The World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina in Atlanta has entered the history books for an unwanted reason, becoming the first match since records began in 1966 to feature no shots on target before half-time. The opening 45 minutes of the clash were defined by a physical, tetchy atmosphere, with a total of 19 fouls committed—12 by Argentina and seven by England.
Goalmouth action was virtually non-existent for the majority of the half. The first attempt on goal did not arrive until the 33rd minute, when John Stones headed wide, followed shortly by an effort from Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez that sailed over the crossbar. Consequently, neither goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford or Emiliano Martinez, was required to make a save.
Referee Ismail Elfath faced criticism for his management of the game, handing out only two yellow cards despite the high foul count. England’s Elliot Anderson was booked for a challenge on Lionel Messi, while Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez also received a caution. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson voiced his frustration with the officiating, describing it as one of the worst performances he had seen at the tournament. Robinson argued that the referee failed to get a grip on the proceedings from the outset, allowing too much aggression to go unpunished and preventing the game from finding any real flow.
The match, which saw the two rivals meet at a World Cup for the first time since 2002, was marked by tension from the start. England’s national anthem was met with boos and chants from Argentinian supporters, with Three Lions fans responding in kind. The intensity translated to the pitch, where Jude Bellingham was seen laughing off aggression from Leandro Paredes during a heated opening sequence. Anderson, who was involved in a tangle with Fernandez, was the target of several fouls throughout the early stages. Additionally, Giuliano Simeone went down following a minor push from Jordan Pickford. With the historical backdrop of the Falkland Islands conflict adding to the narrative, the physical nature of the game left both coaching staffs reportedly unhappy with the lack of control on the field.
In other football news, the Premier League has issued a statement explaining why Tottenham were not awarded a penalty against Leeds. The Spurs midfielder James Maddison was denied a significant moment on his return from injury during the draw. Meanwhile, in Saudi Arabia, an ugly mistake by Brazilian goalkeeper Bento prevented Al-Nassr from winning the Saudi League title this Tuesday. Cristiano Ronaldo’s team had been leading 1-0 until the 53rd minute of the second half before the error occurred.
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Bento's howler delays CR7's first title in Saudi Arabia 😱
