Denver Gazette reporter Vinny Benedetto takes you around the World Cup:

World Cup Insider

If there is a man who can do something no player or team has managed so far this World Cup, he will be wearing Argentina’s No. 10 shirt on Sunday.

“We will give it our all,” Argentina captain Lionel Messi told reporters ahead of the final against a dominant Spain squad. “We never stop fighting.”

Heading into the World Cup final, Spain has conceded one goal in its first seven games of the tournament. Spain’s run to the final started with a shocking scoreless draw against Cape Verde, one of the best stories of the tournament. Two more clean sheets meant goalkeeper Unai Simon made it out of the group stage without conceding a goal. The 29-year-old only needed to make four saves across the first three games.

Then, Spain shut down Austria and Portugal to get back to the quarterfinals.

Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere became the first and only, player to break through Spain’s defense. In the 41st minute, De Ketelaere beat Simon with a glancing header that evened the score. The second of Mikel Merino’s heroic goals sent Spain to the semifinals where Simon and his back line — headlined by Marc Cucurella and Aymeric Laporte — were at their best.

Simon made three saves, his most in a game in the tournament and his defenders had multiple crucial interactions to keep France’s dynamic attack featuring Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise from breaking through.

“I don’t think you’ve seen the same Spain across all the matches,” Spanish captain Rodri told reporters. “I think Sunday’s match will be quite different, as it will be a more physical one and we must be prepared. And I believe if we are known for something in this national team is that we know how to play different games based on the moment. … We can adapt to having to defend, counterattacking, to attacking. We are a very complete team, and that is why we are here.”

Winning a second World Cup will require one more sturdy defensive performance.

Messi has been the most dynamic attacker of the tournament. The 39-year-old’s eight goals in seven matches is matched only by Mbappe. Messi has also assisted four goals, including both goals of Argentina’s dramatic comeback against England in the semifinal.

Argentina can win a fourth World Cup and become the first country to repeat as champions since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, it will likely require Messi to continue his streak of goal contributions. He’s scored or assisted in all seven of Argentina’s matches in this World Cup and has played a hand in 12 of La Albiceleste’s 19 goals so far.

“Reaching two consecutive World Cup finals is something very few achieve, and this group did it,” Messi said after the semifinal victory. “If we had lost to England, there would have been people coming out to spout some nonsense, but we didn’t give them the chance.”

What I’m thinking

Losing is one thing; how a team loses is another.

The United States had a prime opportunity in the Round of 16 against an aging Belgium squad that, for some reason, elected against starting one of its most dynamic attackers, Jeremy Doku. That didn’t matter. The American back line looked uncomfortable and disorganized from the jump.

Goalkeeper Matt Freese needed to make an impressive save in the opening minutes to keep it scoreless, but De Ketelaere was in the right spot at the right time to open the scoring before 10 minutes had passed.

Malik Tillman continued his breakout performance with a set-piece goal in the 31st minute. Unfortunately, Belgium regained the lead a couple of minutes later when De Ketelaere jumped over Tim Ream and headed in what proved to be the game-winner.

An inexplicable mistake from Freese led to another Belgian goal in the 57th minute. A couple of missed chances sealed the United States’ fate before Romelu Lukaku sent the Americans home sad with a late goal that finished the scoring at 4-1.

“It was polar opposite of the way we had played up to that point,” Ream recently told ESPN.

“The feeling in the room was shock and trying to understand where and why we had the game that we did.”

Don’t get it mixed up. The United States has come a long way in terms of quality on the field. What hasn’t changed is an apparent lack of belief.

There are four years left to change that.

What they’re saying

—An old, and frankly odd, photo of Messi bathing a six-month-old Lamine Yamal made the rounds online before the generational talents square off Sunday. It was the product of a charitable calendar shoot back in 2007 when Messi played in Barcelona.

“He’s one of the best in the world right now. I wish him luck because his success will be Barcelona’s success, [but] we’ll try to keep him from playing at his best. Spain has a great team, not just him. We have our own weapons, too,” Messi said at FIFA’s Fanatics Fest. “He’s a tremendous player … a global star. He’s 19 years old and has his whole career ahead of him. I wish him the best, but we’ll give it our all to ensure he doesn’t become champion this time.”

—The United States soon will know its coach’s future.

“We are evaluating it, looking at it. They (U.S. Soccer) have made me an offer to continue, and we will see,” Pochettino told a Spanish radio station. “Next week we will (make) a decision.”

What I’m following

• Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic was named as the referee for Sunday’s final. The 46-year-old also in charge for the group-stage matches between Brazil and Morocco and Jordan and Algeria before officiating the knockout stage match between Mexico and Ecuador.
• The cheapest tickets to the final were going for roughly $10,000 Saturday. Those hoping to sit in the lower bowl must cough up roughly $30,000.