Spain were worthy champions: Argentina video analyst dismisses final conspiracy theories

Argentina's coaching staff have consistently rejected conspiracy theories that emerged on social media following the team's defeat to Spain in the World Cup final.

Now, the team's video analyst and assistant to head coach Lionel Scaloni, Matías Manna, has publicly addressed the controversy.

Speaking on the Vuelta y Media programme on Urbana Play Radio, Manna said without hesitation that Spain were the better team in the final and fully deserved to be crowned champions. He also dismissed the various conspiracy theories that have circulated since the match.

Manna revealed that he had watched the final several times as part of his tactical analysis, but deliberately skipped the extra-time period—something he also did during the 2022 World Cup.

Explaining his approach, he said that extra time is often driven more by emotion than tactics. Since his role is to analyse the game's strategic aspects, he is convinced that Spain dominated the match overall.

Despite acknowledging Spain's superiority, Manna expressed pride in Argentina's style of play throughout the tournament. He said the team's attacking, possession-based football, which carried them to the final, reflects Argentina's true footballing identity.

He also expressed hope that future generations of players would continue to embrace that philosophy over the next 15 years, noting that the same approach is already being taught at youth level.

Reflecting on Argentina's overall World Cup campaign, Manna said the coaching staff led by Scaloni and the players had given everything they had. While disappointed with the outcome, he insisted there had been no shortage of effort or commitment.

Commenting on the speculation surrounding the final, Manna said such doubts are not unusual after a defeat. In today's digital age, he noted, every moment of a match is recorded and can easily be presented out of context.

Nevertheless, he urged fans to accept reality, saying what happened on the pitch is what matters, and that the team which performed better on the day deserved the credit and the trophy.