England’s heartbreaking defeat by Argentina in the World Cup semi-final was a tempestuous affair filled with fouls, melees and plenty of needle.
Argentina made a string of fouls during the clash and largely escaped punishment from the referee in terms of yellow cards, while England showed they were more than happy giving it back with several tough tackles of their own.
And after bubbling all game, tensions boiled over at the final whistle as Jude Bellingham and Argentina substitute Valentin Barco were involved in a heated confrontation as England’s South American opponents wildly celebrated the victory.
After constantly being pulled up by referee Ismail Elfath for fouling the Three Lions in the first half, Argentina significantly limited the number of free-kicks they were giving away in the second half as England looked to defend their lead earned through Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute.
Daily Mail Sport takes a look at every foul Argentina made during the match. It
It was heartbreak for England as Argentina came from behind to win 2-1 in the semi-final
There was no love lost between England and Argentina in their explosive World Cup semi-final
Elliot Anderson was floored regularly throughout the first half as Argentina played physically
2′ – FOUL: Paredes on Bellingham
Right from the off, Jude Bellingham won a free-kick after being shoved by Leandro Paredes just inside his own half, as the Argentine midfielder tried to show England’s star man he was in for a physical game.
3′ – FOUL: Fernandez on Anderson
A tense melee then erupted between the two sides three minutes into the match, after Elliot Anderson dispossessed Lionel Messi for the first time in the game and was immediately chopped down by Enzo Fernandez in the centre of the pitch.
The Argentina players, as they often do when Messi is on the receiving end of some tough tackling, swarmed Anderson and his Three Lions team-mates Declan Rice and Bellingham, who did not back down from a war of words with the South Americans.
6′ – FOUL: Simeone on Anderson
Anderson ended up on the turf once again on the left flank after swivelling smartly to wrong foot Giuliano Simeone, who clipped the midfielder and was rightly penalised.
9′ – FOUL: Simeone on Anderson, again
England’s holding midfielder picked up the ball just inside England’s half and hit the deck immediately after being barged from behind by Simeone, drawing the attention of referee Elfath.
16′ – FOUL: Simeone on Gordon
Diego Simeone’s son was at the centre of another incident after clipping Gordon as he picked up the ball on the halfway line, denying England the opportunity to counter.
24′ – FOUL: Simeone on Pickford
England’s goalkeeper is awarded a free-kick after being held on to too strongly by Simeone from a corner.
Anderson tussles with Enzo Fernandez on the turf in a bid to slow down Argentina’s break
Lisandro Martinez went into the book for cynically stopping Morgan Rogers on the counter
32′ – FOUL: Fernandez on Bellingham
Bellingham once again felt the wrath of Argentina’s midfield as Fernandez tripped him up a few yards outside the box after a sensational dribble from the Real Madrid man.
34′ – FOUL: Simeone on Guehi
One of the stranger-looking fouls as Simeone first pulled on Marc Guehi’s shorts, then lunged at his shirt, then threw his head towards the defender’s chest, and eventually tripped the Manchester City star with a wayward leg. Four fouls for the price of one, basically, in England’s half.
35′ – FOUL: Molina on Bellingham
Molina had a difficult first half up against Djed Spence and this time took out his frustration on Bellingham, hacking him down from behind and making no attempt to play the ball. ‘A crazy challenge in a dangerous area,’ said Alan Shearer.
42′ – YELLOW CARD: Martinez on Rogers
Finally an Argentine found their way into the referee’s book after Lisandro Martinez was penalised for stopping Morgan Rogers on the counter attack, bringing a cheer from Three Lions fans inside the stadium and at home.
43′ – FOUL: Molina on Anderson
Lionel Messi is dispossessed inside England’s half by Anderson and Argentina’s right-back Molina is forced to intervene, swiping through the midfielder’s legs for a simple foul.
45+3′ – FOUL: Paredes on James
Reece James and Paredes both go for the ball just inside Argentina’s half and the defensive midfielder is penalised for a high foot as he catches the Chelsea star dangerously.
Argentina’s Cristiano Romero also went into the book after stopping Bellingham in his tracks
Harry Kane draws an important foul from Nico Gonzalez on the edge of England’s penalty box
HALF TIME
51′ – YELLOW CARD: Romero on Bellingham
Picking up Argentina’s second yellow card of the tournament, Cristian Romero was cautioned after cynically wrapping his arms around Bellingham on the halfway line to prevent him from charging off on the counterattack, denying England a favourable position.
68′ – FOUL: Romero on Spence
Seconds after Jordan Pickford made a wonder save to deny substitute Nico Gonzalez from just outside the six-yard box, Spence chased down the ball in a bid to clear his lines and cleverly won a free-kick after Romero dragged him to the floor by his shirt.
81′ – FOUL: Gonzalez on Kane
After a period of intense pressure from the Argentine attack, Kane jockeys on the edge of England’s box to win a free-kick, drawing a mistimed tackle from Gonzalez.
