Spain were the better side in a tightly contested first half of the FIFA World Cup final, controlling possession and creating the clearer goalscoring opportunities, but Argentina held on to ensure the match remained goalless at the break.
Luis de la Fuente’s men dictated the tempo from the opening whistle, patiently circulating the ball through midfield and pinning Argentina deep inside their own half.
Their dominance in possession allowed them to create several dangerous moments, with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal proving Spain’s biggest attacking threat.
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Yamal twice came close to breaking the deadlock. His most dangerous effort came after cutting inside from the right, only for a deflected strike to be brilliantly kept out by Emiliano Martínez.
The winger continued to trouble Argentina’s defence with his pace, close control and incisive dribbling, forcing the South Americans onto the back foot.
Argentina, meanwhile, struggled to establish sustained possession and relied largely on quick counter-attacks.
Lionel Messi showed flashes of his trademark brilliance but was kept quiet for long spells by Spain’s disciplined defensive structure, while Julián Álvarez found little space to exploit.
Despite Spain’s territorial dominance and attacking intent, Argentina’s resilient defending ensured the teams went into the dressing room level at 0-0, setting up an intriguing second half in the battle for football’s biggest prize.
