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Argentina’s goalscorer should have been sent off for brutal elbow, claim devastated Three Lions fans after Argentina got ANOTHER lucky escape amid ‘rigging’ accusations
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37'
Yellow card Elliot ANDERSON (England) is booked by
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42'
Yellow card Lisandro MARTINEZ (Argentina) is booked by
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51'
Yellow card Cristian ROMERO (Argentina) is booked by
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55'
Goal Anthony GORDON (England) scores!!
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85'
Goal Enzo FERNANDEZ (Argentina) scores!!
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90'+2'
Goal Lautaro MARTINEZ (Argentina) scores!!
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90'+4'
Yellow card Rodrigo DE PAUL (Argentina) is booked
England squad
- Selected
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1 Jordan PICKFORD Goalkeeper
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4 Declan RICE Midfielder
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5 John STONES Defender
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6 Marc GUEHI Defender
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8 Elliot ANDERSON Midfielder
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9 Harry KANE C Forward
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10 Jude BELLINGHAM Midfielder
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17 Morgan ROGERS Midfielder
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18 Anthony GORDON Forward
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24 Reece JAMES Defender
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25 Djed SPENCE Defender
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2 Ezri KONSA Defender
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3 Nico OREILLY Defender
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7 Bukayo SAKA Forward
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11 Marcus RASHFORD Forward
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12 Trevoh CHALOBAH Defender
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13 Dean Henderson Goalkeeper
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14 Jordan HENDERSON Midfielder
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15 Dan BURN Defender
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16 Kobbie MAINOO Midfielder
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19 Ollie WATKINS Forward
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20 Noni MADUEKE Forward
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21 Eberechi EZE Midfielder
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22 Ivan TONEY Forward
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23 James TRAFFORD Goalkeeper
- Full squad
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26 Jarell QUANSAH Defender
Argentina squad
- Selected
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3 Nicolas TAGLIAFICO Defender
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5 Leandro PAREDES Midfielder
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6 Lisandro MARTINEZ Defender
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9 Julian ALVAREZ Forward
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10 Lionel MESSI C Forward
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13 Cristian ROMERO Defender
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17 Giuliano SIMEONE Forward
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20 Alexis MAC ALLISTER Midfielder
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23 Emiliano MARTINEZ Goalkeeper
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24 Enzo FERNANDEZ Midfielder
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26 Nahuel MOLINA Defender
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1 Juan MUSSO Goalkeeper
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2 Marcos SENESI Defender
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4 Gonzalo MONTIEL Defender
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7 Rodrigo DE PAUL Midfielder
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8 Valentin BARCO Midfielder
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11 Giovani Lo Celso Midfielder
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12 Geronimo RULLI Goalkeeper
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14 Exequiel PALACIOS Midfielder
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15 Nico GONZALEZ Midfielder
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16 Thiago ALMADA Forward
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18 Nico PAZ Forward
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19 Nicolas OTAMENDI Defender
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21 Jose Manuel LOPEZ Forward
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22 Lautaro MARTINEZ Forward
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25 Facundo MEDINA Defender
England was eliminated from the World Cup following a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in the semifinal round. The match centered on a disputed goal, with England supporters asserting that the Argentine goalscorer should have received a red card for an elbow incident that occurred during play. England player Jude Bellingham visibly reacted with frustration to the decision, and subsequent reports indicated he had engaged in a physical altercation with an Argentine player.
The loss prompted wider criticism from England fans regarding refereeing decisions throughout the match, with some characterizing the decisions as disadvantageous to England and favorable to Argentina. Post-match tensions escalated when Argentine players engaged in celebration activities that included booing during the English national anthem and displaying a banner referencing the Falkland Islands, further inflaming English sentiment about the encounter.
In short
- England lost 2-1 to Argentina in a World Cup semifinal, with English fans claiming the goalscorer should have been sent off for an elbow infraction
- Post-match controversy included allegations of refereeing bias and uncontroversial behavior from Argentina players
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The elbow contact was clear and forceful enough that by football's rules on violent conduct, a red card was warranted. Combined with other contentious decisions favouring Argentina throughout the match, England's supporters observed a pattern suggesting inadequate refereeing rather than isolated misjudgements. The post-match conduct—booing during the anthem and displaying the Falkland Islands banner—was deliberately provocative, compounding the sense of disrespect for English participants and supporters.
The case against
In contact sports, refereeing involves constant subjective judgment calls, and both teams routinely face decisions they contest. The elbow contact, whilst visible, may not have met the threshold for violent conduct rather than ordinary physical play. Attributing the result to 'rigging' without evidence conflates disappointing decisions with conspiracy; variance and marginal calls are inherent to sport. Argentine celebration, however pointed, falls within normal sporting rivalry and national expression, particularly in matches of such historical intensity.
Explained simply
The World Cup is football's most prestigious international competition, held every four years. England's team has been eliminated after losing 2-1 to Argentina in the semifinal stage, meaning they will not reach the final or have a chance to win the tournament.
The loss has sparked widespread criticism among England supporters regarding the refereeing. They claim that the Argentina player who scored should have been sent off for an elbow incident that occurred before he scored, and that the referee's failure to penalise this foul cost England the match.
The match has intensified existing tensions between the two nations. Post-match celebrations by Argentine players included booing of the English national anthem and a banner referencing the Falkland Islands dispute. These actions further angered England supporters and reflected the historically fraught relationship between the two countries.