Leandro Paredes Engages in Confrontation Following Argentina’s Loss to Spain in World Cup Final
Tensions were high in a physical World Cup final, and Argentina’s Leandro Paredes grabbed Spain’s Eric García by the throat in a scuffle following Spain’s 1-0 win.
The game featured five yellow cards and a red card on Argentina, while Spain scored late to secure its second World Cup title, despite playing a man down in extra time. When the final whistle blew, Paredes wasn’t ready to call the score settled.
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Paredes, who was at the center of second-half tensions that resulted in his own yellow card, clashed with García as Spain’s on-field celebration ensued. As Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni stepped in to intervene, Paredes grabbed García by his throat and shoved him backward.
Replay shows Paredes then going after Spain’s Gavi and shoving him to the turf.
Video from the stands captures the full confrontation that drew several players from both teams, but it settled quickly after Paredes’ shove of Gavi to the ground.
It was an unfortunate if not unexpected conclusion to a game marked by physical play and frustration from an Argentina team that failed to put a shot on goal while surrendering 12.
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Paredes Got Into It Earlier
Paredes was involved throughout the match. He received a yellow card early in the second half after shoving Rodri to the ground during gameplay and delivering more shoves after the whistle blew.
Enzo Fernández was then sent off for a physical challenge that drew his second yellow card and an automatic red card in second-half stoppage time.
Fernández’s ejection left Argentina to play the entirety of extra time a man down, and Spain ultimately broke through with a winning goal by Ferran Torres early in the second period of extra time.
When it was done, Argentina’s quest for a second consecutive World Cup title had ended in frustrating fashion. And Paredes wasn’t ready to let it go after the final whistle.