World Cup: ‘He was crying all week’ – Otamendi names Spain’s player that caused Argentina’s defeat
Otamendi Blames Rodri for Argentina’s World Cup Defeat
Veteran Argentine defender Nicolas Otamendi has directed criticism at Spanish captain Rodri, alleging that the midfielder played a role in Argentina’s loss to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Otamendi accused Rodri of influencing the referee to issue a red card to Enzo Fernandez during the match’s final moments. The incident occurred in the 93rd minute, as Argentina struggled to regain control of a match that saw Spain prevail 1-0 after extra time.
Barcelona forward Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal for Spain in the 106th minute, securing the team’s second World Cup title.
Following the match, a brief altercation ensued between players from both teams. Nahuel Molina clashed with Rodri, while Leandro Paredes confronted Gavi and Eric Garcia. During this exchange, Otamendi expressed his frustration with Rodri and former Manchester City teammate Aymeric Laporte, alleging that they attempted to sway the officials before the match.
“I heard you crying all week about the refereeing at the World Cup,” Otamendi was quoted as saying. “You and Laporte were whining to the referees, my friend.”
Ahead of the final, Laporte criticized the officiating of Argentina’s earlier matches and condemned the team for its aggressive tactics. He noted that five Argentine players received yellow cards against Spain, with Fernandez being ejected after two bookings.
Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish head coach, has now guided his team to victories in both the UEFA European Championship and the World Cup.
