Sports
Beastly, beautiful, Shinnecock Hills is perfect exam for golf’s ultimate test
Shinnecock Hills, host of this year’s U.S. Open, draws you in with its stately clubhouse, high on a hill and oh so lovely. Then there’s the course, beastly and beautiful — a perfect exam for golf’s ultimate test. So, how have players handled this icon of New York golf? Some, not so well. (Here’s looking at you, Lefty.) Others have been in just the right state of mind.
As with other gorgeous creatures, you have to see Shinnecock Hills up close to fully appreciate her complexity. Up close, and over time. Gorgeous, yes, but moody like you wouldn’t believe! The great course has changed over the decades, as all living things do. But Shinnecock changes over any single day too — especially in the long days of early summer. She’s like the Old Course in that way, or Dornoch or Troon. Shinnecock Hills, on the sandy South Fork of Long Island, is our nod to the motherland. Some of the holes have Scottish names. (Ben Nevis, Redan.) But Native American names too: Peconic, Sebonac, Montauk and Shinnecock. How fitting. The course was built by Shinnecock men, using a template imported from Scotland.
There’s nobody left from the 1896 Open at Shinnecock Hills, but there are boatloads of us still around who were on hand for the return engagement, 90 years after the first. Jack Nicklaus, the reigning Masters champion, played his first round of the ’86 U.S. Open on a dank and wet afternoon. The Golden Bear holed out on nine, walked past the Stanford White clubhouse, then watched his tee shot on 10 sail over a wide swath of yellowish rough and toward a cluster of unkempt shrubs. For the first time as a pro, Nicklaus had lost a golf ball. He made the lonely walk back to the tee, driver in hand, looking like he had just buried his dog. Three days later, Ray Floyd, flinty old North Carolina pro and the son of one, hugged the Open trophy, his eyes narrow against the afternoon glare and moment. Father’s Day, 1986. Raymond was reborn, and so was the course.
;)
Jon Cavalier
The third Open at Shinnecock was in 1995. Let’s roll the tape on Corey Pavin on 18 on Sunday: driver; 4-wood; two-putt par on a green with more tilt than a pinball machine. After wrestling the course for four days, Pavin had shot 280, even par. Straight ball, air-attack golf doesn’t play at Shinnecock Hills. At least, it doesn’t win. Cheeky little Corey Pavin won by two.
For Shinnecock’s fourth Open, in 2004, the course was still under 7,000 yards but this time dying of thirst. Phil Mickelson had another agonizing second-place finish and Retief Goosen won. Fourteen years later (No. 5; 2018), Phil was still nursing a Shinnecock Hills/USGA hangover. You might recall that moment when he went berserk, turning his putter into a hockey stick and his ball into a puck. Brooks Koepka won, by a shot over Tommy Fleetwood. Tom Watson said Koepka was the real deal, a player with all the tools. Tom Watson. Not known for effusiveness. But Koepka did what he did at Shinnecock, and that made all the difference. Koepka will be 36 when the U.S. Open comes to Shinnecock Hills for the sixth time, come June. Thirty-somethings and U.S. Opens — there’s a long marriage there.
Shinnecock unspools logically across its rolling and treeless 260 acres, with shapely fairways that act as wind tunnels. From start to finish the course is…sound. Sound, demanding and unrelenting.
Watson won his lone U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (at 32) and you’re tempted to say that Pebble is to the West Coast what Shinnecock is to the East, but it’s not. There’s no crashing-surf excitement at Shinnecock Hills, and it’s the opposite of public. (The club’s roots are old-guard WASP, elitist, exclusionary.) Shinnecock’s three neighbors — National Golf Links, Southampton Golf Club, Sebonack Golf Club — are sprinkled with moments of quirk and funk. Shinnecock unspools logically across its rolling and treeless 260 acres, with shapely fairways that act as wind tunnels. From start to finish the course is … sound. Sound, demanding and unrelenting. Somehow, Tommy Fleetwood shot a Sunday 63 when Koepka won. That’s like shooting 60 at Augusta.
He was 27 then, 35 now, and he’ll be 45 when the Open returns to Shinnecock for rendezvous No. 7, in 2036. Raymond Floyd was 43 when he won 40 years ago. He bought a house in Southampton and joined the club, and you could see him, now and again, sliding from the car park to the clubhouse in snazzy loafers and metal-framed shades. The ’86 Open turned Floyd into a superstar. The 2018 Open, for Koepka, did the same.
;)
Getty Images
That clubhouse, broadly similar to Muirfield’s in Scotland, sits on the top of Shinnecock’s highest hill. For visitors and members, for motorists driving by, the clubhouse is a beacon, a weathered landmark of the American game. With its sturdy white columns around its perimeter, and sentry flagpoles on its east side and west, the Shinnecock clubhouse makes a proud here-we-stand statement.
But let’s consider another orientation here, an unlikely one, from the back tee on the 4th hole, in an almost rural nook of the course, deep in its northernmost reach. If you could go high on a cherry picker from that tee and gaze south you’d see it all: the pale, heaving course; the handsome clubhouse; the east-west tracks of the Long Island Rail Road; gas stations and strip malls; modern mansions on old potato fields; ocean beaches; the dark wonder of the Atlantic.
Then, somewhere beyond the horizon and in your drifting mind, the old country itself, birthplace of all this imported, madcap gorgeousness. At Shinnecock, nothing was lost in transit. She’s got those potato-chip fairways, ball-eating shrubs, magic-carpet greens plus, at the Open, a drinking-vessel trophy waiting for the winner. Enter the golfers, from all corners of the world, every last one fueled and encouraged by the vague promise of ecstasy.
NEW YORK – Total domination. In defeating Argentina, Spain became the first team to not allow a shot on target in 90 minutes in a World Cup final, winning 1-0 after a Ferran Torres goal, but this team is just getting started. If I told you that Spain won the World Cup by going undefeated and scoring in every game but one, I’m sure you would’ve assumed that Lamine Yamal had multiple goal involvements.
While that’s a safe expectation for someone who announced their stardom at only 17 with a goal and four assists as Spain won Euro 2024, the squad accomplishing this with Yamal scoring only once – during the group stage against Saudi Arabia – shows just how balanced they are. The squad depth was critical with Nico Williams picking up an injury, Pedri and Fabian Ruiz rotating, and even Pedro Porro won the starting right back job from Marcos Llorente during the tournament.
In what could be Lionel Messi’s final World Cup, the torch for current superstardom may be going to Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland, but Yamal’s potential is limitless, to be able to challenge them for the throne sooner than later in what is just another magnificent piece this loaded, yonug squad has, boasting an average age of 26.2 years.
“I think Lamine [Yamal] is an incredible player,” Porro said, beaming about his teammate. “He’s a young boy, but I think the most important thing for him now is to congratulate him because he’s a young boy and won the World Cup today. I think the best moment in my life, in the life for him. I think it’s for me, [he’s an] incredible player.”
And he wasn’t even the best teenager on his own team in this tournament. Let that sink in. Spain are also set with a defensive anchor in Pau Cubarsi, who won Best Young Player of the tournament at 19 and part of a defense led by Unai Simon and shielded by Rodri. During the World Cup, they not only allowed one goal, which is a record defensive performance, but they did it while playing more games than any World Cup winner ever with the addition of the round of 32. The previous record of two goals allowed by a World Cup winner was jointly held by Spain in 2010, France in 1998, and Italy in 2006, but they only played seven games compared to Spain’s eight this campaign.
That adaptability is impressive, but they also absolutely dominated games from start to finish. The highest xG that Spain allowed in a game was 0.67 to Portugal, and their lowest was a miniscule .08 to Saudi Arabia. Lionel Messi was held to 54 touches, but he only took one shot and was unable to create much, even before Enzo Fernández was sent off for his own challenge on Cubarsi.
Luis de la Fuente deserves all the flowers for how he has set up this squad and prepared them for everything that has come their way. He mentioned that winning the European Championship was something that showed the team what they could accomplish and has kept his squad focused during this grind to a point where they didn’t trail for a single minute during the World Cup.
He’s completed international soccer in the past three years, winning the UEFA Nations League, European Championship, and now capping it off with his most special one yet, the World Cup. While now there may not be much left for de la Fuente to accomplish, his players aren’t limiting their own ambitions one bit as Simon has his eyes on 2030, which will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco with matches also taking place in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Looking to get a third star at home would be an incredible accomplishment, and there’s no reason why Spain can’t get it done.
“Winning a World Cup, there is nothing else on a sporting level. It cannot be compared to the Euro Cup, which is something historic; it cannot be compared to the Nations League, which is also something spectacular,” Simon said. “But winning a World Cup is unique. As I tell you, we had to wait 16 years. I think we only have to wait four to get another star, but for now, I think we have to enjoy it and be aware of what we’ve done.”
Soaking in the moment is important, and even though Leandro Paredes tried to interrupt Spain’s moment by almost choking Eric Garcia following the match, the joy could be seen on each of the players’ faces, down to Porro wanting to call his grandfather as soon as he could.
“Since you are very little, you go in search of a dream, and the truth is, today I have carried out some words that my grandfather said to me a few days ago: ‘Bring it home, son.’ I don’t even know what to think right now; I’m just looking forward to getting out of here and calling him, because I’m sure he will be very happy, very emotional, and I, too,” Porro said.
That joy is something that they’ll be chasing again, and they’ll have the support of their home fans to push for it in 2030. They’ll also have a Yamal who will be 23 by then, ready to enter the cusp of his prime. As he’s already had a tournament as Spain’s best player under his belt, it’s scary to imagine the level that he’ll be at then. Things will change, but the core of this squad, barring injuries, will be back, and they’ll have had a strong World Cup performance under their belts to boot. The global soccer community will need to look out because while France are also set up to push in 2030, the new kings of global soccer will be hard to dislodge.
Patience proved the critical virtue for Spain. The players had to wait for a kickoff delayed by, among other things, a Tom Cruise speech. They had to wait twice as long as usual at halftime. And they had to wait for 106 minutes of play and their 20th shot before Ferran Torres lashed home the goal that would win them a second men’s World Cup.
“I’m very moved. Looking back and thinking about them, we’ve won everything, absolutely everything, with this generation of players,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente. “The match should have been decided much earlier … but this is a World Cup final, and you have to dig deep even against ten men, and we’re prepared for anything.”
Spain’s captain and player of the tournament, Rodri, lifted the trophy, but not before Donald Trump made his presence known. The US president was booed when he entered the pitch with FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, and appeared keen to stay for the trophy lift, just as he had in the Club World Cup final last year. Rodri appeared to subtly attempt to usher Trump off the stage before Infantino jogged over to join Trump on the sidelines of the celebrations.
Messi on the margins
For much of Sunday’s final, that moment had felt purely a matter of time, as the European champions thoroughly outclassed their South American counterparts.
Just as they did in their impressive semifinal display against France, Spain dominated the ball early and their teenage superstar, Lamine Yamal, came close to opening the scoring in the fifth minute. Seconds later, at the other end of the pitch and the age scale, Lionel Messi was beaten to a through ball by Spanish keeper Unai Simon. It was as close as Messi, 39, got to a significant impact on the game, which may well be his last at a World Cup.
“They were better, to be honest,” Messi said postgame. “We lost the game, and we accept that. That doesn’t mean that we will forget everything we’ve done so far, so I’d like to thank my people, my players and the country.”
As the first half wore on in the New York New Jersey stadium, Spain dominated the ball, but Argentina held firm, with a smart save from goalkeeper Emi Martinez save on a shot from Spanish striker Mikel Oyarzabal, as close as either side came before the elongated interval.
Halftime show keeps players waiting
For the first time in World Cup history, a Super Bowl-style halftime show was on the cards. Performers including Madonna, Justin Bieber and BTS took to the pitch with the break extended, contrary to both football convention and FIFA laws, to almost double the standard 15 minutes.
It wasn’t enough to change the pattern of the game. Spain continued to pass, Argentina continued to scrap, hassle and rely on Martinez to keep Spanish shots at bay.
A red card for midfielder Enzo Fernandez in injury time made Argentina’s task even tougher as the final headed into extra time, as it now has in five of the last six finals. Argentina tired but somehow clung on, with Spain repeatedly wasteful.
Spain keep composure
Surely the South Americans, who had failed to take a single shot in regulation, couldn’t somehow win this?
But Spain has already proved they won’t panic, with late winners in two of their knockout matches. Indeed, the final bore some resemblance to their tournament opener, a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde. After that, Spain slipped somewhat under the radar for a time, with a lack of cutting edge thought to count them out.
But as the tournament progressed, Luis de la Fuente’s team have delivered a masterclass in control while sharpening their attacking weapons to win a first World Cup since 2010. Spain’s women are also reigning world champions, winning the tournament in 2023.
“I think that, in the end, the goal belonged to 47 million people, not to me or the 26 players here,” said the goalscorer, Torres. “I believe that today destiny was written, it was meant for us to win, far from our fans, but we tried to make them feel as close as possible.”
World Cup overshadowed by Iran war, Balogun controversy
The final ended a tournament that has offered much from a sporting perspective: the heroics of Cape Verde, the race between Messi and Kylian Mbappe for the tournament — and overall World Cup — top scorer and shocks such as Germany’s exit to Paraguay and Norway toppling Brazil.
But politics has also proved impossible to ignore. The barring of Somali referee Omar Artan from entering the US added to the sense this was not a World Cup for the whole world. Iran’s treatment, being forced to fly in and out of games and given less preparation time as a result, was a reminder of the conflict between the US and Iran.
Trump’s intervention in the suspension of a red card ban for US striker Folarin Balogun also amplified already loud questions about FIFA corruption.
Ultimately, the tournament was decided in the same way it always has been. On Sunday in New Jersey, it was settled, once again, in favor of Spain.
Edited by: Wesley Dockery
Match officials are monitoring the conditions before announcing the revised toss time.
First unofficial Test ended in a draw
The two teams head into the second and final unofficial Test after the opening match in Galle ended in a draw.
Both sides will be aiming to finish the series on a winning note.
Squads
Sri Lanka U19: Dimantha Mahavithana, Dulnith Sigera, Senuja Wekunagoda, Vimath Dinsara (captain), Kavija Gamage, Chamika Heenatigala, Ramiru Perera, Jason Fernando (wicketkeeper), Dimath Abeysinghe, Lathendra Akash, Oshada Manahara, Viran Chamuditha, Chamarindu Nethsara, Vigneshwaran Akash, Sanuja Ninduwara, Rehan Peiris.
India U19: Lakshya Rajesh Raichandani, Sagar Virk, Kushagra Ojha, Yashbardhan Chauhan (captain), Kush Patel, Manav Krishna (wicketkeeper), Kavya Patel, Jeganathan Hemchudeshan, BK Kishore, Priyanshu Singh, Pranav Ragavendra, Rohit Yadav, Manal Chauhan and Aryan Sakpal.
Sports
Lionel Messi Tries To Get Spain Star Sent Off During FIFA World Cup 2026 Final, Blasted As ‘Baby’ After Heated Incident
Lionel Messi (L) and Marc Cucurella during FIFA World Cup 2026 final© X (Twitter)
Argentina football team superstar Lionel Messi found himself in an unusual controversy after he tried to get Spain defender Marc Cucurella sent off during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final. With the match hanging in the balance, Messi tried to convince the referee Slavko Vincic to show Cucurella a red card as he covered his mouth while speaking to him. Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez was shown a red card in the second half and as his teammates protested the decision, Cucurella briefly approached Messi and replays showed that he partially covered his mouth his hand before lowering it almost immediately. Messi, however, gestured towards the referee to send him off according to the new FIFA rules but his request was ultimately denied.
Esto de Messi con Cucurella ha sido muy bajuno, la verdad… pic.twitter.com/r8V1wQEE8k
— Laura Vizcaíno (@lauravizcaino_) July 19, 2026
The rules state that any player covering their mouth during an altercation with their opponents will be shown a direct red. Earlier in the competition, Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron and Ecaudor’s Piero Hincapie were sent off for a similar offence. However, the referee decided during the World Cup final that Cucurella’s offence did not match the threshold for a dismissal.
Spain went on to clinch the World Cup title with an extra time goal by Ferran Torres.
Messi faced tremendous criticism for his action with former England defender Lee Dixon even calling him a ‘baby’.
“The game has gone if you’re getting bookings and red cards for that, to get somebody sent off,” Dixon told ITV.
“You shouldn’t be such a baby to try and get someone sent off for that; it’s ridiculous.”
Former England captain Wayne Rooney was also not happy with how things went down. “Argentina play like that, we know that’s what they do. The one thing you want is good sportsmanship. That was sad to see, Lionel Messi doing that.”
Featured Video Of The Day
FIFA World Cup 2026 | ‘I Don’t See A World Cup Trophy…’: Mbappe Says France’s Job Isn’t Done
Topics mentioned in this article
Andy Ruiz Jr has outlined the keys to victory for both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, who are expected to collide in a long-awaited showdown later this year.
First, the two British heavyweights must complete their respective warm-up fights against Mariusz Wach and Kristian Prenga, who have been purposely selected as low-risk opponents.
Yet it is not so much the danger of losing, but rather the risk of either man sustaining an injury or cut, that has added a slice of jeopardy to their domestic dustup.
Nevertheless, Fury has arranged to meet the 46-year-old Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, on July 24.
Despite unanimously outpointing Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, the ‘Gypsy King’ clearly felt an urge to bank further rounds against the Polish veteran, who suffered a particularly devastating second-round stoppage defeat to Moses Itauma in 2024.
Joshua, meanwhile, will face unproven heavyweight Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the following day, entering his first outing since scoring a sixth-round finish over Jake Paul in December.
But regardless of these warm-up fights, Ruiz has told talkSPORT that he can see outcomes where either Fury or ‘AJ’ emerges victorious in their potential all-British clash.
“It’s going to be a good fight. If Tyson Fury gets in Joshua’s head and boxes around, moves around, throws his combinations, maybe it could affect Anthony Joshua.
“But if Anthony Joshua goes in there and starts banging out with Tyson Fury, he could probably win. It only takes one punch to change the whole fight.”
Ruiz famously dethroned Joshua with a stunning seventh-round stoppage in 2019, only to lose his unified crown in their immediate rematch later that year.
How much should an NFL offensive line cost? The Vikings’ investment has been aggressive in recent years.
All of LT1 Christian Darrisaw, RG1 Will Fries, and RT1 Brian O’Neill are working on beefy deals. LG1 Donovan Jackson isn’t particularly pricey, but he’s working under a 1st-Round contract. With Jackson, the cap charge is far from free but far from backbreaking. There’s then the center position that’s undergoing a competition among cheaper options. Do the tally and the Minnesota Vikings see their front five get slotted into the fourth spot.
The Vikings’ Investment Along OL Gets Placed at 4th
Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap offers the word. On matters of the NFL’s finances, Fitzgerald is a terrific resource.
His piece is titled “Offensive Line Investments for 2026.” Fitzgerald establishes some of the groundwork: “I decided to do the valuations a bit differently here. For any player who was on a non drafted contract I used their standard APY to calculate their average salary value.”
Further: “For a draft pick I used their projected value based on the Fitzgerald-Spielberger draft chart and the position they play. While this may not be as accurate for the production of 4th year rookies where we have a better understanding of how good the player is, it does give us a decent way to look at upside that exists with the young players on the roster. I used the top 10 valued players to take into account how much depth a team has rather than just the top 5.”
Working through some of the NFL’s top teams eventually gave way to a mention of the Minnesota Vikings.
“The Broncos are third in the NFL with $94.7 million but they are also old (29.3) and have just one draft pick rank in their top 10 and he projects to bring about $4.5 million of value to the team,” Fitzgerald writes. “Offensive linemen have longer NFL careers than other positions but this feels a bit like waiting for something to be a problem rather than trying to be a bit proactive and having a plan in place before the problem arises. I would assume next year this will be a draft focus. The Vikings rank fourth at $94 million and the Browns fifth at $90.2 million” (emphasis added).
Scrolling down a touch further means seeing a more precise number: $94,140,537.
Keith Carter is entering his first season as the Minnesota Vikings’ offensive line coach. That being said, Carter was in the Twin Cities last year as an assistant, working under Chris Kuper (who was fired and allowed to skedaddle for a job with the Eagles). Carter’s task is to bring the collective fivesome forward in their abilities, going from solid to sizzling.
A sneaky detail to monitor: the effort from the HC and the QB. Seeing the head coach figure out how to stick to a ground attack would help the big boys. Seeing the quarterback figure out how to make quick, decisive throws would help the big boys.
The Vikings are facing plenty of skepticism about the team’s ability to get into the playoffs, much less win the NFC North and/or (gasp) go on a playoff run. Where the Vikings could get a major boost is within the trenches.
For far too long, the Vikings haven’t done tremendously in this area, but the current cluster of talent has been assembled after draining the ATM. No time like the present to see the Vikings become dominant at the line of scrimmage.
The Vikings get going with training camp in a week.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
At first, Lionel Messi was not crying. Nor was he furious. He just sat there. Alone. As the camera followed him, the football great looked blank. At 39 years of age, he did not just star for Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026; he carried his team. Not in the final, though. The tears flowed later. As he received the runners-up medal, Messi could not hold back. He broke down. Here was the greatest of all time, yet his story in the FIFA World Cup 2026, which could be his last, was not perfect.
Argentina had been the kings of late comebacks. Not on Sunday. Messi was on the pitch, yet Argentina did not register an attempt until the second half of extra time.
Spain took the game’s first 20 shots before Argentina managed one. It told a story. You can’t win every day, not even if you are Messi.
As time passed, the heartbreak of a World Cup final loss came to the fore, so did the tears.
The Camera man deserves a pay rise he cooked here pic.twitter.com/XOeauJNPpX
— Clinch 7 (@ClinchRMCF) July 19, 2026
How Did Messi Fare in the Final?
Messi took a corner kick with about four minutes left before the final whistle, and the ball took a fortunate bounce towards substitute Giuliano Simeone, who sent it high over the crossbar and held his head in disbelief afterward. That was about it. In a match that saw Spain dominate the midfield, Messi was kept quiet and was largely ineffective.
Spain dominated possession (65 per cent) and chances throughout the match, restricting Argentina’s attack for long periods.
Messi, who won the Golden Ball at the FIFA World Cup 2022, struggled to influence proceedings against Spain’s high-pressing, possession-based approach. He finished with 54 touches and just one shot, while Argentina failed to register a shot during regulation time.
Throughout the FIFA World Cup 2026, Messi inspired his team. Members of the squad, including Emiliano Martinez and Enzo Fernandez, spoke about how they wanted to win the FIFA World Cup for him. He repaid that faith with one of the greatest performances of his career. He scored eight goals and provided four assists, two of which came against England when Argentina were 2-0 down.
The world expected another fairytale ending. It was not to be. In the title clash, Messi was unable to produce the decisive moments that had defined much of Argentina’s tournament. In what could be his final World Cup appearance, he was largely kept under control by Spain.
By the time the next FIFA World Cup comes around, Messi will be 43. Can he keep going until then? He will not be short on commitment, but will he be ready physically? We will get the answer soon.
Featured Video Of The Day
FIFA World Cup 2026 | Argentina Fans Sing & Dance After Dramatic Comeback Against Egypt
Topics mentioned in this article
As Spain were crowned champions after extra-time thriller against Argentina, fans in New York celebrated the second World Cup title for La Roja.
When Spain appointed Luis de la Fuente as head coach in December 2022, few expected him to deliver the Nations League (2023), European Championship (2024) and World Cup (2026) in so short a time frame.
Spain had just been knocked out of the World Cup by Morocco in the last 16 in Qatar and the federation needed a replacement after Luis Enrique left his role.
“They went with this guy [De La Fuente] who understood the style and the system,” added Balague.
“It was a very risky decision – I don’t think anyone thought he would be so successful.”
It appeared risky because De La Fuente took charge of Spain, who have won three of the past five men’s European Championships – (2008, 2012, 2024) – without having managed a big club.
After retiring as a player in 1994, De La Fuente spent 15 years in different roles with a succession of different clubs, including managing in the lower Spanish leagues, youth roles and assistant coach positions – before he took charge of Spain’s youth teams.
“De la Fuente knew most of these players from the academies and they are growing as a team,” former Spain midfielder Juan Mata told BBC Sport.
“This is not only a team for the present, but also a team for the future.”
Since being appointed senior boss after stints in charge of the under-19s, under-21s and at Olympic level, De La Fuente has implemented a culture of respect for their rivals, for the process and preaching patience and calmness.
“Most of you are younger than me and you need to respect experience,” the 65-year-old told journalists at his pre-match news conference in New York on Friday.
“Once we finished the game, there were footballers who said ‘coach, now what else is there to win as we have won everything in all the categories’.
“We came to the conclusion that what remains is the next match in September because this team are relentless.”
The success of the national teams and Spanish coaches has spilled over to club football.
Despite Pep Guardiola’s decision to leave Manchester City after 10 trophy-packed years, at least a quarter of the managers who start the 2026-27 Premier League season are Spanish.
Spain are now unbeaten in their last 38 matches in all competitions, the longest ever run by any European or South American team in history.
When the referee blew the final whistle in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on Sunday, Spain walked off with the trophy while Argentine football icon Lionel Messi simply walked off in tears. La Roja are back atop the football world for a second time after Ferran Torres’ first goal of this year’s World Cup, unquestionably the goal of his life, gave his country a 1-0 win over now-dethroned champions Argentina in the summit clash at New York New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, in the United States.
“It was a goal scored by 47 million people,” Torres said, referring to Spain’s population. Maybe not by them, but certainly for them.
The goal came with Argentina down to 10 men after Enzo Fernandez was sent off late in regulation following a reckless tackle. Tempers flared then, and flared again after the final whistle, with Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and players from both sides engaging in what appeared to be some pushing and shoving.
In the end, Spain denied Messi a second straight title in what he has indicated was his final World Cup match. Torres, a second-half substitute, pounced on a bouncing ball in the box and used his left foot to bury a shot just under the crossbar in the 106th minute.
From there, the airtight defence that dominated opponents throughout the tournament came through one final time. Spain, which also won the title in 2010, allowed only one goal in eight matches during this World Cup run, setting a record for the fewest goals conceded by a champion.
FIFA World Cup 2026 prize money
The FIFA Council had approved a record-breaking financial contribution of USD 727 million for the mega event last year. Out of this, USD 655 million was allocated as prize money among the 48 participating teams. This marked a 50% increase in prize money compared to the previous edition. Here’s the distribution:
Champions: Spain – USD 50 million
Runners-up: Argentina – USD 33 million
3rd place: England – USD 29 million
4th place: France – USD 27 million
Prize money for rest of the positions
5th-8th place: USD 19 million
9th-16th place: USD 15 million
17th- 32nd place: USD 11 million
33rd-48th place: USD 9 million
List of awardees
Golden Ball: Rodri (Spain)
Silver Ball: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Bronze Ball: Kylian Mbappe (France)
Golden Boot: Kylian Mbappe (France)
Silver Boot: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
Bronze Boot: Jude Bellingham (England)
Golden Glove: Unai Simon (Spain)
FIFA Young Player Award: Pau Cubarsi (Spain)
FIFA Fair Play Trophy: The Netherlands
(With AP Inputs)
Featured Video Of The Day
Haaland Memes | “It’s A Special & Funny Game”: Haaland Ahead Of Quarterfinals Against England
Topics mentioned in this article
GTA 6 hacker who was sentenced to life in a secure hospital is moved to prison ahead of retrial
WHITE HOUSE JUST MADE XRP OFFICIAL! (HUGE NEWS)
Trump says US strikes hit Iran in ‘honour’ of American soldiers killed
-
NewsBeat4 days agoLondon Mayor Sadiq Khan handed a peerage by Keir Starmer alongside 15 other Labour figures… just days before the PM leaves No10
-
Fashion3 days agoWeekend Open Thread – Corporette.com
-
Politics2 days agoThe House | The City of London can help the new chancellor deliver growth in every postcode
-
Politics5 days agoYoung campaigners urge incoming PM to act on outdoor junk food ads
-
Crypto World4 days agoCFTC blocks Kalshi from unwinding Michigan trades after court order
-
Business4 days agoNvidia Stock Slips After Big Tuesday Rally as Huang Confirms Vera Rubin Chip Is Now in Production Today
-
Crypto World3 days agoTwo July Windows Left: The CLARITY Act’s Senate Fight and What Failure Means
-
Crypto World2 days agoRipple Payments Joins MiCA With 14 Firms, Does It Mean Anything For XRP?
-
Politics17 hours agoDemocrats look to World Cup watch parties to register thousands of voters
-
Crypto World2 days agoRipple wins EU-wide access as ESMA adds it to MiCA register
-
Entertainment5 days agoDisney’s Most Ambitious Failed Star Wars Attraction Is Coming to SDCC
-
Business4 days agoPalantir Shares Rise After Expanded Nvidia Partnership and Fresh Analyst Upgrades Ahead of Earnings Day
-
Crypto World3 days agoInjective Submits SEC Transfer-Agent Registration to Onchain Ownership Records
-
Tech6 days agoGet Your ESP32 Sunny Side Up With This Solar Dev Board
-
NewsBeat3 days agoRegistration is now open for March for Men with Kev 2026
-
News Videos5 days agoXRP BOMBSHELL… XRP OMBOARDED FOR TRANSACTIONS!!!
-
Tech5 days agoDark Secrets Emerge When Jailbreaking LLMs
-
Sports4 days agoNew Cornerback Enters Vikings Trade Rumor Mill
-
News Videos3 days agoMoney | Class 12 Economics | CBSE Board Exam 2026-27
-
Business3 days agoBanco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA) Discusses Global Macro Environment and Economic Outlook for Core Markets Transcript
You must be logged in to post a comment Login