Was this the weakest World Cup final in history? The numbers speak for themselves

While the tournament offered a few thrilling encounters, the overall quality of many matches was rather average. And the final itself proved to be a rather underwhelming conclusion to the entire event. Spain fired 20 shots at goal, while Argentina managed only two, both coming in the dying minutes of extra time.

Lionel Scaloni's men registered an Expected Goals (xG) value of 0.00 after the first half and at the end of regular time. After 120 minutes, this figure only climbed to 0.34. Even their opponents, despite their dominance, didn't produce an offensive fireworks display, creating only four significant chances throughout the entire match.

Most moments from this match will likely fade quickly from memory. What might linger instead are scenes like Leandro Paredes' completely unnecessary outburst after the final whistle.

However, the truth is that cautious finals are not uncommon. With so much at stake, both teams often prioritize avoiding mistakes. Spectacular finals, like the one Argentina and France delivered four years ago, are more the exception than the rule, a fact confirmed by a look back at history.

Spain's first World Cup title also didn't deliver much in the way of spectacle. While Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, and Andrés Iniesta captivated fans throughout the tournament, the final against the Netherlands wasn't about brilliant play.

The match was disjointed and riddled with stoppages. It's most remembered for Nigel de Jong's brutal kick to Xabi Alonso's chest, which surprisingly went unpunished.

The decisive moment came in extra time when Iniesta, four minutes from the end, sealed Spain's historic triumph.

The final showdown between these two nations occurred twice in a row. While in 1986, spectators enjoyed an attractive match that ended 3-2 in favor of Argentina, the 1990 final in Rome was its complete opposite.

Argentina finished the match with only nine players after two red cards, and Germany won thanks to a penalty kick late in the game. The penalty was controversial, but neutral viewers were probably just glad to be spared another 30 minutes of boring extra time.

The conditions themselves suggested that the players wouldn't deliver much. The match at the Rose Bowl started at 12:30 PM in 36-degree Celsius heat and 70 percent humidity. The footballers struggled immensely on the pitch, and for the first time in history, a World Cup final ended without a goal scored.

Since no new world champion was decided after 120 minutes, a penalty shootout was required. Brazil emerged victorious after Roberto Baggio's miss, as he sent the ball high over the crossbar in Pasadena.