Jacek Gmoch hits out at Argentina after World Cup final

Former Poland manager Jacek Gmoch has delivered a sharp assessment of Argentina’s World Cup campaign, saying he was pleased to see Spain beat them in the final and describing the runners-up as “football hooligans” in a post-tournament interview.

The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico may have ended more than a month ago, but debate around the tournament has not faded. Spain emerged as champions after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final, capping a run in which Luis de la Fuente’s side conceded only once across the competition.

Gmoch’s strong verdict on Argentina

Speaking to Roman Kolton of Polsat Sport, Gmoch said he had feared Argentina would go all the way because, in his view, they were favoured throughout the tournament. He used especially strong language to describe the team, calling them “football hooligans” and going even further in his criticism.

His comments reflect a wider feeling among some observers that Argentina were one of the most controversial sides at the tournament. According to the source material, they were often seen as a team pushed forward by refereeing decisions and by the influence of Lionel Messi.

Old grievances and new complaints

Gmoch explained that his distrust of Argentina goes back decades, specifically to the 1978 World Cup. He referred to the circumstances of that tournament and the political backdrop in Argentina under Jorge Videla, making clear that his view of the national team has long been shaped by that period.

He also linked his criticism of Argentina’s recent run to a broader concern about officiating in the modern game. In his view, refereeing remains one of football’s biggest problems, and he suggested that match control and decision-making continue to cast a shadow over major tournaments.

Messi still earned Gmoch’s respect

Despite his criticism of Argentina as a team, Gmoch made a point of praising Messi’s individual quality. He said the 39-year-old was frequently double-marked and even triple-marked, yet still managed to influence games at the highest level.

Gmoch also pushed back against the idea that Argentina simply play for Messi. Instead, he argued that Messi’s contribution should be viewed the other way around: as a player who performed brilliantly for the benefit of those around him.

FIFA also in the firing line

Argentina were not the only target of Gmoch’s frustration. In the same conversation, the former Poland coach criticised FIFA and president Gianni Infantino, arguing that politics has become too deeply embedded in sport. He used a highly dismissive phrase to describe the governing body, underlining his dissatisfaction with the direction of the modern game.

Even so, Gmoch did acknowledge the tournament’s appeal. For all the political, organisational and refereeing arguments that surrounded it, he still appreciated the footballing drama that kept supporters engaged throughout the month.

• Spain won the World Cup final against Argentina.
• The final ended 1-0, with Ferran Torres scoring the goal mentioned in the source.
• Spain conceded only one goal during the tournament.
• Gmoch praised Lionel Messi despite criticising Argentina.