Spain’s triumphant World Cup champions have arrived back in Madrid ahead of an extravagant trophy parade through the streets of the capital, while Argentina were left to return home in disgrace following the ugly scenes at the end of their final defeat in New Jersey.
Spain have plenty to celebrate after Ferran Torres’ goal secured their second men’s World Cup triumph, and it was victory for football too after Argentina offered little throughout the match and then reacted badly after the final whistle. Fifa are set to investigate the post-match scenes before deciding whether to take additional disciplinary action.
A bizarre and, at times, deeply weird final was a dire spectacle for 90 minutes. But Spain then finally made the breakthrough when Torres calmly hammered home at the start of the second half of extra time. It meant Lionel Messi was denied on surely his final World Cup appearance, with the aftermath further souring the occasion for the 39-year-old football icon.
Donald Trump then unsurprisingly inserted himself into things post-match as he lurked towards the edge of Spain’s trophy lift to ensure he was in the photo, despite Gianni Infantino trying to usher him away, after presenting the Spanish players with medals and the trophy.
Follow all of the fallout from the World Cup final in our live blog below
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Spain to receive hero’s welcome after arriving back in Madrid
Spain’s open-top bus parade will begin at 7pm local time (6pm BST) after the players return to home soil, with their plane due to land at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport at around 2:30pm on Monday.
The parade will follow a period of downtime for the players, coaching staff and federation officials, who will be taken straight to a secure location for lunch before the celebrations.
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Spain, meanwhile, will celebrate their World Cup triumph with a trophy parade later today.
Spain arrive back in Madrid ahead of World Cup trophy parade
Spain have touched down in Madrid, with captain Rodri proudly holding the World Cup trophy aloft after stepping off the plane with head coach Luis de la Fuente.
Crowds packed Madrid’s Puerta de Sol and other major squares as they celebrated into the early hours of Monday morning, and that will only continue after the team land back in Spain – with supporters already securing their spots in Cibeles Square for the parade as they brave the baking sun.
