{"id":18980,"date":"2026-07-19T22:11:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T22:11:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=18980"},"modified":"2026-07-19T22:11:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T22:11:27","slug":"enzo-fernandez-sent-off-in-world-cup-final-for-argentina-as-wayne-rooney-hits-out-at-chelsea-midfielder-for-silly-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=18980","title":{"rendered":"Enzo Fernandez SENT OFF in World Cup final for Argentina – as Wayne Rooney hits out at Chelsea midfielder for ‘silly’ challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"


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By LUKE POWER, SPORTS REPORTER <\/p>\n

Published:<\/span>

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Enzo Fernandez was sent off in the 93rd minute of regular time in the World Cup final, leaving Argentina in the lurch.<\/p>\n

The Chelsea midfielder was given a second yellow card for a late challenge on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi by the halfway line and dismissed with minutes to go before extra-time.<\/p>\n

He protested his innocence vehemently – as did his team-mates Lionel Messi and Facundo Medina – but it was hard to argue against the decision of referee\u00a0Slavko Vincic. Cubarsi had gone flying through the air after the foul. <\/p>\n

Wayne Rooney said on the BBC: ‘A silly tackle. He’s a little bit late to it. On a yellow card you can’t just dangle your leg out. It makes it a very different game now.’ <\/p>\n

Fernandez’s dismissal rounded off an abysmal 90 minutes for the 2022 champions, who had no shots compared to Spain’s 15.<\/p>\n

His team-mate Leandro Paredes was perhaps lucky to avoid a second yellow moments after for a foul on the edge of the box as Argentina continued their vicious style of play. <\/p>\n

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Enzo Fernandez clatters into Pau Cubarsi and gets a second booking \ud83d\udfe5<\/p>\n

Argentina are down to 10 men right before full-time… pic.twitter.com\/aTij7bxqJO<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 19, 2026<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n

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\"Enzo <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Enzo Fernandez was sent off in the 93rd minute for a very late challenge on Pau Cubarsi<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"The <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

The midfielder had the brass neck to complain about being given a second yellow, but he didn’t have much of a leg to stand on<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Lamine Yamal tested the goalkeeper Lisandro Martinez from that free-kick but La Albiceleste held on to force an additional 30 minutes at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.<\/p>\n

Messi, who has eight goals at the World Cup, was largely anonymous throughout regular time.<\/p>\n

Fernandez has proven a crucial player at the heart of midfield for Lionel Scalino throughout the campaign.<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old ironically scored a 93rd-minute winner in the last 16 against Egypt and netted Argentina’s equaliser against England in the semi-finals. <\/p>\n

Spain came flying out of the blocks in extra-time and substitute Nico Williams thought he had put Spain ahead after the restart, but the goal was ruled out for a foul, seemingly for a dubious one on Nicolas Otamendi. <\/p>\n

Fans in the stadium began to chant ‘Infantino’ after that, feeling that the FIFA president has rigged the tournament in Argentina’s favour.<\/p>\n

But Spain finally got their necks in front in the 106th minute when Ferran Torres ran onto Williams’ knockdown and smashed the ball into the roof of the net. <\/p>\n

The last time Argentina had a man sent off in a World Cup final was in 1990, when they had two players given their marching orders. <\/p>\n

Pedro Monzon and Gustavo Dezotti were sent off that day in a 1-0 defeat by West Germany. <\/p>\n

The match is ongoing. More to follow. <\/span><\/p>\n

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World Cup final red cards <\/h3>\n
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Monzon and Dezotti (Argentina, 1990)<\/p>\n

Desailly (France, 1998)<\/p>\n

Zidane (France, 2006)<\/p>\n

Heitinga (Netherlands, 2010)<\/p>\n

Fernandez (Argentina, 2026)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\n Enzo Fernandez SENT OFF in World Cup final for Argentina – as Wayne Rooney hits out at Chelsea midfielder for ‘silly’ challenge<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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