Joe Hart, the former England international goalkeeper, has sharply criticized the Argentine players for their conduct following their defeat to Spain in the World Cup final. Spain secured a 1-0 victory in New York after extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute.
The match, however, was overshadowed by the aggressive behavior of the South American team. Enzo Fernandez received a red card during the game, and following the final whistle, Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, and Roberto Ayala confronted the Spanish players.
Hart Highlights Messi’s Class
In his analysis for BBC, Hart particularly praised Lionel Messi for his sportsmanship after the match. “On the field, only one person showed class, and that was Lionel Messi. He came over and shook hands with all the Spanish players,” Hart stated.
He went on to express his disapproval of the rest of the Argentine team’s antics. “The match was over. They had absolutely no reason to complain about what happened. It was disgusting behavior,” added the former goalkeeper.
Substituted into the game at halftime, the Boca Juniors midfielder received a yellow card in the 52nd minute for a foul on Rodri. Although he was not sent off during the match, he was issued a red card after the final whistle for instigating a confrontation with the opponents. Paredes was seen grabbing Eric Garcia by the throat, which prompted Gavi to step in to protect his teammate. Paredes then also got into a scuffle with Almada, further escalating the altercation.
Spain Deserved the Title
Hart firmly believes that the World Cup title has rightfully gone to the team that earned it. He further explained that Argentina struggled to break down Spain’s gameplay.
“Spain won the World Cup fully deserved. Throughout the tournament, they played fantastically. They completely dominated an Argentine team that was solid and aggressive. The best team won the World Cup.” – Joe Hart, reflecting on the final match.
Hart has amassed 75 caps for the England national team, having participated in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. At the club level, he made a name for himself with Manchester City, where he won the Premier League titles in 2012 and 2014.
