Argentinian media turn on Enzo Fernandez with dismal ratings after ‘stupid’ World Cup moment
Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez was part of the Argentina team that lost to Spain in the World Cup final
Argentine media have reacted to Enzo Fernandez’s performance in the World Cup final(Image: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Argentinian media have made their feelings clear on Enzo Fernandez’s disappointing display in the World Cup final. The Chelsea midfielder was sent off before the game went to extra time and was unable to help his country retain the trophy on Sunday.
Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute when the defending champions were reduced to 10 men. Fernandez had initially been cautioned for challenging a decision by referee Slavko Vincic.
Spain dominated the final and proved a difficult opponent to break down for Argentina, who did not register their first shot until the 117th minute. However, their task was made even more daunting after Fernandez was shown a second yellow card for his late challenge on Spain defender Pau Caubarsi in second-half stoppage time.
“He might just have cost his team massively, because you know now that Argentina are going to try to take it to penalties,” BBC pundit Alan Shearer said on commentary, “With him already being on a yellow card for something stupid – backchatting to the referee
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“And when you’re on a yellow, you cannot, cannot make a challenge like that. That is stupid from him, it really is.”
The Chelsea midfielder’s display against Spain has been slammed, just a few days after saving Argentina from a semi-final defeat to England. Here is what Argentine media made of Fernandez’s performance.
The Nation
The player ratings in La Nacion awarded Fernandez a four for his display. The report stated that the Chelsea star “never looked comfortable” and seemed to be “playing out of sync” with the game.
The same criticism was levelled at the rest of Argentina’s midfield but it was claimed that Fernandez became “too reserved to push forward”. He was deemed to have gone “too far” with his tackle on Cubarsi, leading him to be sent off at a “crucial moment” in the final.
Ole
The Ole player ratings also gave Fernandez’s performance a four. The piece claims that the 25-year-old “lost his sparkle” against Spain after becoming more defensive, focusing on “the dirty work role” he had occupied earlier in the tournament.
Fernandez and his midfield partner Alexis Mac Allister were claimed to be the players who “dropped furthest back”. He was “tired and exhausted” when making his challenge on Cubarsi, which led to him being shown a red card.
Clarin
The summary of Fernandez’s contributions began: “The sending-off capped off one of his worst matches of the tournament.” Despite giving him a rating of five, Clarin claimed that Fernandez “failed to perform” in central midfield.
The report also stated he “offered little in attack” after being given a more advanced role upon Leandro Paredes’ introduction at half-time. It was claimed that the protests Fernandez made for his first yellow were “perhaps exaggerated by the referee” but he was dismissed after “a late challenge” on Cubarsi.
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