World Cup final review | Another trophy for Fabián Ruiz, Didier Deschamps proven right on pitch quality

World Cup final review | Another trophy for Fabián Ruiz, Didier Deschamps proven right on pitch quality It was Didier Deschamps who was the first at this World Cup to criticise the quality of the pitch at the MetLife Stadium , which hosted France’s opening match of the tournament against Senegal. As the New Jersey arena hosted the World Cup’s curtain-raiser, the now-former France head coach’s observation was no less accurate. While the venue’s pitch evidently fostered a cagey and error-strewn first half, it was not the only aspect of Sunday’s final in which was lacking in organisation. There were sprawlingthree-hour queues for all accredited individuals, from journalist to volunteers, as security was tightened for Donald Trump’s attendance. After the tournament’s Tom Cruise-led closing ceremony was drowned out by disinterested fans (in their vast majority Argentine), a 27-minute half-time show added to the disruption.  On the pitch, the reigning champions showed little intent going forward but did apply a characteristically aggressive intensity in their challenges. Lyon left-back Nicolás Tagliafico, for instance, was lucky to escape without a booking after a uncontrolled studs-up challenge on Lamine Yamal. Spain’s best chances would come from a one-two between Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo early on as well as a long-range effort from Mikel Oyarzabal on the half-hour mark. Both were well dealt with by Emiliano Martínez. La Roja continued to dominate in the second half, pushing the reigning champions further and further back but finding no way past Martínez. Argentina came no closer to stringing together a move in the opposition final third, and became the first World Cup finalist to fail to register a single shot across ninety minutes. The Albiceleste went down to ten late on as Enzo Fernández was handed a second yellow card for a rash challenge on Cubarsí. Lionel Scaloni’s men still managed to force the match past regulation time, however.  Extra-time began with another impressive save from Emiliano Martínez, the best Argentine of the match, to keep out a header from Nico Williams which seemed destined for the bottom corner. The Athletic Club forward had the ball in the net a few minutes later, only for his would-be winner to be ruled out for a foul by Mikel Merino in the build-up. There was still no shot from Argentina midway through extra-time. Balls for Lionel Messi continued to be few and far between, though, which significantly blunted his team’s capacity to hit Spain on the counter-attack. Luis De La Fuente’s men finally broke the deadlock shortly after kick-off in the second half, as Williams headed a ball back into the middle of the box for Ferran Torres to fire an emphatic shot past Martínez. It was Spain’s twentieth attempt on goal. As was the case on the continental stage two years, Spain will have been deserved champions, if anything for being one of the few sides to offer a coherent and cohesive style of play. There will have been no Lionel Messi heroics, which from a French perspective at least seals Kylian Mbappé’s spot at the top of the all-time World Cup goalscorers’ ranking for the foreseeable future. Ligue 1 was represented by four players on the team sheet. Paris Saint-Germain’s Fabián Ruiz continued to add to his impressive trophy haul just two months after winning his second Champions League title, and extended his unbeaten streak in international football to fifty games. Having already established himself as a key part of one all-conquering midfield at club level, the Andalusian helped La Roja overrun their opponents in the closing rounds of the World Cup. Despite only starting once before the quarter-final, Ruiz turned in some of his best performances of the seasons alongside Rodri, who was eventually named player of the tourrnament. Facundo Medina, meanwhile, became the first Marseille player to appear in a World Cup final in twenty years when he came on with twenty minutes remaining. GFFN |  Raphaël Jucobin – reporting from New York New Jersey stadium