Spain lifted their second World Cup trophy after a 1-0 extra time victory over Argentina on Sunday, capping off Lionel Messi’s chase for back-to-back titles, but the final itself? Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark wasn’t having it. When asked for her reaction during Monday’s Fever practice, Clark delivered a blunt assessment, calling the match “Boring, really boring,” via The Athletic’s James Boyd. It was a harsh review, sure, but Clark certainly wasn’t alone in feeling totally underwhelmed.
A Grim Final Where Goals Were Hard to Find
The match might have featured two soccer giants, but the action just didn't live up to the hype for many viewers. Spain, the country's first men’s World Cup champion of the expanded 48-team tournament, controlled the ball from the jump, finishing with a massive 68 percent of possession and firing off 20 shots. Argentina, the defending champs, offered next to nothing on attack, generating only three shots and failing to put a single attempt on target. Spain constantly pressured the Argentine defense, but the goals wouldn't come. We even saw two apparent goals get overturned after video reviews, which kept Messi and Argentina alive despite their quiet offense.Torres Breaks The Stalemate, But Tensions Boil Over
The breakthrough for Spain finally hit in the 106th minute when substitute Ferran Torres found the back of the net, giving Spain the 1-0 lead that would become their second men’s World Cup title and first since 2010. It was a dramatic result, sure, but the action leading up to that Torres goal was missing that end-to-end excitement everyone was expecting. Reuters even described the match as a “grim final,” pointing out Argentina’s lack of attacking ambition. Tensions were high, too, with seven yellow cards and a red card for Argentina, as Enzo Fernandez got tossed after his second yellow, leaving them with just 10 players. Even after the final whistle, players from both sides were still clashing in a confrontation. Spain had just ended Argentina’s four-year reign as world champions, but it wasn't exactly a beautiful game.Clark Shifts Focus To Her Own Bouncing Back Season
Clark’s honest World Cup take dropped during an already busy stretch for her own WNBA season. The Fever guard is fresh off returning from a back injury that benched her for three games between late June and early July. Indiana was smart, limiting her minutes initially, but Clark is feeling good. She shared she's “Feeling good, great” after her first back-to-back games in two years. It's clear her focus is locked on the court, even if she's got thoughts on soccer's biggest stage. She also hinted at "options for everybody" with her forthcoming sneaker colors, noting the all-white ones are her favorite so far, and gave some love to Kelsey Mitchell. The season is a grind, and Clark is clearly back in the thick of it. With her back feeling good and the Fever playing their own games, Clark's attention is squarely on her season after calling out the World Cup final for its lack of spark. Will the Fever bring more excitement than that championship game did? We are definitely watching to find out.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.