Former Germany captain Toni Kroos has backed Spain to beat Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup final, warning that a single goal could open the floodgates against Lionel Scaloni’s side.
Speaking on his podcast with his brother, the 2014 World Cup winner said he did not believe Argentina were a better side than Germany, who exited this tournament on penalties to Paraguay in the round of 32, but credited Lionel Messi as the difference-maker behind Argentina’s run to the final.
“If Spain go 1-0 up, forget it. They’ll score three or four more. Argentina won’t find a solution,” Kroos said. “Argentina are not a better team than Germany, but their mentality is unbelievable. Messi has taken them to the final. My impression is that his football intelligence keeps improving. I thought the 2022 World Cup would be his last.”
Messi has scored eight goals at this tournament, driving Argentina’s run to the final at the age of 39, a effort Kroos praised even while tipping Spain to win the match itself.
According to Marca’s citation of Tribuna.com, Kroos pointed to Spain’s consistency, tactical discipline and overall level of performance as reasons for fancying Luis de la Fuente’s side over the defending champions. Having spent a decade at Real Madrid, Kroos remains familiar with much of Spain’s current squad and cited their collective balance, midfield control and structured style as the qualities that have made them the tournament’s standout team.
Spain arrive in New Jersey having conceded only once all tournament, and have become the first men’s team in World Cup history to keep six clean sheets in a single edition. After an opening goalless draw with Cape Verde, they have won six matches in a row, eliminating Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France to reach their first final since winning the title in 2010. They are unbeaten in 37 consecutive matches, and victory over Argentina would both secure a second World Cup and set a new record for the longest unbeaten run by a European men’s national side.
Argentina, however, arrive with momentum of their own. Scaloni’s side battled from behind to beat England 2-1 in the semi-final, Enzo Fernandez equalising before Lautaro Martinez struck a stoppage-time winner. Argentina have now won 14 matches in a row, matching the longest winning streak by a South American nation, and are chasing a second successive title, which would make them the first side since Brazil in 1962 to retain the World Cup. Each of their four knockout wins has needed either extra time or a late comeback after the 75th minute, and they have scored a tournament-record eight goals after the 85th minute.
The two sides have met 14 times previously, with the head-to-head record locked at six wins apiece and two draws. Their only previous World Cup meeting came in 1966, when Argentina won 2-1, while Spain’s most recent win over Argentina came in a 6-1 friendly rout in 2018.
Argentina face Spain in the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 20 July, with kickoff at 1:00am Bangladesh time.
