Spain finally made the breakthrough in extra time against 10-man Argentina as Ferran Torres’ smashed finish put them on the brink of winning the 2026 World Cup final.
After a dire spectacle for 90 minutes, with neither side mustering any real chances, Enzo Fernandez stupidly got himself sent off just before the end of normal time when he crunched Pau Cubarsi on halfway and was deservedly shown a second yellow card, having earlier been booked for dissent.
Spain then thought they had taken the lead but Nico Williams’ 96th-minute goal was ruled out for a very soft foul in the build-up before Torres finally did give La Roja the lead at the start of the second half of extra time when he calmly hammered home Williams’ clever, cushioned header.
Lionel Messi appears headed for defeat as he graces this stage for likely the final time and the spectacle wasn’t befitting one of the greatest players of all time, with ITV pundit Ian Wright blaming the pitch for a dismal first half and a lengthy half-time show then ensuring the interval lasted for more than 27 minutes, with BBC pundit Wayne Rooney particularly unimpressed, describing it as “crap”.
Follow live updates from the World Cup final, below:
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Spain v Argentina LIVE
- Spain into extra time against 10-man Argentina in World Cup final | Live on BBC and ITV
- Lionel Messi aims to lead Argentina to back-to-back World Cups as Spain seek second title
- 120+2' MISS! Simeone blazes Argentina's best chance over the bar in desperate hunt for equaliser [SPA 1-0 ARG]
- 106' GOAL! Torres finally puts dominant Spain ahead with calm finish [SPA 1-0 ARG]
- 90+3' RED CARD! Enzo Fernandez sent off for stupid tackle when already on a yellow [SPA 0-0 ARG]
- BBC pundit Wayne Rooney describes lengthy half-time show as 'crap'
FULL-TIME! Spain 1-0 Argentina
23:04 , Will CastleIt’s all kicking off after the full-time whistle - Alan Shearer saying it’s that man again Leandro Paredes who’s thrown “a couple of haymakers” at celebrating Spanish players.
It’s ugly scenes as Lionel Scaloni runs onto the pitch to remove his players. But the Argentina team cannot feel hard done by - they have been well beaten.
FULL-TIME! Spain 1-0 Argentina
23:02 , Will CastleSPAIN ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!
Spain 1-0 Argentina
23:02 , Will Castle120+5 mins: One last chance to lump it for Argentina. Martinez with the hoof from just inside his half...
Spain 1-0 Argentina
23:02 , Will Castle120+5 mins: The oles are coming out again...
Spain 1-0 Argentina
23:01 , Will Castle120+4 mins: Free-kick Argentina in the centre-circle.
It’s lumped up but Unai Simon comes out to claim.
Now Spain have possession. They just need to keep it.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
23:00 , Will Castle120+3 mins: Spain get a reprieve as they win a free-kick on the edge of their own box.
They’re two minutes away from winning the World Cup for a second ever time.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:59 , Will Castle120+2 mins: MISS! IT’S SKIED!
The next corner is a low, bouncing one and it comes out to Simeone, but leaning back he can’t hit the target!
These have been the best chances Argentina have had all afternoon. Agonising.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:58 , Will Castle120+1 mins: It’s a scramble in the box and another corner for Argentina.
FIVE minutes added on.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:58 , Will Castle120 mins: THAT WAS THE CHANCE!
Argentina work it so well down the right hand side as Simeone slips it drills it into the six-yard box.
It looks like a tap in for Senesi but a heroic Spanish leg forces the corner.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:57 , Will Castle120 mins: A cheap free-kick given away by Williams, and now Messi will deliver.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:55 , Will Castle117 mins. Lionel Messi catches it true on the bounce, and Rodri takes a bullet for his team - right in the face!
He’s receiving treatment and has to go off for the drop ball - Spain are momentarily down to 10.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:54 , Will Castle116 mins: Oh, Nico Williams... a real brain fart.
He beats his man brilliantly to get a run into the box, but tries to do something cute by whacking it from one foot onto the other - and it just runs out for a goal kick.
Luis de la Fuente is going BEZERK.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:53 , Will Castle115 mins: Argentina are praying on Messi’s left foot to save them.
One cross goes out for a corner. The second loops just over Unai Simon’s crossbar, who was panicking for a second but in the end was not called into action.
NO GOAL! Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:51 , Will Castle114 mins: Ferran Torres is slipped in behind and slots home for what he thinks is an career-defining second... but the flag is up!
He goes a tad too early.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:50 , Will Castle112 mins: Argentina really need a rampant response like they managed against England... but this rock-solid Spanish side are a completely different kettle of fish.
They’re doing what they do best at the moment - controlling the play, and the fans are ‘ole!’-ing.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:48 , Will CastleEcstasy and agony.
Spain 1-0 Argentina
22:47 , Will Castle109 mins: “Has Scaloni ‘Tuchel’d’ himself?” asks Guy Mowbray on BBC commentary... the Argentine boss finds himself with five defenders on and no more substitutions to use.
GOAL! Spain 1-0 Argentina (Torres, 106')
22:43 , Will CastleSPAIN FINALLY FIND A WAY THROUGH!
It’s thundered home by Ferran Torres after the ball is kept alive by Nico Williams, heading it back into the path of the Barcelona striker who makes no mistake!
It’s nothing less than Spain deserve. Now Lionel Messi’s magic is required. He has 13 minutes to produce it.
BACK UNDERWAY! Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:43 , Will CastleFor the final time this game, we restart.
The final countdown
22:42 , Will CastleFinal Countdown blares over the speakers in New Jersey. It truly is.
This has been anything but a classic final, but heroes can still be made in the next 15 minutes.
HALF-TME! Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:40 , Will CastleSomehow, this is still goalless.
Spain will feel hard done by to have Nico Williams’ opener disallowed, and rightly so. But they should have gone ahead either way through the usually clutch Mikel Merino, who put his free header wide.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:39 , Will Castle105+3 mins: Argentina have a break on here as Messi has options left and right.
He tries slipping through Medina who is too slow but wins a throw.
But before he can take it, Tagliafico goes down off the ball for nothing. Even in the Spain half, Argentina are playing for penalties - it feels like they have no real belief they can break this Spanish defence down.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:37 , Will Castle105+1 mins: Three minutes added on for the first half of extra time.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:36 , Will Castle104 mins: Cucurella bumps into Simeone as the ball drops out of the air, but no foul says the referee. And the Argentina bench are absolutely furious.
Scaloni is shown a yellow for his reaction.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:35 , Will Castle102 mins: MISS! Mikel Merino HAS to put that away!
It’s whipped in to the big Arsenal man who is free and gets his head on it, but his effort goes just wide of the post!
Huge chance for La Roja!
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:34 , Will Castle101 mins: Here comes Argentina’s extra-time switch. Marco Senesi is on for Julian Alvarez - a big defensive switch.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:32 , Will Castle100 mins: A couple Spain changes to note after that.
Eric Garcia replaces Aymeric Laporte, while Martin Zubimendi is on for Rodri.
Here’s what Richard Jolly thinks of that switch inside the New York Stadium:
Zubimendi for Rodri worked well in the Euro 2024 final but these are Zubimendi's first minutes of the tournament.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:30 , Will Castle99 mins: The decision stands. Apparently Otamendi’s foot was stood on. “Not enough for me,” says Alan Shearer. Me neither.
NO GOAL! Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:29 , Will Castle96 mins: Nico Williams thinks he’s put Spain in front... but the whistle blows!
Mikel Merino looked like he might be about to be Spain’s hero once again, but he slides in on Emi Martinez before Williams tucked home on the rebound.
Replays show there is no foul whatsoever on Martinez - it looks like any foul would be on Nicolas Otamendi, but it’s VERY soft either way.
This could be overturned by VAR. If it’s not, there will be real questions of the officiating.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:25 , Will Castle93 mins: SAVE! Best save yet from Emi Martinez!
It’s dinked in by Pedri and flicked on by Williams, with Martinez required at full-stretch to deny the substitute’s header.
'Argentina make unwanted history in worst-ever final'
22:25 , Miguel Delaney at New York StadiumLatest thoughts from Miguel Delaney at the stadium:
So, Argentina do indeed become the first ever World Cup finalist to not register a shot in the 90 minutes.
They have also been responsible for three of the six red cards in the fixture's history, after Enzo Fernandez's second booking. It really could have been more, but it all reflects what has probably been the worst-ever final.
Only one team is actually playing to win but they are getting into one of those funks where they don't quite know how, the final touch missing in a congested box. Argentina look like they're just grinding this out for penalties.
Argentina shift to 4-4-1 after Fernandez red
22:24 , Richard Jolly at New York StadiumHere’s Richard Jolly inside the New York Stadium:
It looks like Julian Alvarez has gone to play left midfield now Argentina are down to 10. 4-4-1, with Messi as the one.
A reminder that Enzo Fernandez was claiming his challenge wasn’t a second yellow. Here’s a still from said challenge:
BACK UNDERWAY! Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:22 , Will CastleWe’re off for extra time. The World Cup winner will be decided in the next 30 minutes, or it’s penalties.
Messi tries to get Cucurella sent off for covering mouth
22:21 , Will CastleWe’ve just seen a replay of Marc Cucurella saying something to Lionel Messi while partially covering his mouth - it looked harmless, but Messi tried to call to the officials to get the Spain man sent off under the new Vinicius Law.
The pundits on BBC One did not like that.
FULL-TIME! Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:16 , Will CastleTo extra time we go.
Argentina have half an hour to survive - they’re a man down with their backs already against the wall.
Dare I say it... this is Spain’s final to lose.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:16 , Will Castle90+8 mins: SAVE! It’s over the wall from Yamal... AND SAVED BY MARTINEZ!
Boy that was tense.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:14 , Will Castle90+7 mins: Oh my. Paredes has just conceded another Argentina foul right on the edge of their own box.
This could be the last kick of the World Cup final.
Lamine Yamal or Pedro Porro to take...
RED CARD! Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:11 , Will Castle90+3 mins: ENZO FERNANDEZ IS OFF!
The Chelsea man goes into a 50/50 with Cubarsi all guns blazing - but he’s there second, booting the Spanish teen who guys FLYING through the air.
He’s pleading with the ref but can have no complaints. That was a stonewall booking, made even more sour by knowing his first yellow came for dissent.
That might just be the moment Argentina lose this final.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:11 , Will Castle90+2 mins: Messi is standing over a free-kick inside the Spanish box... Argentina couldn’t, could they?
He resists the temptation to shoot and instead tries to dribble it into the box after going short... but he’s thwarted.
And here comes Spain! Nico Williams drives into the area but his powerful shot is straight at Emi Martinez.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:09 , Will Castle90+1 mins: FOUR minutes added on. That might be a record low for this tournament.
Three of those were the hydration break, of course. Seven subs make up the other minute.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:07 , Will Castle89 mins: Rodri gets the ball in space from 30 yards and sees his name in lights... well over and wide.
Ticking over towards the 90.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:05 , Will Castle87 mins: CHANCE! Mikel Merino looks to turn clutch provider rather than goalscorer as he dinks one into the box for Ferran Torres to turn and shoot - but he scuffs it and it hits the side-netting.
Emi Martinez knew that wasn’t troubling his goal.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:04 , Will Castle86 mins: Here’s a stat for you. Lionel Messi has had 22 touches, which ranks him at 22nd in that metric in the game.
Not much comparison to his 2022 appearance, this. It won’t matter if Argentina lift the trophy again, but right now the holders are hanging on.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:01 , Will Castle83 mins: Enzo Fernandez is into the book for dissent.
That comes about a minute after Giuliano Simeone properly leaves a shoulder on Marc Cucurella, escaping without caution. He really is his father’s son, that lad.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
22:00 , Will Castle81 mins: CHANCE! Spain work the short corner nicely as Nico Williams gets to the byline and dinks one into the danger area.
It goes over one man in red but is met by Aymeric Laporte, who can’t get the power on the header behind two Argentine bodies as Emi Martinez comes across to save.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:58 , Will Castle80 mins: Pedro Porro has just won Spain another corner.
With 10 minutes to play, will the 2010 winners find a goal before extra time?
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:56 , Will Castle77 mins: SAVE! Spain are stepping on it!
After Pedri can’t get the power behind his shot to force Martinez into a pretty rudimentary save, Cubarsi strikes it true from range and nearly fools the Argentine keeper with the movement!
It’s unconvincing from Martinez, whose parry spins agonisingly to the right of the post. Spain keep it alive and then win a corner, which comes to nothing.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:54 , Will Castle75 mins: Time for another double sub, this time for Spain.
Alex Baena makes way for Nico Williams, with Luis de la Fuente introducing a more exciting winger to the game.
And coming on for Dani Olmo is Mikel Merino, Spain’s joker card.
He’s produced two knockout-stage winners already this tournament - will the Arsenal man do it again when it matters most?
'Giuliano ticks off something Diego never managed'
21:51 , Richard Jolly at New York StadiumHere’s Richard Jolly inside the New York Stadium:
Giuliano Simeone may never outstrip his father in many respects but he has now done something Diego never did - play in a World Cup final.
'Has a World Cup final team ever offered less than Argentina?'
21:50 , Miguel Delaney at New York StadiumMiguel Delaney at the stadium not impressed by Argentina...
Argentina have had no shots after 67 minutes. Has a team in a World Cup final offered less? They can of course still win it because this is an essential tactic against that approach, but it's remarkable.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:49 , Will Castle71 mins: Lionel Scaloni is making two more changes, the last of his five in normal time.
Cristian Romero’s race is indeed run as he’s replaced by Facundo Medina, who himself has seen his knockout stage hampered by a calf injury.
Giuliano Simeone is also on for Rodrigo De Paul.
'Spain applying more pressure'
21:47 , Richard Jolly at New York StadiumHere’s Richard Jolly inside the New York Stadium:
Spain are applying more pressure now. It seems unlikely they would score from a corner but it is worth remembering that was how the team of 2010 found their breakthrough in the semi-final against Germany, through defender Carles Puyol. Sixteen years later, Pau Cubarsi has come as close as anyone in the last hour.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:47 , Will Castle68 mins: Concern for Argentina as Cristian Romero hits the deck and requires treatment.
He looks OK to continue, but remember the defender has already dealt with a knee problem this tournament.
WATCH: Wayne Rooney describes half-time show as 'crap'
21:46 , Luke BakerWhile we’re in the second-half hydration break, why not acquaint yourself with Wayne Rooney’s thoughts on the half-time show.
Spoiler alert, he wasn’t impressed and didn’t hold back...
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:45 , Will Castle67 mins: SAVE! Yamal finds Torres on the edge of the six-yard box who powers a header towards goal - but it’s straight down the throat of Martinez!
Time for the final hydration break of World Cup 2026 - and it’s come at a much-needed time for Argentina.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:43 , Will Castle65 mins: Another corner is whipped in for Spain, this time from the other side... it’s flapped at by Martinez but a jumping Olmo can’t divert it goalwards!
Argentina are under the cosh at the moment. We’ve got another Spain corner coming.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:42 , Will Castle64 mins: Dani Olmo lets fly from range... it’s driven hard and low, and it’s spilled by Emi Martinez!
Luckily for the Argentine stopper, it bounces out for a corner.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:40 , Will Castle62 mins: Into the wall from Yamal, and Argentina then spare themselves an opposition corner after Oyarzabal tries to redeliver.
Time for Luis de la Fuente to turn to the bench. Pedri and Ferran Torres are on, with Mikel Oyarzabal and Fabian Ruiz making way.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:39 , Will Castle58 mins: Another Argentinian change sees Nahuel Molina replace Gonzalo Montiel. There’s the second alteration from the semi-final, gone back on by Lionel Scaloni.
Maybe that’s a sign the Argentine boss picked his starting XI anticipating extra time?
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:38 , Will Castle60 mins: Argentina have conceded another free-kick - and it’s in shooting distance for Lamine Yamal, who is holding the ball.
Mikel Oyarzabal has just had a face full of the referee’s vanishing spray as he sizes this up with his team-mates... not ideal.
'A half-time show is an anti-football abomination'
21:36 , Miguel Delaney at New York StadiumI don’t think the half-time show has got enough stick, and neither does our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney inside the New York Stadium:
There is nevertheless a serious point. A half-time show is an anti-football abomination. Players have gone through their career used to normal break. That rhythm is now disrupted, in the biggest game of their careers. It's of a piece with absurdly high ticket prices and the Balogun controversy - Fifa ushering these precedents through.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:35 , Will Castle56 mins: Another Spanish half-chance!
Olmo is slipped into the box by a superbly weighted through ball - he cuts it back for the on-rushing Cucurella but an Argentina foot gets there first, conceding a corner.
Nothing comes from it, but it’s another promising moment for Spain.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:33 , Will Castle55 mins: That was a delightful break from Spain. One-touch passing from Simon on their own box to Oyarzabal in Argentina’s... but they work it too much and don’t get a shot away, with Otamendi sliding in to clear.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:32 , Will Castle51 mins: It’s been a scrappy start to this second half... but a shove in the back from Leandro Paredes on Rodri has sparked a bit of fisticuffs.
Dani Olmo has now been pushed to the ground and Paredes is in the book, minutes after coming off the bench.
Paredes was a key instigator in the very bad-tempered clash with the Netherlands in Qatar, if you remember. Bit of a loose cannon.
Saying that, Rodri did go down like he’d been shot. A definite foul, but an exaggerated reaction.
Here’s Richard Jolly inside the New York Stadium:
The plan of sending on the prince of darkness that is Paredes may not be working as he is on a yellow card already. Will it make him eschew the dark arts?
More half-time show disdain
21:27 , Richard Jolly at New York StadiumHere’s Richard Jolly inside the New York Stadium:
Fifa have wasted vast amounts of people's time today. Then they wasted some more with that extended half-time.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:25 , Will Castle46 mins: SAVE! Bright start to the second period from Spain!
A loose ball is pounced on by Alex Baena, who cuts in and is allowed to shoot from the edge of the box.
It’s a good claim by Emi Martinez, who holds onto the ball which bounced right in front of him.
BACK UNDERWAY! Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:24 , Will CastleWe are finally off again in New Jersey - and Argentina have made a change.
Leandro Paredes is on for Nico Gonzalez, with Lionel Scaloni already going back on one of his two changes from the England win.
Here come the teams
21:23 , Will CastleRight, it’s been about 25 minutes, and finally the teams are back out.
From a footballing standpoint, that half-time was not worth breaking the rule of a 15-minute interval. It wasn’t worth it from an entertainment standpoint either.
Everyone's a critic
21:21 , Will CastleWayne Rooney was asked what his favourite moment of the half-time show was...
“I'll be honest, when it finished. I like a lot of them artists, but I thought it was crap.”
WATCH: Madonna joined by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho for entrance to World Cup half-time performance
21:19 , Will CastleIf you were only limited to my, admittedly, amateur half-time show commentary (I’m a football reporter, alright!), here’s how that very American extravaganza began - with Madonna on a buggy driven by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.
Sorry to say it went pretty downhill from here...
World Cup final half-time show
21:16 , Will CastleAnd that’s all she wrote! Unless there’s an encore... please, no.
I think we’re now 16 minutes into half-time.
'Justin Bieber was much worse than the first half'
21:16 , Miguel Delaney at New York StadiumMiguel Delaney’s thoughts on that half-time show...
All I can say about this half-time show is that we were made stand in the sun for 2.5 hours queuing as the Secret Service checked everyone and it was a better experience than that Justin Bieber song. Talk about a mood-killer – much worse than the first half before anyone makes that joke...
World Cup final half-time show
21:14 , Will CastleRight, now I’m lost. There are some children serenading Kermit The Frog and Miss Piggy.
They’re now being joined by Shakira and singing “we believe in love”. Good message - a bit ironic given the amount of people turned away from entering the United States for this tournament. That wasn’t very loving.
World Cup final half-time show
21:12 , Will CastleAnd to give us one more rendition of Dai Dai, Shakira and Burna Boy are here.
It’s been the earworm of this World Cup - maybe not to the level of Waka Waka, but a good tournament anthem either way.
World Cup final half-time show
21:11 , Will CastleTed Lasso is here! The AFC Richmond coach (or, former coach?) walks down the touchline with Coach Beard before giving a pep talk to... Marco van Ginkel?
No, sorry, that’s Justin Bieber. It’s the World Cup, hallelujah.
World Cup final half-time show
21:07 , Will CastleNorway’s row acts as the perfect transition to bring in BTS and their hit “Dynamite”.
Probably the best showing South Korea have had this World Cup. Their return to their homeland probably won’t require riot police.
World Cup final half-time show
21:06 , Will CastleRight, now to the muppets, who are fronting an orchestra playing Seven Nation Army.
World Cup final half-time show
21:05 , Will CastleRONALDO AND RONALDINHO ARE DRIVING MADONNA IN A BUGGY.
Off to a good start in East Rutherford.
Time for the half-time show
21:04 , Will CastleWe might have been short of entertainment during the first half, but the Americans might be about to make up for that!
Here comes Madonna...
Hart backs Spain to keep heads
21:02 , Will Castle“Spain were composed in possession,” said Joe Hart on BBC One.
“I don't think they will panic. Argentina are finding their way and putting pressure on the referee.
“They are going to have their moments, no doubt about it.”
HALF-TIME! Spain 0-0 Argentina
21:00 , Will CastleSo, that was a tetchy 45 minutes. We enter half-time of the World Cup final goalless.
Spain have just edged it in terms of performance, with Lamine Yamal having the best chance of the game so far in the first five minutes after working it nicely with Dani Olmo, only for his deflected effort to be saved by Emi Martinez.
But for Argentina, there’s been very little to shout about, with the holders having zero touches in the opposition box.
England have seen this movie before... could we be in for similar drama after the restart?
'Spain are being brought down a level'
20:58 , Miguel Delaney at New York StadiumMiguel Delaney gives his half-time thoughts from the stadium:
Argentina with an xG of 0.00 according to some of the counts. It's been more like 1990 so far. A poor game where the patterns are already shaped. Spain are better, but they're being brought down a level.
HALF-TIME! Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:56 , Will CastleThere goes the whistle... not much to report so far!
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:55 , Will Castle45+3 mins: Oyarzabal gives away a free-kick as he kicks Messi in the shin.
A little nod from the Argentinian to say “apology accepted” as Oyarzabal apologises sincerely.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:52 , Will Castle45+1 mins: Four minutes added on in first-half stoppages.
'Otamendi back for another final'
20:52 , Richard Jolly at New York StadiumHere’s Richard Jolly inside the New York Stadium:
On comes Nicolas Otamendi, a man almost as old as Messi. It seemed he had the perfect end to his Argentina career when he won the World Cup in his 100th cap in 2022. But, four years on, he is back in another final.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:52 , Will Castle45 mins: Blow for Argentina this, with Lisandro Martinez down injured. He’ll be coming off, moments after being booked.
Nicolas Otamendi replaces him; ‘The Butcher’ is off for ‘The General’.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:50 , Will Castle43 mins: CLOSE! Cucurella fires a low effort across goal from just inside the box, and it flashes just past the post.
But there’s no panic from Martinez, who knew that was going wide.
'Shades of 2010 and 1990'
20:49 , Miguel Delaney at New York StadiumLatest thoughts from Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney inside the New York Stadium:
Finally a booking, the first for Lisandro Martinez for a foul on a breaking Mikel Oyarzabal. Argentina could have had five by now, which was the same at this moment in the 2010 final. There have been shades of both that and 1990...
'The danger for Spain'
20:49 , Richard Jolly at New York StadiumHere’s Richard Jolly inside the New York Stadium:
The danger for Spain is that they have had games before where they have been superior and have forgotten to score. Their World Cup exits in 2018 and 2022 are cases in point, when they had too few shots, let alone goals.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:48 , Will Castle40 mins: At long last, a yellow card!
Lisandro Martinez chops down Oyarzabal from behind as Spain look to break on the counter, and duly ends up in the book.
He can have no complaints.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:47 , Will Castle39 mins: SAVE! Emi Martinez is called into action!
Oyarzabal receives the ball on the edge of the area and hits it true, but the Aston Villa stopper gets down quickly to save.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:45 , Will Castle37 mins: Cucurella tries to trick his way past Montiel down the wing after his now-former Chelsea colleague Fernandez is robbed of the ball - but Montiel stays with him and puts in a hair-raising sliding challenge to send Cucurella and his frizzy lid flying through the air.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:42 , Will Castle35 mins: Cucurella is slipped into space down the left before trying to get a low cross in, only for his ball to be intercepted.
The flag then goes up, but replays show he was onside. A chance to make a chance, which we haven’t had many of today.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:40 , Will Castle34 mins: Argentina win a free-kick inside the Spain half, and that gets the fans in blue and white into voice.
Messi stands over it... but it’s taken short, passed around a bit, then he’s dispossessed without getting the ball near the box.
That about sums up this game so far.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:37 , Will Castle30 mins: Spain are showing some jitters at the back.
First Cubarsi, now Porro, who from a Spain throw whips a ball into his own area that, if you’d briefly looked away from the screen, looks like it must have been from an Argentinian boot.
Cucurella comes across and heads into the grateful hands of Unai Simon.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:35 , Will Castle29 mins: We’re back underway... and immediately teenage defender Pau Cubarsi has a very nervy moment.
His pass back to Unai Simon is weak and almost gets nicked by the chasing Alvarez.
Deep breaths, Pau.
'Hopefully the penultimate hydration break... ever'
20:34 , Richard Jolly at New York StadiumHere’s Richard Jolly inside the New York Stadium:
Hopefully the penultimate hydration break any of us will have to endure. Except, at least, for the times when the weather is genuinely hot, which it isn't really today.
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:31 , Will Castle25 mins: And with that, it’s hydration break time.
The penultimate break of this sort of the tournament. We were only just getting to know you...
Spain 0-0 Argentina
20:30 , Will Castle24 mins: Another Spain corner... straight into the gloves of Emi Martinez.
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
