New footage has provided a considerably simpler explanation for the mass confrontation which followed Spain’s World Cup final victory over Argentina.

Nahuel Molina appears to have punched Rodri as the Spain captain ran onto the pitch to celebrate his country’s 1-0 victory at MetLife Stadium.

Rodri had not been confronting the Argentina defender at the time.

He was simply running past him.

The incident was initially missed as television coverage followed Spain’s celebrations and Argentina’s reaction to losing the final, before cameras returned to a confrontation which was already underway.

Subsequent footage has now provided the missing beginning.

As Spain’s substitutes and staff ran onto the pitch following the final whistle, Molina appeared to strike Rodri in the body. The midfielder stopped, turned around and approached the Argentina defender to ask for an explanation.

From there, matters developed efficiently.

Eric García attempted to intervene before Leandro Paredes became involved, grabbing the Spain defender around the throat and later wrestling Gavi to the ground.

Players and staff from both sides quickly joined the confrontation, while officials attempted to separate them.

Paredes was eventually shown a red card after the final whistle, with FIFA subsequently opening disciplinary proceedings over the scenes.

The confrontation initially appeared to have emerged from the general tension surrounding an exceptionally heated World Cup final.

It is now possible to identify a more precise starting point.

Spain won the World Cup.

Molina punched Rodri while he was going to celebrate it.

Everything else followed.