Devastated Argentina Merely Walked as Spain Dominated. Ján Pivarník Doesn't Spare Messi After the Final

Conversely, at the record-breaking 104-match tournament, he lauded the performances of African teams, while Norway, featuring Erling Haaland, was his most pleasant surprise among European representatives.

The final was practically a one-sided affair. Spain dominated, and their relentless pressure culminated in Ferran Torres' goal in the 16th minute of extra time. Argentina failed to register a single shot on target in regular time. "Many people were a bit disappointed, especially with Argentina, who didn't play with the same intensity as in previous tournament stages.

Their players were fatigued, having played many matches across varying temperatures, and the end was particularly unfortunate as they played with one man sent off and a second 'Messi' who was merely walking in the final minutes. The scoreline appears very close, but Spain controlled the game throughout. They created chances, maintained possession, took shots, and deservedly won," Pivarník stated.

Spain's squad included eight FC Barcelona players, though only Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo started in the final. Coach Luis de la Fuente's golden joker was indeed Torres, who also plays in the Catalan capital. "Initially, I wasn't familiar with the coach. He didn't solely rely on FC Barcelona players. I was a bit skeptical that most of them were on the bench and players I barely knew were playing. Ultimately, the coach was proven right.

They only lack a classic number nine like Haaland. If Spain had such a prolific striker, they would be unrivaled. It wasn't about building the team around Barcelona; everyone was of equal quality. There was a family atmosphere, no player stood out, and it was a team effort," Pivarník praised the Spanish team, also commenting on teams that fell short of expectations: "Germany and Brazil were big disappointments for me." 

The tournament's standout figure was the 39-year-old star striker Messi. He led Argentina to their second consecutive final, though without successfully defending their 2022 Qatar triumph. "Brazil had something similar during Pelé's era. A great footballer, but humble, and everyone followed him as a leader. This doesn't apply to the younger Brazilian generation around Vinicius.

Messi was always an asset, but he lacked the stamina for the big matches, mostly just walking. I read that he covered few meters, but he was always involved in crucial plays, assisting goals or creating chances. He is a great footballer. The careers of two global players – Ronaldo and Messi – are nearing their end," Pivarník remarked for TASR.

With the expansion from 32 to a record 48 participants, African representatives shone brightly. Nine out of ten teams from the continent advanced to the knockout stages. Morocco achieved the best result, reaching the quarter-finals before being eliminated by France. Pivarník recognizes the growing performance of African football. "They have a great future because they possess incredible physical attributes, the best of all. Crucially, they no longer play solely in African clubs but in top European clubs. They have made significant progress," said Pivarník, who participated as a player in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, where Czechoslovakia lost their opening three matches to Brazil (1:4), Romania (1:2), and England (0:1) and failed to advance from the group.

He also named his biggest surprise of the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico: "Norway surprised me. They are a very hardworking nation, and all their players are in quality teams. They also excel in other sports, and for a population of approximately five million, they dominate globally in sports like skiing and others."