La Roja's patient possession game meets the Albiceleste's trademark resilience in the World Cup final in New York on Sunday. As Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and his former coaching student Lionel Scaloni, now Argentina's manager, prepare to face off on football's biggest stage, the showdown promises a clash between the tournament's most polished side and the defending champions who have made a habit of surviving against the odds.
Spain and Argentina have reached Sunday's World Cup final by very different paths, yet both arrive hoping their gameplay will be the one to win them the world's biggest football championship. Spain's La Roja have looked like the tournament's most complete team, conceding just one goal in 7 matches. Argentina's La Albiceleste, meanwhile, have perfected the art of the comeback, twice rallying from behind to keep their bid for back-to-back world titles alive.
