Spain’s system subdues a team built on the irrational magic of Messi’s lone genius | Barney Ronay

The route to this World Cup victory involved beating the other 2022 finalist and then suffocating Argentina as they dried out in the sun Time to break the staff, bury the book and call time on that rough magic. There was, by the end, an undertone of sadness about Lionel Messi, New Jersey and a World Cup final that brought Spain the glory of an entirely deserved second trophy, and which saw Argentina offer almost nothing beyond a gnarled and gristly sense of resistance. This is an Argentina team…