Argentina to be given bank holiday to celebrate losing World Cup final

Argentina will be given a bank holiday despite losing the World Cup final to Spain 1-0.

The country's president, Javier Milei, celebrated the squad's run to the last two, writing on social media that players and staff will be able to organise a date for a public holiday.

He wrote: "Given the concern about the celebrations for the achievement reached by the Argentine National Team, I inform the population that, depending on what the players and the technical staff decide regarding the day to celebrate, it will be declared a national holiday.

"Until the end with our boots on. Argentina always at the top."

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Former UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was said to be considering an extra bank holiday if England won the World Cup, before the Three Lions lost to Argentina 2-1.

Spain dominated proceedings against Argentina yesterday, who did well to force the game into extra time.

They had to play that period with 10 men after a reckless challenge from Enzo Fernandez on Pau Cubarsi.

The midfielder went flying in on the Spanish defender while on a yellow card, causing him to do a front flip, with a second yellow quickly dished out.

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Emi Martinez produced several stunning saves throughout the contest and in extra time, but the deadlock was broken in the 106th minute.

A whipped-in delivery to Argentina's far post was headed back brilliantly by Nico Williams to the oncoming Ferran Torres.

The Barcelona forward smashed home with his left foot, reminiscent of Andreas Iniesta in 2010, to win the World Cup.

Tempers flared after the game, with Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina involved in several physical altercations.

The match-winner Torres said "destiny was written" after scoring the winning goal.

He said: "I think in the end the goal came from 47 million people [approximately the population of Spain], not just those of us that are here.

"Today destiny was written, it was made for us to win. We're far from our people today, but we tried to be as close as possible to them.

"Finals are hard. When you have [Lionel] Messi on the opposing team, you do get worried, but we always backed ourselves and tried to show our football, and I think we managed to do it once again."

Torres continued: "A huge relief [to score]. I've been criticised throughout the whole tournament but, as I said before, destiny was written.

"Thanks to God, he always gives me the strength to continue, and in the end he grants things to those that most deserve them."

The win saw Spain lift the World Cup for the second time to go with the European Championship that they won in 2024.

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