Van der Gijp pits Spain's drive against Argentina's close‑call history

René van der Gijp said Spain will seize the World Cup title on Sunday, a stark contrast to Argentina’s pattern of last‑minute survival that saw them scrape past England, Egypt, Cape Verde and Switzerland to reach the final. Van der Gijp warned that Argentina will face a side that "really goes all out" in the final, describing Spain as the favourite for the World Cup trophy. He added, "I would not know how they will win. They will play the same way as against England, a bit of hanging back and then collapsing on their own sixteen. The English thought they could shape the game, but Spain really pushes through." He concluded, "Those Spaniards will not think: we will start calmly. They will strike immediately," underscoring his belief in Spain’s aggressive intent.

Lautaro Martinez's tears propel Argentina to World Cup final

Argentina secured their place in the final on Wednesday night after a nerve‑wracking finish, having held on in the dying moments of the match. England led 1‑0 with ten minutes left, but the English side surrendered the victory in the absolute final phase, illustrating the fine margins that have defined Argentina’s campaign. Earlier in the tournament, Argentina fought back from a 0‑2 deficit against Egypt and required extra time to overcome Cape Verde and Switzerland, highlighting a recurring reliance on late comebacks. The showdown will be staged in New York on Sunday, with the third‑place match between France and England scheduled for the day before.