Some questionable decisions, but the penalty call (or lack thereof) was the biggest.
England fans were left raging over some of the decisions made in the first half of their World Cup quarter final against France. Didi Hamann and Stephen Kelly felt there were some legitimate grievances.
Gareth Southgate’s side went in 1-0 down at the break as Aurélien Tchouaméni’s long range effort put the reigning champions ahead.
But England fans were left less than impressed with some of the decisions made by Wilton Sampaio as he turned down shouts for a foul on Bukayo Saka moments before the goal as well as a potential penalty for a foul on Harry Kane.
🏴0-1🇫🇷
Harry Kane denied a penalty after tangling with Dayot Upamecano.
📝Live updates: https://t.co/ZpRyodk2W2
📺 Watch live on @rte2 and @rteplayer: https://t.co/1CdVcPaz8Z#FifaWorldCup #RTEsoccer #ENGFRA pic.twitter.com/fkHTxFslaw
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) December 10, 2022
Didi Hamann on non penalty call
While Lee Dixon raged about the penalty not being awarded, on ITV’s coverage, the RTÉ pundits, Didi Hamann and Stephen Kelly were sympathetic but skeptical that it was a certainty.
Hamann said he initially dismissed the England penalty call, but closer viewing had him not so sure. “We can’t tell for sure, from the angles and replays we have seen, that it was a definite penalty, but it looks very close,” the former Germany international said.
Over on social media, England supporters were seething. One fan wrote: “The referee when England gets obviously fouled.”
The referee when England gets obviously fouled #ENGFRA pic.twitter.com/L1TbEQE66a
— Gabby 🎡 (@gabbytweets20) December 10, 2022
A second tweeted: “The referees missing that obvious penalty on Harry Kane in the France-England game:”
The referees missing that obvious penalty on Harry Kane in the France-England game: pic.twitter.com/wp3YFSEMLb
— Brian (@byysports) December 10, 2022
A third said: “At this point it’s not even england v france just england v the fucking referee.”
at this point it’s not even england v france just england v the fucking referee
— bex🪩 (@beewoodd) December 10, 2022
Another tweeted: “It’s not even fun to watch this match like i hoped … it’s not even England v France because that dumb referee is ruining this game.”
it’s not even fun to watch this match like i hoped … it’s not even england v france because that dumb referee is ruining this game
— elle (@jbstete) December 10, 2022
Those that were cribbing were happy out, we expect, when a penalty was awarded, on 53 minutes, for a foul on Bukhayo Saka that was duly dispatched by Harry Kane.
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Penalty for England as Saka is fouled in the penalty area.
📝Live updates: https://t.co/ZpRyodjv6u
📺 Watch live on @rte2 and @rteplayer: https://t.co/1CdVcPa1jr#FifaWorldCup #RTEsoccer #ENGFRA pic.twitter.com/CUzWsATW9S
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) December 10, 2022
The winner of the game will go on to play Morocco in the semi final after their historic win against Portugal to become the first African nation to reach the semi finals of a World Cup.
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