ESPN analyst Craig Burley didn’t hold back when discussing Argentina’s dismal performance in the World Cup final against Spain.
“Argentina was a complete and utter disgrace,” he stated on ESPN FC. “We saw both their play and their behavior as disappointing. Sure, we expected some antics or rough play, but we also hoped for more skill on the ball.”
The final was meant to be the culmination of an intense tournament, yet Argentina found themselves outmatched by Spain’s commanding gameplay.
The South Americans didn’t manage a single shot on target and controlled just 32% of the ball during the match.
It could have gotten even worse if Argentina’s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, hadn’t set a record with 11 saves in a World Cup final.
Burley’s colleague at ESPN FC, Frank Leboeuf, expressed his disappointment, calling it “a bad image for football.”
He remarked that until this final, he considered the 1990 World Cup final—where Argentina lost 1-0 to West Germany—as the worst ever. However, witnessing Messi and the team’s recent performance shifted his perspective.
Argentina’s behavior post-match added to the controversy. During Spain’s celebrations, Leandro Paredes charged at Eric Garcia, hitting him in the throat and knocking him down.
This prompted a large brawl, with Paredes pushing Spanish midfielder Gabi. Ultimately, after things calmed down and Spain resumed their celebrations, Paredes received a red card.
“I hated Argentina’s performance. They resorted to everything to win, employing tricks and questionable tactics,” Leboeuf noted. “It paints a really poor picture of them.”
Additionally, Argentina’s players caused a stir by bypassing the required media interviews and heading straight to their team bus, leaving coach Lionel Scaloni to face reporters alone.
While not all players must speak, FIFA mandates that teams assign certain players to talk in the mixed zone.
“Spain was clearly the better team—that’s undeniable,” Scaloni said. “But I’ll remember this journey. What they achieved and how much effort it took to get here is invaluable.”
Sports commentator labels Argentina ‘completely shameful’ following World Cup final defeat.
ESPN analyst Craig Burley didn’t hold back when discussing Argentina’s dismal performance in the World Cup final against Spain.
“Argentina was a complete and utter disgrace,” he stated on ESPN FC. “We saw both their play and their behavior as disappointing. Sure, we expected some antics or rough play, but we also hoped for more skill on the ball.”
The final was meant to be the culmination of an intense tournament, yet Argentina found themselves outmatched by Spain’s commanding gameplay.
The South Americans didn’t manage a single shot on target and controlled just 32% of the ball during the match.
It could have gotten even worse if Argentina’s goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, hadn’t set a record with 11 saves in a World Cup final.
Burley’s colleague at ESPN FC, Frank Leboeuf, expressed his disappointment, calling it “a bad image for football.”
He remarked that until this final, he considered the 1990 World Cup final—where Argentina lost 1-0 to West Germany—as the worst ever. However, witnessing Messi and the team’s recent performance shifted his perspective.
Argentina’s behavior post-match added to the controversy. During Spain’s celebrations, Leandro Paredes charged at Eric Garcia, hitting him in the throat and knocking him down.
This prompted a large brawl, with Paredes pushing Spanish midfielder Gabi. Ultimately, after things calmed down and Spain resumed their celebrations, Paredes received a red card.
“I hated Argentina’s performance. They resorted to everything to win, employing tricks and questionable tactics,” Leboeuf noted. “It paints a really poor picture of them.”
Additionally, Argentina’s players caused a stir by bypassing the required media interviews and heading straight to their team bus, leaving coach Lionel Scaloni to face reporters alone.
While not all players must speak, FIFA mandates that teams assign certain players to talk in the mixed zone.
“Spain was clearly the better team—that’s undeniable,” Scaloni said. “But I’ll remember this journey. What they achieved and how much effort it took to get here is invaluable.”
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