FIFA World Cup 2026: Rodri, Nicolas Otamendi clash, conversation after final; Argentina reaction

Argentina’s behaviour during and after the World Cup final has come under the microscope as a publication in the South American nation paid tribute to the team’s efforts, calling them “polite and respectful.”

As FIFA announced an investigation into several incidents after the match, it has been revealed what was said between two former club teammates who were caught in a tense exchange.

Spain captain and Golden Ball winner Rodri was targeted by his former Manchester City teammate Nicolas Otamendi, who accused him of trying to influence the officiating in the lead up to the match.

“Start talking less, idiot. You guys spent the whole week crying,” Otamendi said according to reports.

“You spent the whole week crying. You and (centre back Aymeric) Laporte, both of you. That’s not how it’s done. You were crying to the referees all week, my friend.”

The Argentine defender was referring to an article in Spanish sports tabloid Marca before the final, where Laporte was asked about Argentina’s on-field tactics.

“I’m not worried at all about physical play as long as it’s part of football. If the referee does his job, I have no problem with it,” the veteran defender said.

“It’s true that in recent matches we’ve seen things that have surprised us a lot, actions that have gone unpunished.

“Especially with Argentina, who are a team that often leaves one in. That should not be allowed in football, especially in such big competitions, because it can destabilise and infuriate you.

“It’s part of the referee’s job to control these things so that they don’t get taken advantage of. If one or two players can do that, the match will get out of control.”

Along with the incident involving Rodri and Otamendi, video replays showed several players involved in a scuffle, including Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes.

He appeared to grab Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat. When Garcia’s teammate and substitute Gavi jumped in to intervene, Paredes pushed him to the ground.

The Spain skipper also seemed to be hit in the stomach by Argentina defender Nahuel Molina as he ran past to join teammates celebrating the title win.

Molina later crowded Rodri when he was involved in the exchange with Otamendi.

FIFA had been criticised during the World Cup for favouring Argentina, especially after the 3-2 win over Egypt.

The Egyptians lashed the standard of refereeing in the match and accused the governing body of paving the way for the South Americans.

That idea resonated with Spanish fans who attended the final, who chanted “Infantino” during the match.

How wide FIFA’s scope into the scuffle post-match is unknown.

Argentina was also seen to turn their backs on the trophy presentation, an act that was heavily criticised.

Additionally, FIFA was already investigating the team displaying a banner after eliminating England in the semi-final.

Observers of the world game condemned the team’s conduct following the final.

US sports publication, The Athletic, ran the headline: “How Argentina turned the World Cup final dirty with shoves, skullduggery and squealing” and calling it the “dirtiest World Cup final since 2010.”

That piece sparked a heated reaction from some reporters in the football-mad nation.

The Argentine publication, Clarin, took aim at sections of the report labelling it “forceful” and full of “exaggeration.”

Another report from the leading newspaper in Argentina said the team was “polite and respectful”, downplaying the scenes after the match as “unfortunate isolated incidents”.

“As never before, the Argentine team displayed, both on and off the field, a range of values that are rare these days,” the report reads.

“From the pitch and beyond, they gave several lessons and showed the face of a country that we would like to see away from the football pitch.

“A team that was polite and respectful, despite a few unfortunate isolated incidents in the last match; that didn’t speak ill of its rivals or try to justify its own mistakes by blaming others.”

The newspaper went a step further by questioning the character of referee Slavko Vincic, linking him to a “prostitution and drug scandal”.

Vincic was arrested during a raid in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2020 but was cleared.

Furthermore, another Argentine publication, La Nación, was also one-eyed when surmising the team’s run at the World Cup.

“The team obtained the most difficult thing: the affection and recognition of the people, even without being champions,” the front page of the newspaper read.