Rio Ferdinand is tipping Spain to win Sunday’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, but says Argentina’s run to the same match makes the average team label indefensible.
Kickoff is set for 3pm Eastern time in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with Argentina chasing what would be just the third repeat World Cup title in history, after Brazil in 1958 and 1962 and Italy in 1934 and 1938, while Spain look to add a second star to their own history. “I find it difficult to bet against Argentina,” Ferdinand said via Sky Sports, pushing back on pundits who have dismissed the defending champions as ordinary. “I believe people have been somewhat disrespectful by calling them an average team; they are not.”
Spain’s case for favoritism rests on a nearly flawless tournament. They have scored 13 goals and conceded only one across seven matches, reaching the final with what several previews have described as complete control in every knockout round. Manager Luis de la Fuente’s side builds through Rodri in midfield and Lamine Yamal further forward, rarely surrendering possession cheaply, and both squads are reported fully fit heading into the match, with Spain expected to field the same eleven that beat France in the semifinal.
Argentina’s route has looked nothing like that on paper, and that is precisely Ferdinand’s point. They needed extra time to beat both Cape Verde in the round of 32 and Switzerland in the quarterfinal, and came from behind in the second half to beat Egypt and then England, never once leading in the 90th minute of any of their four knockout matches, a feat only Croatia had managed on the way to a final before, in 2018. Lionel Messi, at 39, has contributed seven goals and four assists across the tournament. “You cannot achieve what they have in finals and major competitions over the past few years, becoming world champions, and still refer to them as average,” Ferdinand said.
Despite the defense of Argentina’s credentials, Ferdinand’s final prediction did not change. “I do believe Spain will win the match,” he said.
