The England vs Argentina semi-final has become the first World Cup match in which neither team has taken a shot on target before half-time since records began in 1966. Both sides were engaged in a physical battle since the match began in Atalanta.
The opening 45 minutes produced plenty of bite but very little attacking quality as Argentina and England renewed their World Cup rivalry for the first time since 2002. Tempers flared throughout the half, with the referee blowing for 19 fouls, 12 committed by Argentina and seven by England, in a fiercely contested midfield battle.
Despite the physical intensity, clear-cut chances were at a premium. The first goal attempt arrived only in the 33rd minute when John Stones headed wide from a set-piece. Enzo Fernandez responded with a speculative effort from distance that sailed over the crossbar, leaving goalkeepers Jordan Pickford and Emiliano Martinez largely untested before the interval.
Despite the foul count, referee Ismail Elfath only awarded two yellow cards – one for England’s Elliot Anderson for a foul on Lionel Messi and another for Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson did not hold back in his assessment of referee Ismail Elfath’s display, describing it as one of the poorest officiating performances of the tournament. Robinson felt the official failed to stamp his authority on the contest, allowing repeated fouls to disrupt the flow of the game.
England vs Argentina became the first FIFA World Cup match since records began in 1966 where neither team managed a single shot during the first 30 minutes of play.
The previous longest wait for the first shot was 29 minutes, which happened in England’s previous match against… pic.twitter.com/FdPIdoMw7N
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"That's one of the worst refereeing performances I've seen at this World Cup," Robinson said. "He didn't get a grip of the game from the start. "He's let so much go and the two coaches are not happy either. England have had to stick in this game because it has been tough. There's a clear game plan. There's been no real flow to the game."The opening exchanges in Atlanta were fiercely contested, with both teams committing a series of fouls as their long-standing rivalry reignited on football's biggest stage. England midfielder Elliot Anderson was repeatedly targeted in midfield and was involved in a heated exchange with Enzo Fernandez, while Argentina's players looked intent on unsettling their opponents whenever the ball was out of play. Jude Bellingham also found himself at the centre of the early flashpoints after clashing with Leandro Paredes. Rather than reacting, the England midfielder smiled and laughed off the Argentine's attempts to provoke him, helping diffuse what could have become a more heated confrontation.
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