Former Nigeria head coach Sunday Oliseh has criticised Argentina's players for tarnishing football's image after their 1-0 World Cup final loss to Spain last weekend. Oliseh was particularly unhappy with the ugly scenes that unfolded in New Jersey when the final whistle blew, as players from both sides engaged in confrontations.
Footage showed Argentina players Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina trading blows with Spain's Eric García and Rodri. Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala also struck Spain midfielder Dani Olmo during the melee.
Speaking on his Sunday Oliseh Global Football Insights show, the former Juventus midfielder said Argentina's negative style of play reflected poorly on the sport. "Thank God that Spain won the World Cup on Sunday," Oliseh declared.
"For football's sake, it mattered because Spain played positive football and won the tournament, whereas Argentina's negative approach is bad publicity for the game," he explained. "Seeing Argentina players fighting after the final whistle shocked me — you simply don't do that following a World Cup final."
He stressed that Spain's victory was the right outcome given the circumstances. "I think it's brilliant that Spain won," Oliseh said, emphasising that the Spanish team's approach was far superior to their opponents' methods on the pitch.
