Argentina were comfortably second best throughout the World Cup final defeat to Spain, managing more red cards than shots on target across the 90 minutes and extra time, but the fallout from full-time has proven just as damaging to their reputation as anything that happened on the pitch.
The 1-0 loss capped off a hugely disappointing afternoon for Lionel Scaloni's side, who had arrived in New Jersey hoping to add a second successive World Cup to their trophy cabinet.
Instead, they leave having been comfortably beaten by Spain, and what followed the final whistle was enough to leave pundits, journalists and fans across the football world united in their criticism of the Argentine squad.
Ugly Brawl Breaks out Moments After Full-Time
Argentina's Leandro Paredes and Thiago Almada clash with Spain's Gavi after the matchMike Segar via Action Images/Reuters
FIFA have launched an investigation after a brawl erupted almost immediately after the final whistle. Leandro Paredes appeared to be the main culprit, confronting Gavi, wrestling him to the ground and shoving him in the face as other Argentina players became involved in the confrontation.
The scenes provoked strong reactions online. "This is absolutely disgusting. And people have normalised under the name of 'passion'… this is straight thuggery," football commentator Aaron Cikaya wrote.
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The Argentina midfielder could face a lengthy ban.
CNN anchor Jim Sciutto added, "Such a shame – awful model for young athletes," while The Atlantic's Thomas Chatterton Williams branded both Argentina and Paraguay's squads "disgraceful." One fan simply demanded that Paredes be banned for an entire season.
Argentina's Leandro Paredes remonstrates with referee Slavko VincicJeenah Moon/Reuters
Argentina's conduct off the pitch drew just as much backlash, with the entire squad reportedly skipping their mandatory media obligations entirely, despite FIFA rules requiring each team to make players available in the mixed zone.
Prominent commentator Taylor Twellman echoed the sentiment, saying, "They really didn't show themselves in a positive light today both on and off the field," while the LA Times' Kevin Baxter added a pointed, "Stay classy, Argentina!"
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Fox Sports analyst and former USA defender, Alexi Lalas, was scathing in his response, simply writing, "Weak."
Between the on-field fracas and the media snub, Argentina's post-match conduct has become almost as big a talking point as the result itself.
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