England v Argentina World Cup Semifinal Thread

[john dempsey]

Watching live I felt the ref had a good game and we had only our own tactics to blame.

I don't think there's a person around that felt the same as you. From the 1st minute it was pretty clear he was bent. The Fernandez punch to the back of Andersen's head was a clear red IMO, the ref instead chose to berate England players for moaning about it.
The goal that Spain had chalked off last night for Merino standing on the CB's foot was no different to Messi's on Spence, but watch the different player reactions.
Argentina, across the world have people shaking their head in disbelief that they got so far (thanks to the refs).

 

Do not forget Muniz accidently standing on Chalobahs foot,
Robbing Josh King against chelsea.£££££$$$$$$$

[Angus Telford]

Watching live I felt the ref had a good game and we had only our own tactics to blame.

I don't think there's a person around that felt the same as you. From the 1st minute it was pretty clear he was bent. The Fernandez punch to the back of Andersen's head was a clear red IMO, the ref instead chose to berate England players for moaning about it.
The goal that Spain had chalked off last night for Merino standing on the CB's foot was no different to Messi's on Spence, but watch the different player reactions.
Argentina, across the world have people shaking their head in disbelief that they got so far (thanks to the refs).

 

Weird fight to pick considering the sentence I wrote after the one you've quoted

[Bassey the warrior]

Watching live I felt the ref had a good game and we had only our own tactics to blame.

I don't think there's a person around that felt the same as you. From the 1st minute it was pretty clear he was bent. The Fernandez punch to the back of Andersen's head was a clear red IMO, the ref instead chose to berate England players for moaning about it.
The goal that Spain had chalked off last night for Merino standing on the CB's foot was no different to Messi's on Spence, but watch the different player reactions.
Argentina, across the world have people shaking their head in disbelief that they got so far (thanks to the refs).

 

Messi didn't stand on Spece, the image was altered:

https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/photo-altered-suggest-lionel-messi-stamped-england-player-world-cup-semi-final-2026-07-17/

I do agree Spain's goal should have counted,  Spanish player was literally facing the opposite direction.

[Bassey the warrior]

I absolutely can't stand Argentina but I thought the ref was decent. Granted he should've booked Argentina for some of the shocking early fouls but throughout the tournament refs have been reluctant to issue early bookings.

The only reason we lost was Tuchel's cowardice. His post match comments about England lacking the DNA for a possession game rubbed salt into the wounds and ignored how things have changed in the last ten years. Mainoo and Wharton are both great at keeping the ball but neither were given a chance.

His subs were a disgrace and as much as I love Kane, he should've been subbed after such an ineffective game. Watkins or Toney would've given the Cbs something to think about and both on a yellow. Gordon should've stayed on and Saka should've been given minutes.

Regardless of what he's said in public, I find it hard to believe Tuchel wouldn't have recognised his mistake. Hopefully he can learn from this as this team are good enough to win the Euros.

[Bassey the warrior]

I absolutely can't stand Argentina but I thought the ref was decent. Granted he should've booked Argentina for some of the shocking early fouls but throughout the tournament refs have been reluctant to issue early bookings.

The only reason we lost was Tuchel's cowardice. His post match comments about England lacking the DNA for a possession game rubbed salt into the wounds and ignored how things have changed in the last ten years. Mainoo and Wharton are both great at keeping the ball but neither were given a chance.

His subs were a disgrace and as much as I love Kane, he should've been subbed after such an ineffective game. Watkins or Toney would've given the Cbs something to think about and both on a yellow. Gordon should've stayed on and Saka should've been given minutes.

Regardless of what he's said in public, I find it hard to believe Tuchel wouldn't have recognised his mistake. Hopefully he can learn from this as this team are good enough to win the Euros.

I'd also add that I expect Hansi Flick to take Gordon's game to the next level. He's a great coach and has resurrected many players careers which had stagnates a bit.

[Jim©]

Messi didn't stand on Spece, the image was altered

I didn't mean the still image, I meant in real time, it was clear that he'd trodden on his foot (which he did). It was no more or less than what happened to Otamendi v Spain, but Spence spun, carried on.

I just don't know how anyone feels that the ref had a good game, there's literally millions of posts from all over the world about some of his shocking decisions.
 

[Bassey the warrior]

Messi didn't stand on Spece, the image was altered

I didn't mean the still image, I meant in real time, it was clear that he'd trodden on his foot (which he did). It was no more or less than what happened to Otamendi v Spain, but Spence spun, carried on.

I just don't know how anyone feels that the ref had a good game, there's literally millions of posts from all over the world about some of his shocking decisions.
 

He didn't though, he jumped over Spence.

[Jim©]

He didn't though, he jumped over Spence.

One foot did, the other foot didn't. It's there for everyone to see.
I guess this shows the difficulty that refs have (that we can't agree on it)?

 

[Bassey the warrior]

He didn't though, he jumped over Spence.

One foot did, the other foot didn't. It's there for everyone to see.
I guess this shows the difficulty that refs have (that we can't agree on it)?

 

So which of Spence's legs did Messi stamp on?

[john dempsey]

Be careful how you answer this one,
get it wrong and you wont have
a leg to stand on.

[Jim©]

He didn't though, he jumped over Spence.

One foot did, the other foot didn't. It's there for everyone to see.
I guess this shows the difficulty that refs have (that we can't agree on it)?

 

So which of Spence's legs did Messi stamp on?

No one said stamp, he stood on his foot. It's not with his left leg that hurdles him, but his right as he comes down. Watch undoctored videos of it, it's pretty clear.

[alfie]

He didn't though, he jumped over Spence.

One foot did, the other foot didn't. It's there for everyone to see.
I guess this shows the difficulty that refs have (that we can't agree on it)?

 

So which of Spence's legs did Messi stamp on?

No one said stamp, he stood on his foot. It's not with his left leg that hurdles him, but his right as he comes down. Watch undoctored videos of it, it's pretty clear.

The only difference is that Spence didn't throw himself down, if he had it might have been reviewed.

[Bassey the warrior]

He didn't though, he jumped over Spence.

One foot did, the other foot didn't. It's there for everyone to see.
I guess this shows the difficulty that refs have (that we can't agree on it)?

 

So which of Spence's legs did Messi stamp on?

No one said stamp, he stood on his foot. It's not with his left leg that hurdles him, but his right as he comes down. Watch undoctored videos of it, it's pretty clear.

Which foot did he stand on?

[Jim©]

Which foot did he stand on?

Right. But you know that surely?

[alfie]

Which foot did he stand on?

Right. But you know that surely?

I have just viewed the footage and it clearly shows Messi jumping over with Spence raising his foot which hits the bottom of Messi's boot, there was no foul.

[Bassey the warrior]

Which foot did he stand on?

Right. But you know that surely?

I have just viewed the footage and it clearly shows Messi jumping over with Spence raising his foot which hits the bottom of Messi's boot, there was no foul.

Exactly. If there was then Spence would've surely flagged this to the ref.

[Jim©]

Which foot did he stand on?

Right. But you know that surely?

I have just viewed the footage and it clearly shows Messi jumping over with Spence raising his foot which hits the bottom of Messi's boot, there was no foul.

Exactly. If there was then Spence would've surely flagged this to the ref.

If he had "hit his boot" then it's way more likely messi would have gone down and been given a penalty. Surely????

[Woolly Mammoth]

Messi didn't stand on Spece, the image was altered

I didn't mean the still image, I meant in real time, it was clear that he'd trodden on his foot (which he did). It was no more or less than what happened to Otamendi v Spain, but Spence spun, carried on.

I just don't know how anyone feels that the ref had a good game, there's literally millions of posts from all over the world about some of his shocking decisions.
 

[Woolly Mammoth]

Messi didn't stand on Spece, the image was altered

I didn't mean the still image, I meant in real time, it was clear that he'd trodden on his foot (which he did). It was no more or less than what happened to Otamendi v Spain, but Spence spun, carried on.

I just don't know how anyone feels that the ref had a good game, there's literally millions of posts from all over the world about some of his shocking decisions.
 

Messi didn't stand on Spece, the image was altered

I didn't mean the still image, I meant in real time, it was clear that he'd trodden on his foot (which he did). It was no more or less than what happened to Otamendi v Spain, but Spence spun, carried on.

I just don't know how anyone feels that the ref had a good game, there's literally millions of posts from all over the world about some of his shocking decisions.
 

Absolutely correct. the ref had a shocker and he knew what he was doing

[Bassey the warrior]

Which foot did he stand on?

Right. But you know that surely?

I have just viewed the footage and it clearly shows Messi jumping over with Spence raising his foot which hits the bottom of Messi's boot, there was no foul.

Exactly. If there was then Spence would've surely flagged this to the ref.

If he had "hit his boot" then it's way more likely messi would have gone down and been given a penalty. Surely????

Someone posted a slow frame clip:

https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/s/PTPD8HAZA9