Argentinian President Javier Milei has announced a national holiday despite his country failing to manage a single shot on target in their 1-0 World Cup final defeat to Spain.
Spain were the worthy winners of the tournament and hardly came under any pressure during Sunday night’s final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Billed as a box-office final between the South American and European champions, what transpired was a defence versus attack exercise as the holders showed spirit but precious little else.
But despite a lacklustre performance from Lionel Messi and his men, Mr Milei has pressed ahead with a national holiday for the South American nation as they crashed out of the competition.
Posting to X, the Argentine president wrote: “Global celebration.
“In light of the interest surrounding the celebrations for the achievement of the Argentine National Team, I wish to inform the public that the day chosen by the players and the coaching staff for the celebration will be declared a national holiday.”
The president may be praising the national team, but fans and pundits from the international community have condemned the Argentinian squad after they played a dirty game and a dirty tournament.
During the match, Enzo Fernandez’s late challenge on Spain’s Pau Cubarsi earned him his second yellow card in the space of ten minutes. The Chelsea midfielder’s crunching tackle on the Spanish defender practically flipped him in the air.
Fernandez was then shown red in the 93rd minute as Argentina’s winning hopes appeared to shatter before their eyes.
It made Fernandez the sixth player in history to receive a red card in a men’s World Cup final, and the third from Argentina.
But Fernandez wasn’t the only Argentine who saw red.
Leandro Paredes was also sent off but only after the final whistle when scenes turned ugly, when he grabbed Spanish midfielder Gavi by the throat and threw him to the ground.
He was just one of several Argentinian players seen shoving the Spanish opposition to the ground in frustration in a showing of poor sportsmanship.
Nahuel Molina also appeared to throw a punch towards one of the celebrating Spain players.
