "cheating" alongside them.

celito · Jul 20, 2026

Lyra said: ↑

Toni Kroos was happy with the World Cup final result 😅🤣 pic.twitter.com/dvE2V1xCIL
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 19, 2026

Footballs the winner#fifaworldcup #fifaworldcup
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) July 19, 2026

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Didn't you all gave shit to Pep and Xavi when they would make these type of assertions ?

celito · Jul 20, 2026

temesgen said: ↑

ESPN FC commentary was hilarious, they swallowed Argentina antics all tournament and then after they lose the commentators feel free to call it out. I think this just affirms winning regardless how ugly and with few exceptions is celebrated but losexand the comments come out.
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In the preview for the Final IIRC the same ones said that Argentina's chippiness was (mostly) part of the game. Yeah, a complete 180.

celito · Jul 20, 2026

What started the whole mess after the match.

o molina dando um soco no estômago do espanhol que estava correndo comemorando

todo castigo pra argentino é pouco.
cambada de babaca pic.twitter.com/hUgK4f8vEq
— ju (@jucomentou) July 20, 2026

J-Mezzy · Jul 20, 2026

Paredes and Molina should be suspended

boeder · Jul 20, 2026

And he played 6 WCs
Thank you Mbappe

WhiteRM · Jul 20, 2026

Argentina are the biggest crybullies in football. Zero class, zero dignity, just endless whining and dirty antics.

🚨 APRÈS LE COUP DE SIFFLET FINAL, LES ARGENTINS 🇦🇷 ÉTAIENT LOIN D’AVOIR UN COMPORTEMENT EXEMPLAIRE. 👇❌

👉 Leandro Paredes 🇦🇷 a agressé Gavi 🇪🇸 et Éric Garcia 🇪🇸. 😳

👉 Nahuel Molina 🇦🇷 a frappé Rodri 🇪🇸. 🥊

👉 Roberto Ayala, membre du staff argentin, a giflé Dani Olmo 🇪🇸.… pic.twitter.com/t1ngJm8nIy
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) July 20, 2026

Rich coming from an Argentine player. Nothing is more detached from reality than lecturing others about refereeing.

🚨🇦🇷 Otamendi to Rodri and Laporte after the game: “You spent the whole week crying about the referee”.

“You talk too much”, reports Marca. pic.twitter.com/611CMMDCe8
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 20, 2026

J-Mezzy · Jul 20, 2026

Argentina always act like tough guys even though they are one of the smallest teams in the world

I do wish they allow hockey rules for a bit. Let them get humbled. Not just them, any of those teams that think they are tough

boeder · Jul 20, 2026

Ayala punched Olmo as well

¿El puñetazo que le mete ese animal a Dani Olmo qué es? Estos salvajes deben recibir sanciones ejemplares. Son la peor calaña pic.twitter.com/W1d0buKE6o
— 🅿 (@finallyxpablo) July 20, 2026

boeder · Jul 20, 2026

🚨🚨🚨🚨🎥

هكذا غادر كوكوريا ملعب المباراة وهو يضع كأس العالم في كيس قمامة 🤣😂 pic.twitter.com/aYG6AQJ0Lv
— محمود مجيد (@MMajeedX) July 20, 2026

4x4s · Jul 20, 2026

petros93 said: ↑

Hey, can you elaborate a bit on that?
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The Spanish UEFA Pro tier license takes a year to complete and costs 1.000 to 2.000 euro. Former professional players get fast tracked so you can get the license even quicker.

The UK FA Coaching diploma takes about two years and costs about 16.000 Euro.

The German one takes between one and two years and costs 20.000 euro.

That's the main reason Spain produces top tier coaches like nobody else. It's a football intelligence factory.

I come from a different pro sport section and at this point we're just sending our guys to Spain. That includes physios and strength and conditioning coaches.

boeder · Jul 20, 2026

Argentines thought they scored and began celebrating

😱🤯 PERO, MUCHACHOS... ARGENTINA PERDIÓ 1-0... ¡Atención al GOL FANTASMA que se gritó en el Obelisco, en la final de la Copa del Mundo!

🎬 #ESPNMundial
📺 Mirá los mejores partidos de la #FIFAWorldCup por ESPN, en el Plan Premium de #DisneyPlus pic.twitter.com/pFmgI1QezX
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) July 19, 2026

boeder · Jul 20, 2026

WhiteRM · Jul 20, 2026

2 players from the top 3 are RM players.

If Jude would have taken Penalties than he could finish with 8 goals at least.

J-Mezzy · Jul 20, 2026

Mbappe could 35 World Cup goals lol

boeder · Jul 20, 2026

J-Mezzy said: ↑

Mbappe could 35 World Cup goals lol
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France will sell him though..