Spain clinched their second World Cup title, battling through extra time to beat Argentina 1-0 in New Jersey! Mikel Merino couldn’t hold back, calling his squad a “golden generation” right after the final whistle. And honestly? He’s not wrong, not one bit.
The Overtime Thriller That Crowned the Champs
This wasn’t some easy stroll, though. It took until the 106th minute for substitute Ferran Torres to smash home the only goal of the game, coming off a brilliant cross from Nico Williams. Coach Luis de la Fuente’s side absolutely deserved the win, even after a bit of a slow start early in the tournament. Argentina barely even got a sniff, not registering a single shot on goal until extra time. That’s pure dominance right there.
Merino told ITV after the game it was “unbelievable” and “the perfect moment for us.” He nailed it when he said, “We knew we were a better team in terms of football.” He knew it was a tough match because Argentina is super competitive, and the dry pitch made things tricky, but Spain’s concentration held strong. “The team was outstanding today and we deserve it,” he added.
A Golden Generation Built on Records
Merino isn’t just throwing around the “golden generation” phrase for no reason. This squad just added the World Cup to their 2024 European Championship success. Think about that for a second! And get this: Spain is now unbeaten in 38 games outside of penalty shootouts. That’s a European record, period. They just keep winning, man.
He talked about how they beat a low block, saying they had to “attack the box with bodies on the line and then control the transitions.” It’s that “old-school way of scoring goals,” using those “very good players that can cross the ball” and “big threats in the box.” This team isn’t just fancy footwork; they’re tough, smart, and they know how to finish. Spain is absolutely living in a golden period right now, and the rest of the world just got a front-row seat to it.
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