Argentina won’t let Spain dominate in the manner they did against France in the first semi-final. The most stacked frontline at the World Cup flopped when it mattered most, with Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise all marked out of the game as Spain won every loose ball and ran rings around the 2018 champions.It was clear from the first whistle that France had a mental block, plagued by the memories of their defeats to La Roja at the same stage at Euro 2024 and in last year’s Nations League. Argentina will have no such issue. If they come out with the same ferocity that forced England into retreat, Spain will struggle to play their usual fluid brand of football.You can bet that Scaloni will also have a plan for Yamal. The Barcelona wonderkid has had to gradually build up his rhythm at this tournament after carrying an injury into Spain’s camp, and his cutting edge has been lacking. He’s sparkled sporadically, and put in the hard yards for Luis de la Fuente’s group, but he won’t be rivalling Messi for the Golden Ball at the end of the final.The Ballon d’Or will probably be out of Yamal’s reach, too, unless he scores multiple goals in a Spain victory, because his haul of 42 goal contributions at club level last season falls 26 short of current favourite Harry Kane’s staggering final total in a Bayern Munich shirt. If Messi ends up being the match-winner, though, he’ll have a much better chance of pipping the England skipper, who could end up rueing his subdued outings against both Argentina and Norway in the knockout stages. Post navigation Lionel Messi for the Ballon d’Or?! Inter Miami superhero would deserve Golden Ball No.9 for World Cup heroics AND magnificent MLS displays if he gets Argentina over the line Next steps’ – Defiant Thomas Tuchel drops England future hint after criticism of World Cup tactics & boos from the crowd during third-place play-off win over France