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Enzo Fernández has defended Argentina’s conduct in the World Cup final and claimed the players represented their country “in the best possible way”.
Argentine players punched, kicked and grabbed their Spanish counterparts by the throat as the World Cup final turned ugly after the final whistle.
In a further lack of sportsmanship, the South Americans then turned their backs on their opponents during Spain’s trophy lift at the MetLife Stadium.
Fernández was sent off for two bookable offences, including a crude lunge that sent Spain’s Pau Cubarsi flying.
The Chelsea midfielder, labelled “brattish” for his conduct, wrote on Instagram: “As time passes, you realise there is something much bigger than a result.
“For years, this group has represented our country in the best possible way.
“It teaches that competing isn’t just about winning, but about giving everything for the shirt and never giving up. Being part of this group, which has always stood up, competed to the very end, and defended these colours with pride, humility, and commitment, is something I’ll always cherish.
“I want to thank all the Argentine fans. Thank you for always being there, for supporting us in every match, for your affection, for your unconditional support, and for making us feel at home no matter where we are in the world.
“Wearing my country’s shirt is the greatest honour of my career, and I will continue to give everything I have every time I’m called upon to defend it.”
Fernández’s defence of Argentina came as the country’s press backed its team and praised their behaviour despite international condemnation.
Clarín, Argentina’s leading newspaper, described La Albiceleste as having been “polite and respectful, despite a few unfortunate isolated incidents in the last match”.
“On the field and off, the Argentine team displayed a range of values that are hard to find these days,” Silvia Fesquet, Clarín’s editor, gushed, adding that the players “did not speak ill of their rivals or try to justify their mistakes by blaming others”.
Clarín’s rival, La Nación, also praised the Argentine players’ dignity in defeat.
“The team obtained the most difficult thing: the affection and recognition of the people, even without being champions,” ran the headline of La Nación’s main report on the final.
The newspaper said they had “lost with heads held high” and deemed it fitting that the players had not taken off the silver medals around their necks as they had earned the right to a glorious “legacy” – even as losers.
There was no sugaring the pill in the report’s analysis of how the match unfolded, however. Claudio Mauri, La Nación’s chief sports writer, noted that Argentina did not have “a single shot on goal in the 90 minutes”, while Spain’s “passing rhythm” ended up wearing down the Argentine players mentally and physically.
La Nación also dedicated space to the tears shed by Lionel Messi, the captain, saying that “Argentina embraces him; thank you Leo, you already made us too happy”.
Página 12, the Buenos Aires newspaper, wrote that despite the defeat, the team’s efforts under Lionel Scaloni, Argentina’s coach, would live in the memory for “eternity”.
The publication jokingly wondered whether Argentina’s defensive approach had in fact been “a manifesto against the naïve, defenceless football of France and England” in Saturday’s 10-goal third-place play-off.
But the paper concluded by expressing gratitude for the five years and nine days of “total hegemony” since the 2021 Copa América.
“After savouring so much joy, it’s time to return to […] living with the lament and suffering of being runners-up.”
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