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‘Afraid of nothing’: how Argentina’s players drew on childhood inspiration to reach the final
Spain squad
- Full squad
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1 David RAYA Goalkeeper
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2 Marc PUBILL Defender
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3 Alex GRIMALDO Defender
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4 Eric GARCIA Defender
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5 Marcos LLORENTE Defender
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6 Mikel MERINO Midfielder
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7 Ferran TORRES Forward
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8 Fabian RUIZ Midfielder
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9 GAVI Midfielder
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10 Dani OLMO Forward
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11 Yeremy PINO Forward
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12 Pedro PORRO Defender
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13 Joan GARCIA Goalkeeper
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14 Aymeric LAPORTE Defender
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15 Alex BAENA Midfielder
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16 RODRI Midfielder
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17 Nico WILLIAMS Forward
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18 Martin ZUBIMENDI Midfielder
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19 Lamine YAMAL Forward
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20 PEDRI Midfielder
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21 Mikel OYARZABAL Forward
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22 Pau CUBARSI Defender
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23 Unai SIMON Goalkeeper
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24 Marc CUCURELLA Defender
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25 Victor MUNOZ Forward
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26 Borja IGLESIAS Forward
Argentina squad
- Full squad
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1 Juan MUSSO Goalkeeper
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2 Marcos SENESI Defender
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3 Nicolas TAGLIAFICO Defender
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4 Gonzalo MONTIEL Defender
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5 Leandro PAREDES Midfielder
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6 Lisandro MARTINEZ Defender
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7 Rodrigo DE PAUL Midfielder
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8 Valentin BARCO Midfielder
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9 Julian ALVAREZ Forward
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10 Lionel MESSI Forward
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11 Giovani Lo Celso Midfielder
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12 Geronimo RULLI Goalkeeper
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13 Cristian ROMERO Defender
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14 Exequiel PALACIOS Midfielder
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15 Nico GONZALEZ Midfielder
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16 Thiago ALMADA Forward
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17 Giuliano SIMEONE Forward
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18 Nico PAZ Forward
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19 Nicolas OTAMENDI Defender
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20 Alexis MAC ALLISTER Midfielder
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21 Jose Manuel LOPEZ Forward
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22 Lautaro MARTINEZ Forward
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23 Emiliano MARTINEZ Goalkeeper
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24 Enzo FERNANDEZ Midfielder
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25 Facundo MEDINA Defender
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26 Nahuel MOLINA Defender
Argentina have reached the World Cup final after beating England in the semi-final, with manager Lionel Scaloni crediting his squad's fearless, childlike approach to the game for their success. Striker Lautaro Martínez, who scored the decisive goal, broke down in tears afterwards, speaking movingly about his family's sacrifices rather than the achievement itself, while Scaloni described a group of players who grew up unafraid of pressure and who still play with the freedom of children rather than the weight of expectation.
Scaloni said he had briefly worried after England pulled a goal back but never lost faith in a squad he calls wild, unruly and spontaneous "fighters". The piece also reflects more broadly on Argentine identity, noting the country's history of resisting British incursions in the 19th century, its diverse population shaped by migration from Europe and elsewhere since independence in 1810 and 1825, and how this complexity sits awkwardly with simplistic outside characterisations of the nation. Argentina now face Spain in the final.
In short
- Argentina beat England to reach the World Cup final.
- Lautaro Martínez's semi-final goal prompted an emotional, tearful interview.
- Scaloni praises squad's fearless, childlike playing style under pressure.
Explained simply
Argentina have reached the World Cup final, beating England along the way, and are due to play Spain for the trophy. The team is managed by Lionel Scaloni, and much of the recent coverage focuses on the character of his squad, in particular striker Lautaro Martínez, whose goal proved decisive against England.
A recurring theme in the reporting is the players' upbringing and mentality: Scaloni and others describe a group who grew up without fear of pressure and who approach big matches with a childlike freedom rather than being weighed down by expectation. This is offered as one explanation for how the team has coped with the intensity of a World Cup campaign.
The story also touches on wider questions of Argentine identity, including the country's history since independence in the early 19th century, its diverse population shaped by waves of migration, and its past encounters with Britain, all of which are used to complicate simple outside assumptions about the nation as it prepares to face Spain in the final.