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Messi's Controversial Foul Ignites Debate After Argentina's World Cup Semi-Final Win

How 3 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.

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First reported by N12 · 2 hours ago

What happened

Argentina advanced to the 2026 World Cup final after a contentious semi-final win over England, with Lionel Messi's winning goal sparking debate over an alleged foul that VAR did not call. Despite fan outrage and video evidence suggesting a foul on England's Djed Spence, the goal stood, confirming Argentina's victory.

01Argentina beats England to reach 2026 World Cup final with Messi's winning goal.
02Controversy arises over Messi's alleged foul on England defender Djed Spence.
03Social media users criticize VAR for not reviewing the foul during the decisive play.
04Multiple video angles show Messi's aggressive tackle causing Spence pain.
05Despite protests, referees uphold the goal and Argentina's victory.
06The incident fuels debate on refereeing and VAR in critical World Cup moments.

Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.

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