‘Beyond reproach’: Argentinian media praises Scaloni’s team despite World Cup final defeat

• Clarín says team ‘gave it their all’ in losing effort

• La Nación: ‘They are the pride of the nation’

After Argentina lost 1-0 against Spain in the final on Sunday, in what is likely to be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup, the nation’s media celebrated the team while admitting the Europeans had been the better side.

The cover of Clarín, the country’s bestselling newspaper, showed a photo of Messi crying under the headline: “They gave it their all: [there is] nothing to blame them for.” In its editorial, the outlet said that “beyond the final result, and setting aside the strictly sporting aspects, there was, as never before, a special bond between the people and their national team”.

Sources: The Guardian