It was the kind of Ferrandipity that Spain may have finally needed to reclaim their country. When the denouement arrives, the camera slowly turns, staying close to a few middle-aged people and showing how they tried to come to terms with what happened. Against the sunny backdrop of a large New Jersey square, an allegory of different dimensions is created, blurring the line of connection between the present and the past.Nico Williams headed Pedro Porro’s cross into the center of the box and Ferran Torres fired Spain’s lead in the 106th minute, 16 years after Andres Iniesta’s coup de grace with an extra-time winner heralded his arrival in the world. When Ferran, with adrenaline pumping, pulled out the corner flag with a big kick and was caught by his teammates in a wild celebration, Iniesta sat with his 2010 teammates, entered the frame, clapping and smiling.Playing against this montage of images stopped Lionel Messi – his eyes are down and his shoulders are shaking, almost closed in a dream, perhaps giving up on failure.Spain’s rebirth on the sport’s biggest stage coincides with Argentina’s disastrous self-destruction. No shots were on target in regulation time; there was no heart in Messi’s game joie de vivre and a special disregard for their battle to be meaningful, it hit an impossible barrier.
The sky in Argentina was so cloudy that their natural light – El Aleph – shines and revives slowly, therefore, the deus ex machina did not come in any kind of stolen moments of wisdom at the end of the semifinal against England.Enzo Fernandez’s red card in regulation time came with a shock wave as hope was replaced by fear and it became clear where the competition was headed. The winners’ curse hit Argentina again as the end of their title defense came with a more brutal image – Leandro Paredes summoning another red card after being involved in a nasty tussle with Eric Garcia and Gavi following the full-time whistle.
This is why Spain’s victory seems redemptive, almost imbued with poetic justice. It was a little less like La Furia Roja but a much clearer version of the bright colors. Fearlessly methodical, enchantingly expressive and always a deep sense of collectivism to be at the center of everything.Luis de la Fuente has changed their way of passing to be more direct and powerful, passing through crowded central squares through vertical expansion. As the synchronicity between the players was tested and strengthened with great challenges, it contained the voice of a man coming to find himself. It feels so fluid and comfortable within its confines that one might be tempted to take Argentina’s Messi as the antagonist in the story.
In what seemed like a fun way to celebrate their game on Sunday, one lasting image was left behind. Messi stood up to receive a warm hug from 19-year-old Lamine Yamal as the professional introduction began. It was a beautiful picture without moving and walking in his words; it was about to pass the stick.