India, July 20 -- Spain had called themselves "unbeatable" after their tactical masterclass against France in the semifinal. It wasn't arrogance. Nor was it empty bravado.

If anything, Luis de la Fuente's side had flown under the radar for much of this World Cup until dismantling tournament favourites France in Dallas. They improved with every game, evolving into the competition's most complete team. And after knocking out the tournament's most feared attack, they refused to get dragged into Argentina's dark arts in the final.

In the end, as Toni Kroos aptly summed it up: "Football won."

Spain outplayed Argentina from the opening whistle at MetLife Stadium in New York, where most of the 80,663 spectators had arrived hoping to witness L...