England v Argentina sets unwanted World Cup record after ‘physical’ first half

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The Independent

15 July 2026

England

and

Argentina

’s semi-final became the first

World Cup

match to not have a shot on target before half-time since records began in 1966 after a physical start in Atlanta.

There were 19 fouls, though - 12 from

and seven from

- in a tetchy, tense opening 45 minutes between two rivals meeting for the first time at a

since 2002.

The semi-final did not have an attempt on goal until the 33rd minute, when John Stones headed wide, before Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez shot over the crossbar from range. But neither goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford and Emiliano Martinez, had a shot to save.

open image in gallery

Referee Ismail Elfath holds a yellow card after a challenge on Argentina's Lionel Messi from England's Elliot Anderson (Reuters)

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 Matrinez.

Former

goalkeeper Paul Robinson was unimpressed with Elfath’s performance and believed the referee had been far too lenient.

“That's one of the worst refereeing performances I've seen at this

,” 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.

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.”

Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham was seen laughing off aggression from Argentina’s Leandro Parades following the heated start to their

semi-final in Atlanta.

The opening 20 minutes of the semi-final were littered with fouls, following a big build-up to the resumption of

and Argentina’s storied rivalry.

England’s Anderson was on the receiving end of several fouls in the opening stages and was involved in a tangle with Chelsea’s Fernandez.

Anderson was booked for a foul on Messi (Getty)

Giuliano Simeone, son of

Diego Simeone

, who got David Beckham sent off in 1998, also went down after a slight push from

goalkeeper Pickford.

Argentina’s players also looked to antagonise England’s players off the ball and Bellingham found himself in the middle of a flare-up within the first few minutes.

England’s national anthem

was drowned out by Argentinian boos and chants

before

Three Lions

fans repaid the gesture as tensions boiled over before their seismic

semi-final even kicked off.

Sharing a storied footballing rivalry, this last-four clash also has a

sharp historical edge

to it, with

conflict over the Falkland Islands

forming part of the narrative going into the match in Atlanta.

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