By Bilal Ahmed
Final preparations in New Jersey
Spain and Argentina are set to compete in the World Cup final in New Jersey, with organisers closely monitoring the air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires. The match, scheduled for Sunday, will see Argentina aiming to secure their second consecutive World Cup title, a feat not achieved since Brazil in 1962. Spain, meanwhile, is seeking their second title after their initial victory in 2010.
The final will take place at the New York New Jersey Stadium, formerly known as MetLife Stadium, in East Rutherford. The event is expected to draw a crowd of over 80,000 spectators, including US President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. President Trump has described the World Cup, which also includes matches played in Mexico and Canada, as potentially the most successful sporting event in history.
Organisers have been in close contact with local authorities to assess the impact of both the wildfire smoke and recent storms on stadium conditions. While a visible haze was present over New York and New Jersey on Saturday, meteorologists predict improved conditions for the final. The air quality index forecast indicates a shift from unhealthy to moderate air quality for sensitive groups in East Rutherford by Sunday, suggesting minimal health risks for the general public.
A thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon led to heavy rain and thunder at the stadium, prompting state police to advise people to seek shelter. This storm front is expected to help clear much of the smoke from the northeast before the final. Forecasts suggest temperatures around 27 degrees Celsius with light breezes and low humidity for kick-off.
Team strategies and player focus
Spain captain Rodri anticipates a physically demanding match against Argentina. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner stated that Spain is prepared for a different kind of game compared to their previous encounters. He emphasised the team’s adaptability, highlighting their ability to defend, counter-attack, and play offensively, making them a complete team.
When questioned about potential provocative tactics from Argentina, Rodri acknowledged it as part of football but expressed hope that Argentina would focus on their performance. He stressed the importance for Spain to ignore any provocations and concentrate on their own game. Rodri also praised Argentina‘s captain, Lionel Messi, referring to him as “the greatest of all times,” but cautioned that Argentina is a strong collective unit.
Mikel Merino, a key substitute for Spain, acknowledged that neutralising Messi would be a significant challenge. Merino, who scored late winners in the last-16 match against Portugal and the quarter-final against Belgium, expressed confidence in his ability to make an impact. He underscored that the team’s victory is paramount, regardless of who scores.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente confirmed that his team would pay “special attention” to Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. However, he ruled out man-marking the Argentina captain, recalling a past experience where man-marking Messi in a youth match proved ineffective. De la Fuente and his Argentina counterpart, Lionel Scaloni, share a friendship dating back to 2017 when de la Fuente was an instructor during Scaloni‘s coaching licence studies.
Argentina’s journey and Messi’s legacy
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni urged fans to appreciate the opportunity to witness Messi in what is likely his final World Cup match at the age of 39. Scaloni described Messi as a legend who has made history, having led Argentina to a World Cup victory in Qatar in 2022.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez reflected on the collective effort behind Argentina‘s success, stating that he sometimes becomes emotional thinking about their achievements. He encouraged his teammates to enjoy the moment and prepare with a positive outlook, as it will be a memorable experience. Argentina‘s recent golden era began with their Copa America win in 2021, ending a 28-year drought without a major international title.
Scaloni acknowledged the difficulty of reaching this level of competition consistently over several years. He expressed hope for a victory but recognised the incredible journey regardless of the outcome. Argentina will need to overcome the reigning European champions to become the first nation in 64 years to win back-to-back World Cups.
The final is scheduled to kick off at 3pm local time on Sunday.
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Source: dawn.com
