Joy for London 5 : World Champions after ensuring justice prevails against tawdry Argentina
- By Yann Tear
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Has there ever been a more universally welcome outcome in a World Cup final?
Has a result ever felt more just?
We all feared the worst when referee Slavko Vincic failed to yellow card Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister early on for a typically savage challenge on Dani Olmo, and it looked like the gruesome Argentinians were going to get carte blanche to go about their sordid business with impunity once again.
But as the fouls racked up at the Met Life Stadium in New Jersey during Sunday's World Cup final - the South Americans' only response to Spain's carousel passing - the official began to decide he had to intervene.
He booked Lisando Martinez. He booked Chelsea hatchet man Enzo Fernandez - a guy who desperately wants to follow former team mate Marc Cucurella in a move to Real Madrid.
The Slovenian ref made a howler when he ruled out a perfectly legal goal for Nico Williams and VAR again refused to leap in against Gianni Infantino's pet loves. But crucially, he sent off Fernandez for a dreadful rash challenge which earned the belligerent enforcer a second caution.
It needed extra time before a dominant Spain (20 shots to two, 12-0 in terms of shots on target) finally claimed the winning goal that we began to fear might never come. But what an outpouring of collective ecstacy Ferran Torres' 106th minute strike brought.
All that viciousness. All that anti-football from the Falklands-obsessed Albicelestes finally brought to heel. And of course there was the usual absence of any grace in defeat. No decorum. No respect for the opposition or officials. Leandro Paredes was the final symbol of the degenerate behaviour, getting sent off after the final whistle after assaults on celebrating Spaniards.
They acted as if there had been some terrible miscarriage of justice. Perhaps they had grown so used to getting away with their assaults that they could not cope with actually having their thuggish behaviour challenged.
During the match - a loose term for such an ugly sham of a contest - even the great Lionel Messi - the orphan brought up by a pack of wolves - was reduced to pathetically trying to get Cucurella sent off for talking to him with a hand briefly raised in front of his face. Talk about desperation.
Standing tall above it all were five Londoners who return to the capital as World Cup winners. Chief among them Pedro Porro - the Spurs dender having had an outstanding competition, as did his fellow clubman Djed Spence, England's breakout star.
No less than three Arsenal players will also return with the freshly minted medals and World Cup rings FIFA have issued as an homage to the host nation's gridiron traditions.
Martin Zubimendi was only used fleetingly. David Raya not at all as Unai Simon took the golden glove after conceding only once in eight games. But they are winners.
Mikel Merino did feature in the final and as an impact sub twice came on to score winners in knockout games. Both Arsenal midielders came off the bench to play a part in the final.
And the fifth member of the London quintet who emerged victorious? Step forward Yeremy Pino. The first Crystal Palace player to be among the Kings of the World. Never mind that his main contribution turned out to be on the training ground for Luis de La Fuente's men. He will be in the record books.
For Argentina, there was only disgrace. Fernandez became the third miscreant from his country to be sent off in the biggest game in world football. There had only ever been five before. The loathsome Parades would later add to that stat. Cristian Romero went off injured after also collecting an obligatory yellow.
Blues fans may find consolation in recently departed Cucurella being among the winners but this was a day when north London had four very happy players at full time.
Most of the rest of the world was only too pleased to share the afterglow of satisfaction that comes from playground bullies being resisted and made to cry off in a sullen strop. Football will be all the better for it.
