Spain 1-0 Argentina: Torres Scores Extra-Time Winner As Spain Win World Cup

So here it is. The World Cup final rolls around again, after 103 games and a month or so of non-stop drama it has reached its conclusion in New York New Jersey, as Spain try and stop Argentina from being only the second ever nation to win the famous trophy back to back.

There were not many surprises when the line-ups came out, with neither side making many changes from their semi-final wins over France and England, respectively. There were some suggestions that Nico Williams could come in for Alex Baena, but Spain manager Jose de la Fuente opted to keep his side similar to their incredible 2-0 win over France.

Following a live performance from a plethora of artists and what felt like an endless build-up, the biggest game in football was kicked off by Argentina's captain, leader and legend Lionel Messi.

Usually, with these mammoth games, we see slow starts with players being scared to make early mistakes and taking time on the ball. Some smart build-play by La Furia Roja, the ball fell to Dani Olmo, who poked it into space for the teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, and his effort, on a tight angle, was smothered by Emiliano Martinez.

A real, early chance for the favourites.

From then until the hydration break, nothing happened. Spain truly started to dominate the ball, as they do so well with that trio of Pau Cubarsi, Aymeric Laporte and Rodri, making it really hard for la Albiceleste to conjure any real opportunities.

After the first hydration break there was not much real change to the tempo of the game, Spain were able to make the odd chance but nothing major for Martinez or Scaloni to worry about, with the closest Spain coming being a long shot by Marc Cucurella which was well wide.

The half did end on quite a sour note for la Albiceleste unfortunately. Lisandro Martinez picked up a knock and couldn't quite continue and it was a tough watch seeing the centre-half being emotional as his World Cup was over, being replaced by Nicolas Otamendi.

That brought a close to the first half, with not much happening, as Argentina failed to have a shot or a touch in La Furia Roja's box. This brought about half-time, which was one of the strangest things we've all seen on a football pitch, with Coldplay's Chris Martin joined by people such as Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Shakira, and, last but not least, Cookie Monster...

Twenty or so minutes later, it would have been a big relief for all football fans when Argentina and Spain took to the pitch again, ready to go to battle for the final time in this World Cup.

La Furia Roja truly started to ramp up the pressure as the second half began, with Dani Olmo and Mikel Oyarzabal both having half-chances against this stern Argentinian defence, but both their efforts were straight at Martinez.

The first clear-cut chance of what had been a very low-key affair came in the 67th when Yamal beat Alexis Mac Allister with some clever footwork, and Ferran Torres met his floated cross from close range, but his effort was straight at Martinez, a big chance going to waste.

The game seemed destined to go to extra-time in one of the more boring games this World Cup has seen when Enzo Fernandez, who was already on a yellow for dissent, decided to launch himself into Pau Curbasi for a 50/50, he got none of the ball and flipped the centre-half over giving referee Slavko Vinčić no other choice but to give him his second yellow, sending la Albiceleste into meltdown.

A great late save by Martinez just about kept Argentina in the game, and they were dragged into extra time, having to try and get their first shot of the match a man down.

The first chance of extra-time came to, unsurprisingly, Spain when a Yamal cross had the smallest flick on by Nico Williams, which was impressively pushed away by Martinez, who racked up his eleventh stop with that save. 

After a long, arduous 95-minute wait, the ball did finally find the net, but it wouldn't count. Mikel Merino was just judged, quite harshly, to have fouled Otamendi. Which led to Nico Williams' effort, which snuck under Martinez and didn't count, a real let-off for la Albiceleste.

Merino was not done when another chance came his way, Nico Williams became the provider this time with his inch-perfect cross allowing Merino to break through but his header was just put wide. How Spain weren't leading was unfathomable.

The half-time extra-time whistle went, and Argentina were just about holding on. Messi was having an incredibly tough time, and things were only made harder for him when his strike partner, Julian Alvarez, was taken off by defender Marcos Senesi.

And it was only thirty seconds they could last before La Furia Roja got the goal that could be another addition to their rich sporting history, and it was Ferran Torres who put his application in to go into Spanish folklore.

Porro's cross was a dangerous one and Williams, who had been incredible since coming on, was able to hook it back to an awaiting Torres who smashed his effort in past a helpless Martinez, sending a Spanish frenzy towards the corner flag, which was promptly destroyed by the boot of the Spanish winger.

Suddenly, Argentina found themselves a goal down and a man down in the World Cup final, yet to have even mustered a shot, with ten minutes left to save themselves.

Torres was even closer to cementing himself as a Spanish legend when he got through and put the ball past Martinez but everyone watching knew, subconsciously, he was offside and the flag was promptly raised.

Messi fought to win his side a corner, and after a one two with Paredes his curling, floating cross almost found a way to sneak under Unai Simon's bar. That being Argentina's closest chance really summed up their day.

And with fifteen seconds on left on the clock, Argentina had the golden opportunity denied from some elite Spanish defending after Messi really started to ramp up the pressure, five minutes added on. 

The dangerous Argentine attack ended when Simeone launched an effort over the bar, to a Spanish celebration. Another real chance for Argentina, who are now able to put La Furia Roja on the back foot. But it wasn't enough. 

Spain have won the World Cup.

For only the second time in their history, La Furia Roja have done it, and it is truly deserved. An incredibly dominant performance from minute one, and they had to wait for their chance, but when it fell to Torres, he sure took it.

A record-breaking 38-game unbeaten run continues, and the European Champions are now Champions of the World.

Spain were able to keep calm when it truly mattered, they could have easily buckled in the last few minutes but they kept their heads, and they are more than worthy of lifting the trophy after a 16 year wait.