'Spain were flawless; Messi lacked support': Alfaz, Sohel Rana Jr

For nearly a month, the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup had spoiled football fans with everything the sport could offer. Giant-killings, tactical duels, late comebacks and knockout drama arrived almost daily, leaving many to wonder whether the tournament could possibly produce one final masterpiece.

Instead, the grand finale never quite caught fire. Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina may have crowned worthy champions, but for Bangladeshi football figures who had spent weeks immersed in one of the most entertaining World Cups in recent memory, the final lacked the intensity and unpredictability that had defined the tournament.

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Local coach Alfaz Ahmed, an Argentina supporter, believes Albiceleste simply had nothing left in the tank.

"Everyone expected Argentina to produce another strong performance in the final, but they could not replicate the displays they had shown in the knockout rounds. Perhaps they could not recover from the physical and mental toll of those matches because they looked short of energy, power and sharpness in the final," said the former Bangladesh forward to The Daily Star on Tuesday.

He also felt Lionel Messi was left carrying too much of the attacking burden.

"Without Messi, Argentina do not have another forward capable of changing the course of a match. Spain also did an excellent job of containing him. They needed someone like Angel Di María, while Julian Alvarez also could not make the impact he was expected to throughout the World Cup."

If Argentina looked drained, Spain looked exactly the opposite. Luis de la Fuente's side hunted in packs, suffocated space and repeatedly regained possession within seconds of losing it with an effective counter-press, eventually wearing Argentina down through control rather than chaos.

For Alfaz, that was the decisive difference.

"Spain did everything they needed to do. They were outstanding at winning the ball back with the first tackle after losing possession, and that gave them a huge advantage. They were also flawless in the way they played their passing football."

Despite describing the final as a disappointment, Alfaz insisted the tournament itself had delivered far beyond expectations.

"To be honest, as a football fan, I enjoyed this World Cup immensely apart from the final. It was an unpredictable tournament. France, despite being considered the favourites, were knocked out in the semifinals, while reaching the World Cup final itself was a tremendous achievement for Argentina."

He also believes Messi leaves the tournament with little to regret.

"Messi has nothing to be disappointed about. He had already achieved everything before coming into this World Cup, and he almost single-handedly carried Argentina to another final."

Bangladesh midfielder Sohel Rana Jr shared similar sentiments. Although a Spain supporter, he admitted feeling sorry for the Argentina captain.

"Messi is the kind of player who can change the course of a match at any moment, but he did not receive enough support from his teammates in the final. Of course, he will regret not being able to deliver another World Cup trophy for Argentina."

Like many neutrals, Sohel had expected a far more dramatic occasion.

"We were all expecting an exciting final, but it did not turn out that way because the players from both teams were exhausted after playing every three days.

"However, this World Cup was far more competitive than previous editions, and the so-called smaller nations truly showed their character throughout the tournament."

To Sohel, Spain's triumph was the culmination of years of careful planning rather than a surprise.

"As a Spain fan, I was always optimistic about their chances because they had been performing consistently before the tournament. Winning the UEFA European Championship was a clear sign of their potential.

"Spain have built this team over the last three to four years by introducing several talented young players. They also had tremendous strength in depth, with the substitutes making important contributions throughout the tournament. Their defensive organisation was outstanding, and there was never any shortage of commitment from the players."

He also believes Spain could have scored even more goals had a fully fit Nico Williams played a bigger role.

For both Bangladeshi observers, the verdict was ultimately the same. The World Cup itself will be remembered for its relentless drama and competitiveness, even if its final chapter proved more clinical than captivating.