England's semi-final showdown against Argentina on Wednesday may come down to a single refereeing decision or a VAR review, according to Three Lions legend Alan Shearer. The Premier League's all-time top goalscorer has expressed concerns that inconsistent officiating could cost England a place in the World Cup final.
Shearer's concerns stem from a trend of generous decisions going in Argentina's favor throughout the tournament. The England legend pointed to the quarter-final defeat of Switzerland as an example of one-sided refereeing. Argentina benefited from a second yellow card awarded to Breel Embolo, who was initially given a foul for simulation after a trip to the monitor. The incident sparked debate over the correct use of the new powers and whether it was an example of re-refereeing the game.
Shearer also cited the group-stage match against Algeria, where Lionel Messi was not given a red card for standing on the calf of Aissa Mandi. The Algerian FA filed a complaint with FIFA after Messi went on to score a hat-trick in the match. The inconsistency in officiating has left Shearer worried that England will fall foul of similar decisions against Argentina.
The rivalry between England and Argentina is well-documented, with a history of intense matches between the two nations. England captain Alan Shearer was involved in a memorable affair in the 1998 World Cup, where Argentina dumped England out of the tournament in a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat. Shearer scored that day but it was not enough to prevent the defeat. He fears that the carnage of France '98 could repeat itself in Atlanta on Wednesday.
England and Argentina have not faced each other competitively since the 2002 World Cup, where the Three Lions won 1-0 in the group stage. Major League Soccer referee Ismail Elfath will take charge of the semi-final match, having previously taken charge of the 2023 Leagues Cup final, which culminated in Lionel Messi winning his first trophy at Inter Miami.
England's path to the World Cup final hinges on a single refereeing decision or VAR review, and Shearer is right to be concerned. The inconsistent officiating throughout the tournament has left a sour taste in the mouths of many teams, and England will be no exception if they fail to progress to the final. The stage is set for a thrilling semi-final showdown, and only time will tell if England's fortunes will change with the help of a fair refereeing decision.
Source: Daily Mail