England v France: Gary Neville has criticized referee Wilton Sampaio for his controversial calls during the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-final clash between England and France.
The England national soccer team and the France national soccer team met in the round of 16 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup with a place in the semi-finals at stake. France, who are the reigning world champions, emerged victorious late in the clash between two European heavyweights, inflicting a 2-1 defeat on England.
However, referee Wilton Sampaio’s performance in this clash between England and France received criticism from many quarters. The referee made a series of controversial calls during the game. The referee also did not initially award a penalty for a foul on Mason Mount. It was after being advised by VAR to check the monitor that England were awarded a second penalty in this 2022 FIFA World Cup match.
Gary Neville, a former England international, was clearly not impressed with referee Wilton Sampaio. He said Sampaio had a nightmare game, calling it an “absolute joke by a referee.” “The referee had a nightmare game, an absolute joke of a referee. I’m not saying it’s all down to England’s defeat because that’s making excuses. He was just a bad referee, misclassified,” Gary Neville said on ITV.
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England vs France: how did the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-final clash unfold?
Aurelien Tchouameni put France ahead in this 2022 FIFA World Cup England vs France match in the 17th minute of the match. The Real Madrid midfielder fired a shot from outside the area that beat Jordan Pickford and found the net.
When the half-time whistle blew in this quarter-final clash between England and France, the former headed into half-time a goal ahead.
England, however, restored equality nine minutes into the second half after the referee awarded them a penalty. Aurelien Tchouameni brought down Bukayo Saka inside the box and the referee awarded the penalty. Harry Kane stepped up to take the shot and converted it to level the score.
France, however, retook the lead in the 78th minute of the match, with Olivier Giroud scoring from a header that was slightly deflected by Harry Maguire. England had a chance to restore parity when Mason Mount was fouled inside the box by France. Harry Kane once again stepped up to take the penalty, but headed the ball over the bar.
France then handily topped this 2022 FIFA World Cup England vs France matchup as Les Bleus moved one step closer to retaining the coveted title at the end of the month-long tournament in Qatar.
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