Alan Shearer, England's all-time leading scorer, has voiced concerns that refereeing decisions and VAR interventions could impact the team's chances of reaching the World Cup final.
England is set to face Argentina in the semi-finals on Wednesday, with a place in their first World Cup final since 1966 at stake. Shearer believes the outcome of the match could hinge on the performance of Major League Soccer referee Ismail Elfath and his VAR team.
"I'm slightly concerned that a refereeing decision or VAR could cost us against Argentina because I think the narrative from the referees and the VAR from the start of the tournament to now has changed massively," Shearer told Betfair. He noted a shift in officiating consistency throughout the tournament, citing an instance during a France match where he felt a clear penalty call was overlooked after the referee reviewed the pitchside monitor.
Shearer also expressed dismay over decisions that have favored Argentina. "I have been amazed at some of the decisions that Argentina have had, particularly the one against Egypt where their Egyptian goal was pulled back and cancelled out. I thought that was nonsense. It is a bit of a concern when playing them," he stated.
Elfath, 44, has prior experience with Argentinian star Lionel Messi, having officiated the 2023 Leagues Cup final. He also served as the fourth official during the 2022 World Cup final, where Argentina defeated France on penalties.
Both England and Argentina have navigated their paths to the semi-finals through determined performances, with both teams demonstrating resilience while also showing vulnerabilities in defense. England has relied on mentality and grit, while Argentina has also been described as having a similar, hard-fought journey to the last four.