Enzo Fernandez was despatched off within the closing levels of Sunday’s 1-0 World Cup ultimate defeat to Spain, making Argentina the primary nation in historical past to have three gamers dismissed in a World Cup ultimate, based on Sports activities Mole.
The Chelsea midfielder collected his first yellow card for dissent in direction of referee Slavko Vincic, then compounded the injury three minutes into stoppage time with a useless late problem on Pau Cubarsi that introduced out the second reserving. The dismissal got here as Lionel Scaloni’s aspect had been making an attempt to tug the match to penalties, nonetheless stage at 0-0 by means of 90 minutes.
Spain’s profitable margin arrived within the 106th minute when Ferran Torres transformed from Nico Williams’s knockdown, settling a ultimate through which Argentina did not register a single shot on the right track.
Argentina’s Unenviable Last Disciplinary File
Fernandez adopted Pedro Monzon and Gustavo Dezotti, each of whom had been despatched off in Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to West Germany within the 1990 ultimate – the one different event two gamers from the identical crew had been dismissed in the identical World Cup ultimate. France had beforehand shared the undesirable report with Argentina at two dismissals, by means of Marcel Desailly in 1998 and Zinedine Zidane’s notorious headbutt on Marco Materazzi in 2006. Argentina now maintain that report outright.
The defeat additionally deepened a painful sample within the event’s greatest sport. Having already misplaced finals in 1930, 1990, and 2014, Argentina now share with Germany the report for essentially the most defeats in a World Cup ultimate, 4 apiece. Their three titles – 1978, 1986, and 2022 – sit alongside an more and more sobering runners-up tally.
A Bitter Finish to Argentina’s Event Run
Fernandez had been a central determine in Argentina’s run to the ultimate, and Scaloni had constructed his midfield round him for the knockout rounds. The style of Sunday’s exit – a crimson card born of frustration, a single conceded objective, no attacking menace – will make for uncomfortable reflection because the squad regroups for the following worldwide cycle.
