The Challenge Before the Cards Came Out

Semifinal trial — less than three minutes had passed when Enzo Fernández arrived heavily on Elliot Anderson after an earlier duel involving Messi. The challenge caught Anderson high and triggered the first mass confrontation of the night. Referee Ismail Elfath stopped the game, spoke firmly to Enzo, but showed no card. Fans argued that a caution was the minimum and that the contact deserved a red-card review. Argentina kept eleven players, and the disciplinary line for the night was set almost immediately.