England fans have taken to social media to stress that Argentina’s winning goal should not have stood due to a perceived foul in the build-up.
The Three Lions threw away a 1-0 lead with five minutes of normal time remaining to lose 2-1 in the World Cup semi-final.
After Anthony Gordon put them in front, England were pegged back by an Enzo Fernandez strike on 85 minutes before Lautaro Martinez sealed their fate in second-half stoppage time.
However, Martinez’s goal has left many England supporters fuming – claiming that Argentina talisman Lionel Messi had fouled defender Djed Spence just moments before.
After Alexis Mac Allister hit the post for the second time, the ball cannoned back out leaving a foot race between Spence and Messi in the penalty area. Spence got there first but appeared to be caught by Messi in the process.
Immediately the full back spun around in some discomfort – although that could be due to how his other leg was planted – but referee Ismael Elfath waved play on. And just seconds later England were punished as Messi crossed to an unmarked Martinez to score.
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Many England fans feel Lionel Messi (right) fouled Djed Spence prior to Argentina’s winner
The pair both sprinted for a 50/50 duel which Spence won just ahead of Messi
However, Spence was soon turning around in discomfort in the aftermath as play continued
And taking to social media, England fans have questioned why VAR didn’t get involved to overturn the decision.
‘Messi’s stamp on Spence before Lautaro’s goal, why does VAR only work when the goal is against Argentina?’ wrote one user on X, before doubling down with: ‘No foul X, no VAR check X, Goal allowed [tick].’
‘How was that not called as a foul,’ remarked another; while another user put: ‘Spence should have gone down and rolled around here, worked for them all game.’
In another post, a user wrote: ‘Serious question… why was Messi stepping on Djed Spence completely ignored seconds before Argentina’s second goal?
‘Spence was visibly limping afterwards and could barely defend the next phase, yet VAR never appeared to review the incident. How can a potential foul directly affecting the goal be brushed aside that easily?’
Another questioned: ‘Surely Messi fouled Spence here. How did this not get called back [?]’
Despite their protestations, many took to social media to defend Messi and insist that there no contact made between the pair.
Irrespective of whether or not there was contact, England fans were largely in unison in directing their anger towards head coach Thomas Tuchel for his defensive second-half substitutions when they were winning.
They had plenty of duels during the World Cup semi-final showdown, which Argentina won 2-1
Lautaro Martinez (centre) rises high to head home Argentina’s winner to send them through
However, the German remained defiant post-match – defending his tactics and insisting he had ‘no regrets’.
‘We were so close but we got too passive after we scored and conceded a lot of chances and could not turn the ball possession around. We conceded so many crosses and chances and shots,’ Tuchel said after the match.
‘We were close but we could not keep the level up after we scored.’
‘Of course we wanted to go for the second goal, but I did not feel an offensive substitution would help. We stayed in our 4-4-2 but became passive and we couldn’t win any balls and couldn’t keep the ball, so I don’t think it was a structural problem.’
‘No regrets, the team gave everything and we were very very close. We deserved to be up one nil, we played one of our better matches, maybe the best match, at the moment, no regrets.’
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