If Lionel Messi and Argentina are to defend their FIFA World Cup title on Sunday, they will first have to break down one of the strongest defences in the tournament.
Spain have reached the final at the New York New Jersey Stadium thanks to an impressive all-round team performance under coach Luis de la Fuente.
While midfielders Rodri, Dani Olmo, Pedri and Fabian Ruiz have received plenty of praise, Spain’s biggest strength has been at the back.
The defensive line of Marc Cucurella, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsi and Pedro Porro has conceded just one goal in seven matches.
If Spain keep another clean sheet in the final, they will set a new record for the fewest goals conceded by a World Cup-winning team. The current record is two goals, shared by France (1998), Italy (2006) and Spain (2010).
Cucurella, who recently joined Real Madrid after playing for Brighton and Chelsea in the Premier League, believes a strong defence is the key to winning titles.
“Great teams are the ones that dominate both penalty areas,” he said earlier in the tournament.
“Obviously, the fewer goals you concede, the better your chances of winning. Hopefully, we can keep this up. If we defend well, we’ll be closer to winning.”
Cucurella has worked brilliantly alongside experienced centre-back Aymeric Laporte, teenage Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi and right-back Pedro Porro.
Laporte has been full of praise for Cubarsi, who has impressed despite being just 19 years old.
“He’s a fantastic player. At 19, he’s already played a lot of matches for Barca and the national team. Time will tell, but he’s got real quality,” Laporte said.
Cubarsi has looked calm and confident throughout the tournament. The only goal Spain have conceded came when Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere beat him with a header in the quarter-finals.
“I like being imposing and aggressive,” Cubarsi said. “I like making my presence felt because it’s a position where you can’t back down against anyone.
“You can’t let yourself be taken out of the game. Above all, you need that character to be a difference-maker.”
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente also praised Laporte, describing him as one of the leaders of the team.
“He is one of the centre-backs who best executes the philosophy we have,” de la Fuente said.
“It’s a luxury to have him. He offers us great ball distribution, threads passes through the lines, and possesses real authority. He is a very complete player.”
Right-back Pedro Porro has also been one of Spain’s standout performers at the World Cup.
Porro missed out on Spain’s Euro 2024-winning squad and came into the tournament after a difficult season with Tottenham Hotspur, who narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League.
However, he has been outstanding at both ends of the pitch in North America and scored Spain’s second goal in the 2-0 semi-final win over France.
Now, Porro hopes to follow in the footsteps of Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning team.
“In 2010, when we won the title, I was splashing around in the town square,” he said.
“That World Cup… was spectacular, especially for the way it united the country. It would be great to do it all over again,” he added.
