Argentina will face Spain this Sunday in the 2026 World Cup final, a clash that pits two of the best teams today and brings together Luis de la Fuente and Lionel Scaloni, teacher and student respectively almost ten years ago in the coaching course of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. ‘La Roja’ comes from a commanding 2-0 victory over France in the semifinals and, with stars like Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo, will seek to win the tactical battle against the ‘Albiceleste’ to claim their second world title.
Both teams are characterized by seeking possession and creating danger through short passes and triangulations. However, the European side bets on pressing high to recover the ball, while Argentina has dropped into a low block in most matches of the tournament, trying to close passing lanes through the center of the pitch. This approach differs from what Scaloni presented in Qatar 2022, when the Albiceleste alternated periods of pressing on the opponent’s buildup; some of those tactics have been adopted by De la Fuente.
In the match against France, Spain pressed man-to-man across the entire pitch when goalkeeper Maignan was about to take a goal kick. One tactical adjustment stood out: against France’s back four, De la Fuente matched Oyarzábal and Olmo in the first line to sprint toward the center-backs. This allowed Yamal, his main star, to stay with Digné and avoid excessive exertion. Olmo makes a key movement: when his marker passes the ball to the goalkeeper, he does not run directly but instead makes a ‘curl’ to block the passing lane and continue the pressure. Together with Fabián Ruiz closing down the central midfielder, this forces a long ball or a capitalizable error. Argentina must be wary of players with great individual technique.
This pressing style recalls the Argentina national team in Qatar 2022, with Rodrigo De Paul fulfilling the role that Olmo now plays. Scaloni bet on the Inter Miami midfielder to, along with Julián Álvarez, suffocate defenses and relieve Messi of defensive duties. The clearest example was the second goal against Australia, when ‘Motorcito’ forced Ryan’s error. As against England, Argentina will face a rival that seeks to press them on the buildup. Scaloni will face his former teacher in a clash that, as Mac Allister defined, will pit ‘two teams that play good football’ against each other in a sport that ‘is becoming increasingly physical’.
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Para mí esto es un choreo a mano armada, De la Fuente le afanó la táctica a Scaloni como si fuera un choripán en un asado. España siempre copiando, pero ojalá les explote en la cara y la Scaloneta los pase por arriba en la final. Dale carajo!
Para mí esto es un choreo de De la Fuente, un desgraciado que le afanó la táctica a Scaloni. España es una copia berreta de Argentina, un equipo de muertos de hambre. Yo creo que Scaloni les va a ganar y mostrar quién manda. La Scaloneta no se mancha, carajo.