English football legend Michael Owen launched harsh criticism at Argentina after their defeat in the 2026 World Cup final against Spain. In a column for the DailyMail, the former striker stated that the Argentine team had a “terrible performance” and that “it should have been England” facing Spain in the final. Owen praised Spain’s dominance and questioned Argentina’s performance, who reached the final after beating England 2-1 in the semifinals (2026-07-15).

What did Owen say about Argentina?

Owen was blunt in analyzing Argentina’s performance in the final. “Argentina’s terrible performance was a frustrating reminder that it should have been England”, he wrote. The former player criticized Argentina’s lack of solidity under Lionel Scaloni and pointed out that “they didn’t beat us in the semifinal, we defeated ourselves”. However, Argentina arrived at the final with an unbeaten streak of five consecutive wins (5W-0D-0L).

Why does Owen believe England deserved to be in the final?

The former player argued that England had the arguments to reach the final. “I was very optimistic about our chances. I believed we had the necessary attacking players to hurt teams”, he stated. Owen highlighted Jude Bellingham’s role and criticized the team’s mentality after losing the lead in the semifinal. “When England went 1-0 up against Argentina, they reverted to a survival mentality. It was a waste”, he expressed.

What did Owen say about Spain?

Owen praised Spain’s play, highlighting their tactical and collective solidity. “It was a true display. Everything you’re taught as a player, they execute perfectly”, he wrote. The former player also emphasized Rodri’s role, named the tournament’s best player, and his ability to set the pace of the game. “He always looks for the ball, even in tight spaces, and has the quality to dictate the tempo”, he noted.

What did Owen say about VAR?

In his analysis, Owen defended the use of VAR and warned about the risks of its absence. “Without VAR, Argentina would be uncontrollable. Imagine the tricks they’d employ if they thought they could get away with it”, he wrote. The former player considered the system essential for ensuring fair play.