The Argentine midfielder responded to the accusations made by the Spanish press regarding the final.
“Our smiles bother them”: De Paul responds to Argentina conspiracy theories after the 2026 World Cup final | afun.mx
“Our smiles bother them”: De Paul responds to Argentina conspiracy theories after the 2026 World Cup final
Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul responded on Monday to the "conspiracy theories" that emerged in Spain after the 2-1 defeat in the 2026 World Cup final.
Atlético Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul responded on Monday to the "conspiracy theories" circulating in the Spanish press following Argentina 's 2-1 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final . The player criticized the Spanish media coverage and defended coach Scaloni. At afun.mx, we review his statements, the AFA's response, and the midfielder's future. Visit afun.mx and predict Argentina's future with exclusive bonuses.
De Paul responds to Spain
In an interview with ESPN , De Paul defended the Argentine team's behavior after the defeat: “Argentina's smiles in defeat bother Spain. It hurts them that we didn't cry like in 2014. But these are the rules of the game, there's no need to look for conspiracies . ”
The Spanish accusations
- Brand: “Argentina laughed at Spain during the final”.
- AS: “Paredes’ behavior tarnished the Spanish victory”.
- El País: “Argentina doesn’t know how to lose”.
- TVE: “The Albiceleste disrespected the champion”.
De Paul's legacy with Argentina
De Paul , 31, was one of the standout players at the 2016 World Cup despite the team's defeat in the final. The Atlético Madrid midfielder played in all six of Argentina's matches, scoring one goal and providing two assists. His record with the national team is 81 appearances and four goals since his debut in 2018.
The future of the midfielder
| Date | DePaul 2026 | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 6 | |
| goals | 1 | 0.5 |
| Assists | 2 | 1.2 |
| Successful passes | 87 % | 82 % |
| Recoveries | 32 | 20 |
| 🔔 Statistics for the 2026 World Cup — Bet now | ||
Real-time odds: the AFA's response
| Market | Share |
|---|---|
| The AFA issues a statement against the Spanish press | 1.45 |
| Scaloni summons De Paul for 2027 | 1.20 |
| De Paul retires from the national team | 8.00 |
| De Paul signs for a European giant | 2.40 |
| 🔔 Fees updated as of 21/07/2026 — Bet now | |
Prediction and keys to the dispute
The dispute between the Spanish press and the Argentine national team is expected to continue for months. The Mexican 2026 team , eliminated in the quarterfinals by Brazil, addressed the controversy, reiterating that fair play should take precedence over results.
- afun.mx prediction: The AFA issues an official statement and Scaloni calls up De Paul for the friendly in September.
- Mexican perspective: la Mexican national team 2026 He will receive €12 million in prize money for reaching the World Cup quarterfinals.
- Paul's Gaze: The midfielder could leave Atlético in the August transfer window.
- Calendar: la CONCACAF 2026 Qualifiers It begins in September with Mexico against the USA.
De Paul 's words have reopened old wounds between the two fan bases. At afun.mx you can predict the AFA's response, the 2030 World Cup champion , and the remaining 2026 World Cup matches with enhanced odds and exclusive bonuses.
➡️ Predict the AFA's response here and unlock the afun.mx welcome bonus.
Key insight: De Paul defended Messi and Scaloni: “Argentina’s smiles in defeat bother Spain. It hurts them that we didn’t cry like we did in 2014.” Atlético Madrid supports its player.
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