Spain owned the ball for long spells, finishing normal time with 66% possession and 647 passes, 583 of them accurate. Luis de la Fuente’s side kept Argentina penned back, logging 62 final third entries and completing 150 of 189 actions in that zone, a tidy 79%. They also racked up 23 touches in the penalty area to Argentina’s 2, a clean sign of territorial control. The shot count was 15-0 to Spain, with 10 efforts on target and six inside the box. Set pieces added pressure too, as Spain took 9 corners to Argentina’s 1.

The one thing Spain could not nail was the final delivery. Cross accuracy was just 2 of 23, or 9%, which blunted some promising positions. They missed one big chance and finished with 1.12 expected goals to Argentina’s 0.00, a reflection of dominance without the payoff. Still, there was plenty to like in their ball progression, including 11 successful dribbles from 19 attempts. In short, Spain moved the ball well, reached the right zones, and forced saves, but lacked that last pass or finish in the first 90.

Emiliano Martínez’s save show keeps it scoreless

If Argentina are still alive, look no further than Emiliano Martínez. The goalkeeper made 10 saves in normal time, including 3 big saves, and prevented an estimated 1.29 goals compared to the quality of shots on target faced. His Sofascore Rating was a massive 9.3, comfortably the best on the pitch. He also handled Spain’s nine corners, helped by a back line that posted 16 clearances and 14 interceptions.

Martínez was busy beyond shot-stopping. He had 55 touches, played 19 long balls, and recovered the ball 14 times as Argentina tried to relieve pressure. Spain put 8 shots on target in the second half alone, but Martínez kept meeting the moment. Without him, the numbers suggest Spain would likely be ahead. Credit also to the defensive unit’s timing in duels and blocks, which cut out a handful of dangerous cutbacks and pinball sequences in the box.

Midfield control vs limited transitions

Spain’s engine room set the tone. Rodri earned an 8.1 Sofascore Rating with 96 passes at 96% accuracy, 8 duels won, 4 tackles, and 2 key passes. The centre-backs were assured in buildup: Pau Cubarsí posted 106 passes with 102 completed and made 4 clearances, while Aymeric Laporte added 81 accurate passes and even registered a shot on target worth 0.109 xG. Lamine Yamal was a lively outlet with 3 shots, a big chance created, and 3 tackles, winning 9 of 16 duels.

For Argentina, the midfield had to chase and cover. Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul combined for 51 passes but rarely advanced the ball into threatening areas, and Enzo Fernández was under constant pressure, losing 7 duels and collecting two late bookings. Lionel Messi still found pockets, completing 17 of 19 passes, drawing 4 fouls, and winning a tackle, but touches were scarce at 29 and entries into Spain’s box were rarer still. Argentina finished with 0 shots and just 2 touches in the penalty area, underlining how little transition threat they produced. Duels tilted Spain’s way at 55%, with La Roja also winning 56% of ground duels across the match.

Subs and cards tilt the balance toward Spain

Both coaches turned to the bench to shift momentum. Lionel Scaloni was forced into an early change when Lisandro Martínez picked up an injury on 44 minutes, bringing on Nicolás Otamendi. At halftime, Leandro Paredes replaced Nicolás González to stiffen midfield, and later Nahuel Molina and Facundo Medina arrived to shore up the back line. Rodrigo De Paul made way for Giuliano Simeone on 70 minutes, a move aimed at adding legs up top.

Spain introduced Pedri and Ferran Torres on 62 minutes, then Mikel Merino and Nico Williams at 75. Torres had the game’s best chance and recorded the only big chance of the 90, but he could not convert. The late-card sequence only added to Argentina’s workload. Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez were both booked in the first half, Paredes saw yellow on 52, and Enzo Fernández collected a yellow on 83 before a second caution for a foul on 90+3 that sent him off. By the end of normal time Argentina had 5 yellows and a red, plus 19 fouls to Spain’s 13, and will face extra time a player short.

What the numbers say before extra time

Spain’s shot map and xG profile reflect sustained pressure. They fired 12 of their 15 shots after the break and put 8 of those on frame, while keeping their own box quiet enough that Unai Simón did not face a single shot. Spain were also cleaner in possession, with only 6 dispossessions to Argentina’s 11, and they won 11 of 19 dribbles. The one outlier remains crossing, where 2 completions from 23 attempts limited the payoff from territorial dominance.

Argentina’s defensive metrics tell a different kind of success. They won 71% of their tackles, made more interceptions and clearances, and leaned on set shape and last-ditch timing to survive. Martínez’s shot-stopping headlined that resistance and kept a lid on Spain’s 1.12 expected goals. If extra time follows the same pattern, Spain’s territorial edge and Argentina’s elite goalkeeping will remain the two defining forces. Live momentum swings, player heat maps, and every Sofascore Rating update are all available on Sofascore for those tracking the final phases.

As the World Cup Final moves beyond 90, Spain look fresher in midfield and cleaner in possession, while Argentina will hope their goalkeeper stays in superhero mode. Extra time will also test how much that late red card reshapes the match. The numbers so far say Spain have done almost everything but score. Argentina have done almost nothing but defend, and defend well. Now we find out which blueprint holds for 30 more minutes.