Match 102 [SF] : ENG : ARG - ELFATH (USA)

You are using Spence's reaction as evidence of a foul. His reaction is evidence that his OTHER foot was hurt, not this one. If he was stepped on in addition to trapping his other ankle under his body, wouldn't he have just stayed on the ground?

The evidence of his reaction is that he was not fouled

 

No. It's not because his other foot was hurt that it means Messi didn't foul him. Messi was staring at him, not on the ball. Where do you guys believe Messi put his foot then? Right next to him on the grass? That's not what the move says.

 

I mean, yeah, when I watch the replay it looks like that left foot goes on the ground clearly past him?

You posted an image as evidence of the step on foot. Then we figure out it's doctored. You say Ok but look at Spence's reactions. When you look closer, Spence's reaction is caused by a different action, so we can't use that. So now it's "he just must have stepped on him".

Did he step on him? It's possible. It doesn't appear that he does in any replay I've seen, so I don't think so, but it's possible. I have strong doubts about that for two reasons though: 1) "Stand/step on foot" was a point of emphasis and why the Egypt goal was ruled out; if there were clear evidence that's what happened, this would have been ruled out, too; 2) The English press would be running with it for everything it's worth and it's been almost 24 hours since the game ended and there's nothing there in terms of real evidence.

Just seems like you've got a conclusion and are working backwards.

 

I'm not going to go all Zapruder on this one. People are manipulating videos and images online to press a narrative. I don't trust those videos. The VAR team had access to much more angles than all of us. We don't have access to those unedited angles.

That being said, on the official highlights, Messi and Spence can be seen going to challenge for the ball when it rebounds off the post. Spence gets there first and pokes the ball with his right foot. As soon as it becomes clear that Spence will beat Messi, you can see Messi start to adjust his body positioning. As Spence plays the ball with his right foot, Messi has all of his weight on his right leg and appears to be loading the right leg for a jumping action (and Messi's left leg appears to be raising up in the air). The next action Messi makes looks to be pulling his left leg up and out of the challenge. Messi's left leg finally lands on the ground at least one yard past Spence.

With the single angle available on the replay I have access to, it does not look like Messi makes any contact with his left leg into Spence's right leg. It looks like Messi avoids contact by jumping over the leg. But the angle isn't 100% certain. If there is any contact, that contact appears to be very minimal. The VAR team has access to way more angles than we do.

The most likely scenario here is that it's not a foul.

 

Okay.... So... let's re-litigate the entire game? What's your point. Even if what you say - and the way you interpret it is true... so what?

You seem hyper-focused on this one bit of contact - which both the referee and VAR didn't pursue. And didn't seem to create on-field tension with the players and England bench at the time. Have you gone through the rest of the game with the same critical eye?

It would be great if FIFA release all the different camera angles of the game. But they haven't, so here we are.

On its face it appears to be another play with contact between players at this World Cup that could be whistled for a foul, if not a caution, in most leagues around the world, but is being allowed at this World Cup.

Okay, so what's your remedy? I get the feeling that half this thread is on the verge of turning into posts discussing a play that was quickly forgotten on the field. I, mean, do we just re-litigate every call/non-call of the game? It's safe to say that Elfath won't be doing any more games in this World Cup. Should they take his FIFA badge away? The VAR's badge? I mean, what are we discussing?

I've read the entire thread, and I don't know what point you're trying to make?

Elfath and the VAR missed foul? Missed a caution? Okay, so what? Pretty much everyone here can point to numerous plays that could've been fouls that weren't, and could've/should've been cautions that weren't. And at this World Cup, that's pretty much every single game - by obvious design.

So... where are you going with this? What do you want me to have as my takeaway? Elfath sucks and England was screwed? FIFA is corrupt and Collina is under orders to keep a handful of stars on the field at all costs - particularly Lionel Messi?

What?

 

Sorry guys, I thought that section was about analyzing refereeing. I'm not looking for any remedy, mistakes can happen and decisions are final, that's clearly stipulated on law 5.

I wanted to know your opinion about the situation and now I have it. Thanks everyone for your time.

 

No, no, no. Don't go away on my account. I am not a referee. Feel free to discount my posts.

I just want to know where you're going with this?

 

I mean to be fair, if you stipulate it's a foul, it's in the APP and would be step on the foot, so the winner should have been ruled out, so it's a bigger question than about a random foul at midfield, say

It just doesn't appear that there's any evidence there's a foul here IMO

 

I know celebrating a goal in the World Cup is emotional but this is an easy caution right?

Seriously. You are on the bench. GTFO the field please. pic.twitter.com/W4bSh4GJZu

— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) July 17, 2026

 

FIFA gave up on enforcing any idea of bench or technical area decorum years ago.

"Forget it Jake, it's Chinatown."

 

A caution? One of the England subs should have ran on and laid him out.

I don't see any celebrating here. He's provacative and getting in the face of the opposing players for the sole purpose of mocking. I don't understand the mentality of scoring the game-winning goal and your first instinct is to run to the opposing players instead of celebrating with your teammates.

Since this game, there have been numerous videos of their fans mocking England's severely outnumbered fans on the way out of the stadium and getting into near fights. By all accounts, the WC continued to be an event that brings people together with fans from opposing teams chatting and taking photos together. This group is one of the few that behaves like neaderthals and their behavior never goes punished and seems to be rewarded.

 

Can we confirm that video isn't AI?

 

Social media, a complete lack of critical al thought, and a willingness to believe anything posted on the Internet has produced an amazing dumbing down of the general public.

I gave up social media (except for a couple of sites like this focused on specific topics) a few years ago and never looked back. I enjoy things a lot more and can just sit back and laugh at people who genuinely believe what they read on social media.

 

IT'S—NOT—AI.

/s

 

You don’t follow American politics any more, do you?

I’ve seen worse. Much, much worse.

 

Also the guy who just leans over pickford and (likely) taunts him while pickford is laying on the ground.

 

You were soooooo close.

IT'S—NOT—AI, so it must be—real.

/s/s

 

Wasn't he the one who just got a caution near the halfway line about 10m earlier?

 

Blocking accounts on the socials for these sorts of takes has been quite satisfying this tournament.

 

Yeah. More of a delayed gratification thing for Bellingham than merited in the moment.