Argentina's Final Performance? "Almost a bit embarrassing"

Spain are football world champions!

On Sunday in New Jersey, "La Furia Roja" claimed the World Cup crown for the second time in their association's history with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina.

The Argentinians, who narrowly failed to defend their 2022 World Cup title, did not take this well. After the final whistle, several ugly scenes unfolded:

Among other things, Nahuel Molina struck celebrating Spain captain Rodri. Leandro Paredes confronted Eric Garcia and then punched Gavi to the ground. Nicolas Otamendi also engaged in a verbal altercation with Rodri.

"You talk too much" - Otamendi hits out at Spaniards >>>

After final incidents: Proceedings initiated against Argentina >>>

Janko: "The Argentinians were bad losers"

"Today we have to be great in defeat. Today we show that we know how to lose properly," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni declared after the match. A statement that former ÖFB national player Marc Janko does not want to let stand: "No, you don't!"

The TV expert strongly criticizes "La Albiceleste" in his podcast "HERZERL mit JANKO": "The Argentinians were bad losers."

His co-host, Andreas Herzog, who covered the World Cup final for ORF as a commentator in the stadium, can only agree with him:

"One should have assessed it correctly and said, 'yes, we were also the rightful losers. The Spaniards were clearly better.' But that doesn't fit the playing style and mentality of the Argentinians."

Argentinians as innocent lambs?

Assaults are, of course, a no-go, but Herzog also dislikes the Argentinians' verbal excuses.

"What I absolutely don't need is when they portray themselves as innocent lambs and say they are the poor ones because it has been too often pointed out that they play so hard. There's a reason why that's the case. Everyone worldwide says that," Herzog clarifies.

That's why the former ÖFB record national player is also glad "that Spain's footballing prevailed against Argentina's good defense. But it was nothing more than a good defense."

Herzog: "Not worthy of a World Cup final!"

"With a Julian Alvarez, a Messi, if you can't even properly get past the midfield line as the reigning world champion, that was almost a bit embarrassing," says Herzog.

Only in the final minutes of extra time, when they were already 0-1 down and threw everything forward again, did it become dangerous in front of the Spanish goal. "Before that, they didn't want to, they couldn't - and that is not worthy of a World Cup final," Herzog believes.

Listen to the entire "HERZERL mit JANKO" episode here: