English Newspaper Details Argentina’s ‘Dirty Tricks’ in World Cup Semifinal
The 2026 World Cup semifinal between Argentina and England continues to generate controversy, now with accusations coming directly from the British press. The renowned newspaper _The Telegraph_ published a detailed report, listing 31 incidents that, according to the publication, constitute ‘dirty tricks’ used by the Argentine national team to secure qualification for the tournament final.
Masters of Cunning
_The Telegraph_ describes the Argentine players as ‘masters of cunning’ and states that their actions aimed to destabilize the English and break the rhythm of the match. The list, organized chronologically, ranges from rougher fouls and provocations to attempts to influence referee decisions and simulations.
The report questions the conduct of the Argentine athletes at several crucial moments of the game, including calls for the expulsion of English players, collective complaints, and provocative celebrations. The meticulous analysis seeks to prove the thesis that Argentina employed a multifaceted strategy of tactical fouls, provocations, and stoppages to control the match and secure its place in the final.
The ‘Dirty Tricks’ Dossier
_The Telegraph_ detailed 26 specific incidents that make up its list:
- In the 1st minute, Alexis Mac Allister hit Elliot Anderson after pressing him.
- In the 2nd minute, Paredes pushed Bellingham from behind, triggering a verbal reaction from the English player and intervention from players of both teams.
- In the 3rd minute, Enzo Fernández was late in a challenge with Anderson, highlighting the tactic of preventing playmaking.
- In the 6th minute, Giuliano Simeone kicked the back of Anderson‘s foot.
- In the 11th minute, Fernández was not penalized for a foul on Anderson, and the two players grappled on the ground. In the same minute, Morgan Rogers was deliberately tackled during an Argentine transition.
- In the 13th minute, after an offside call, Jordan Pickford advanced to retrieve the ball, and Simeone responded by kicking towards the goalkeeper.
- In the 15th minute, Paredes won a challenge against Bellingham, who remained on the ground feeling the impact and hearing provocations.
- In the 16th minute, Anthony Gordon was brought down by Simeone, who then patted him on the head.
- In the 24th minute, Simeone fouled Pickford after being previously warned.
- In the 33rd minute, Marc Guéhi was targeted by a foul attempt from Simeone with his head.
- In the 34th minute, Nahuel Molina hit Bellingham from behind.
- In the 36th minute, Lionel Messi suffered a hard tackle from Anderson, which resulted in the first yellow card.
- In the 37th minute, after Anderson‘s yellow card, Argentine players protested and called for the English attacker’s expulsion.
- In the 41st minute, Lisandro Martínez held Rogers during a counter-attack, receiving a card.
- In the 46th minute, an Argentine bench player threw a second ball onto the field to delay James‘s throw-in.
- In the 47th minute, Paredes caught Anderson with the sole of his boot in a dangerous play.
- In the 48th minute, Messi pushed Bellingham against the advertising board.
- In the 51st minute, Cristian Romero received a yellow card for bringing down Bellingham, grabbing him with both arms.
- In the 53rd minute, Simeone hit Djed Spence‘s face with his arm, without receiving a punishment.
- In the 58th minute, Romero remained standing instead of crouching, causing Pickford to fall over him.
- In the 73rd minute, after the hydration break, Messi pushed Spence during a throw-in.
- In the 85th minute, Romero celebrated by shouting in Pickford‘s face after the Argentine goal.
- In the 88th minute, after the equalizer, Argentine players surrounded the referee while John Stones was down.
- In the 92nd minute, Montiel argued with Bellingham after the ball went out for a throw-in.
- In the 97th minute, Emiliano Martínez held the ball high and fell to the ground to waste time.
The _The Telegraph_ publication adds an extra layer of rivalry to the already intense relationship between the national teams, certainly fueling the debate about fair play in high-performance football. It remains to be seen how the Argentine national team will respond to these serious accusations.
