Spain defender Aymeric Laporte has openly criticised Argentina's playing style, claiming the reigning world champions are a team that "likes to leave a mark on their opponents". His comments come just days before Spain are set to face Argentina in the highly anticipated World Cup final at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday. Laporte, a former Manchester City player, expressed his view that such aggressive tactics "shouldn't be allowed in football", particularly in major competitions.
Argentina's physical approach was evident in their semi-final clash against England, where they committed 15 fouls en route to a 2-1 victory. The match saw several contentious moments, including an early challenge by Enzo Fernandez on Elliot Anderson that went unpunished, and England fans' belief that Lionel Messi fouled Djed Spence in the build-up to Argentina's winning goal. Laporte, 32, emphasised the referee's crucial role in managing these situations, warning that if such actions are permitted, a match can quickly "descend into chaos".
The defender elaborated on his concerns, stating, "I'm not at all worried about aggression within the context of football. If it's within the rules and the referee does their job, I have no problem with it." However, he added, "It is true, however, that in recent matches we've seen things that really surprised us – actions that were allowed to slide. Especially with Argentina. They're a team that likes to leave a mark on their opponents." These remarks follow similar sentiments from Egypt, who alleged bias in favour of Argentina and their talisman Messi after a contentious last-16 match where Argentina came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 with a 92nd-minute goal.
Despite Laporte's strong views, Spain's manager Luis de la Fuente and captain Rodri maintained a diplomatic stance when questioned about Argentina's tactics during a press conference in New York on Friday. De La Fuente, aiming to lead Spain to their first world title since 2010, stated he had the "utmost admiration" for the current champions of America and the world. Manchester City midfielder Rodri echoed this sentiment, suggesting he preferred to believe Argentina would "give their utmost" without resorting to overly aggressive play, but acknowledged the need to "ignore provocations" if they arise.
De La Fuente, who confirmed teenage winger Lamine Yamal is fit after missing training, chose to focus on the spectacle of the final itself, predicting "a great show" between two talented national teams. He expressed belief that both Spain and Argentina would prioritise "talent and good football" and that the referee would ensure the match was played at a level expected of a World Cup final. Three-time world champions Argentina are aiming to make history by becoming the first team since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 to win back-to-back men's World Cups.