‘Anti-football lost’ – Jeff Stelling and Gabby Agbonlahor don’t hold back in criticism of Argentina after the World Cup Final.
The game was marred by troubling scenes, tensions boiled over Enzo Fernandez was sent off in the closing stages of the second half, receiving a second yellow for a reckless foul on Pau Cubarsi.
Extra time was needed to settle this one, Nico Williams’ goal enough to see Spain lift the World Cup for a second time, then came the unsavoury scenes. See more on that HERE.
😡 “Argentina were an absolute disgrace!”
😤 “Football was the winner! Anti-football lost!”
🤦♂️ “They tried to bully Spain… disgraceful tactics!”
Jeff Stelling and Gabby Agbonlahor are delighted Spain beat Argentina in the World Cup Final! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UzY0kkKtuw
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 20, 2026
Jeff Stelling: Well done to Spain, Argentina were an absolute disgrace.
Gabby Agbonlahor: Yes. Last night I felt like I won last night watching, I felt like football was the winner, anti football lost. Shame that Messi’s probably last World Cup game was a game where his team didn’t try and play football. Disgraceful tactics that have worked all through the World Cup, they bully teams and last night they tried to bully Spain. That didn’t work, finally a referee who decided to give a few bookings, could he give a lot more?
Jeff Stelling: Oh, well, how was Paredes still on?
Gabby Agbonlahor: Especially to Paredes and other players, but at least he gave that second yellow card to Enzo Fernandez, who deserved to get sent off. Football’s the winner once again, which is what we wanted to see in the Champions League, football being the winner, and also in the World Cup.
Jeff Stelling: Yeah, that Enzo Fernandez, I’ve never met him, he must be a lovely bloke, mustn’t he? After the England game when he said he likes the English because everyone who cleans and cooks at his house is English.
Gabby Agbonlahor: Wow.
Jeff Stelling: I mean, it’s breathtakingly arrogant, to say the least. I think you’ll get a pretty hot reception at an English football match next season.
Gabby Agbonlahor: Every game, his character, celebrations, social media last night was absolutely buzzing. Spain winning, Enzo getting sent off, was the perfect end to the World Cup.
Jeff Stelling: Yeah, and I have to say that, look, Spain could, should have put them to the sword much sooner but they don’t have a focal point up front do they? Don’t they have an out and out striker as such?
Gabby Agbonlahor: Yeah I mean if they had the old strikers that they had like David Villa he would have scored a lot of those chances but some of the football they played yesterday sparring against a team they just wanted to sit back and try and nick a set piece. I thought they were fantastic at times the one touch passing the one twos that they were doing and finally Ferran Torres great finish as well Jeff because when you watch it back you look it looks like he smashes it at first but he doesn’t, it’s a guide, it’s a side foot into the top corner of the net. And I just think that was coming. I was happy, because I thought to myself, please don’t let Argentina get to penalties and win these penalties. It was the most anti-football we’d ever seen in a final. Didn’t get a shot until what, the second half of extra time, only two shots, zero on target. I think the XG that we don’t even like talking about was 0.17. It was embarrassing at times.
Jeff Stelling: Well, in comparison with Cape Verde, had six attempts against Spain in 90 minutes, and Argentina couldn’t muster a single one. And credit to the coach, by the way, as well, Luis de la Fuente. And look, OK, he’s got an embarrassment to riches, but the fact is the winning goal comes when Williams, who he’s put on as a substitute, knocks it back for Torres, who is a substitute as well.
Gabby Agbonlahor: Positive subs. Laporte and Rodri taking them off. I mean, Rodri would have thought, oh, I would have been a penalty taker. But the managers thinking, this ain’t going to penalties. They’re there for the taking, they’re holding on, they’re trying to bully us. Football was the winner again. So happy for Spain.
Jeff Stelling continued: : Spain, look, you look at the run they had at the final as well. It was a nightmare in terms of the teams. had to play along the way. Portugal and Belgium and France, of course, and then Argentina. They’ve done it the hard way.
Gabby Agbonlahor: They’ve done it the hard way. And what I love about them, Jeff, is you can tell they’re a team. Can tell everybody knows where they’re meant to be. can tell that everyone makes an option when you get the ball. You watch some of the World Cup, Jeff, and you see some players are hiding. If Rodri receives it, he knows Daniel Olmo’s going to want it. Yamal might come short and switch himself in behind. Also, the two centre-halves at all times, they’re the spare players. How good was Cubarsi? 19 years of age. Laporte as well. You know, like a fantastic Pedro Porro, Cucurella.
Jeff Stelling: That back four, you know? If they’re going to be vulnerable, that’s where they’re going to be vulnerable. But they concede one goal in the entire tournament, you know? Yeah, as you said, Porro and Cucurella are both fantastic.
Gabby Agbonlahor: Even big decisions as well, Jeff. We talk about managers on the big stage, and this manager’s done it. Pedri, no-one thought that Pedri would have got dropped for the last three games. It’s no problem, because he’s on at 55-60. Everyone’s together. Even players that have been dropped, they’re not sulking. They come on, make a statement. Fabian Ruiz have been very good this tournament. Pedri comes on, almost there. Other players are coming on. So I think it was a fantastic tournament for Spain. And it’s basically set the blueprint of like how to play football. That’s the football you want to see. People say it’s boring, but it’s a pleasure to watch when you understand football.
Paredes sent off and Molina throws a punch in ugly scenes after Spain beat Argentina
‘Anti-football lost’ – Here’s the social media reaction after Jeff Stelling and Gabby Agbonlahor don’t hold back in criticism of Argentina…
@Shuttsapalooza: Jeff Stelling keeps saying players will be embarrassed to be Enzo’s teammate & it’s bad for Chelsea. I say the opposite. The side group chat they have without him will be on fire. Someone you all know having a public meltdown, nothing brings you together more. They win the title.
@samdwhyte: The mentality of Argentina players (& some fans I’ve seen videos of) is baffling – they swing between two extremes of cheating, aggressive bullies to crying, whiny victims. I hope they get some kind of sanction for what was a disgusting tournament-long display of unsportsmanship
@LukeJuniper: The whole world now sees Argentina the way we have in this country for many years. Maybe they’ll use this to reflect and change their ways.
@nickyfran75: Anti football lost is entirely correct. Which is exactly like England in the semi v Argentina.
@EvolveAndDefine: I don’t often agree with Gabby but he’s 100% spot on.. absolutely pathetic. VIVA ESPANA
@rushdihameed798: First time I agree with Gabby from start to end 😂
@Crovon1: They’ve been a disgrace for years. Total and utter scumbags and it’s about time officials stood up to their bullshit!
@cognography:
The only memorable game for me was England vs France.
No politicians.
No celebrities wanting to be seen at the game.
No VAR decisions.
No VARgentina.
No overlooked red cards.
No manufactured mainstream performers.
No superstar players influencing the refereeing.
No UFC style fouling.
No unnecessary pressure for a gold object.
JUST PURE FOOTBALL.
The best things in life happen when you look beyond the surface.
@captainkirk4519: Wouldn’t of expected much less from a south American team. The first half against England all they did was foul us non-stop.
@Keith-book2master: The irony is when Argentina had to stop playing dirty and had to try playing football they weren’t a bad team. Thank god Spain won!
@joodznaturelives607: I remember clearly how obnoxious Argentina were in the quarter final in 1966 against us, thank God Geoff Hurst won it for us 🤬 60 years later nothing has changed – Sir Alf christened them “animals” back then… I think it’s an insult to animals
@Huhjgjkkgfg: Even Messi was a disgrace in that team. Trying to get Cucurella sent off… What a horrible bunch of players
@haymassira: ZERO shots on target makes you wonder, how the f did they make it so far?
@Bee-Ata: France 4 – England 6, now, THAT’s Football
