’Masters of the dark arts’: The Telegraph catalogues 31 dirty tricks as Argentina stun England in World Cup

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Argentina reached Sunday’s World Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 victory over England in Atlanta, but the match has been overshadowed by extraordinary accusations from British newspaper The Telegraph, which published a minute-by-minute catalogue of 31 “dirty tricks” it claims the South Americans employed throughout the contest.

Lautaro Martínez headed home Lionel Messi’s stoppage-time cross deep into added time to seal the comeback after Enzo Fernández had cancelled out Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute opener. But the football was secondary to a bitter, foul-ridden battle that produced seven fouls in the first ten minutes alone.

The Telegraph’s report, written by Frankie Christou, accused Argentina of “constant attempts to destabilise Thomas Tuchel’s side,” describing them as “South American masters of the dark arts” who “lived up to their reputation”.

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The 31 incidents, as documented by The Telegraph

First half

1’ — Alexis Mac Allister caught Elliot Anderson late while pressing, setting the tone within 19 seconds.

2’ — Leandro Paredes needlessly pushed Jude Bellingham in the back after the England midfielder had released the ball.

3’ — Enzo Fernández arrived late on Anderson immediately after play restarted, striking him on the back of the neck with his arm. A foul was given, but no yellow card.

6’ — Giuliano Simeone kicked the back of Anderson’s foot as the Englishman attempted to turn and launch an attack.

11’ — Fernández and Anderson wrestled on the ground while trying to get back up, with no foul called.

11’ — Nicolás Tagliafico deliberately tripped Morgan Rogers during an England transition. Play resumed with a dropped ball in Argentina’s favour.

13’ — Simeone flicked his foot towards Jordan Pickford following an offside decision and held onto the ball to delay England’s restart.

15’ — Paredes shouted at Bellingham while the England midfielder was down after a strong challenge.

16’ — Simeone brought Anthony Gordon down before giving him a patronising tap on the head.

24’ — Simeone ignored the referee’s warning and blocked Pickford at a corner, with the pair exchanging words before Ismail Elfath intervened.

28’ — Mac Allister landed late on Reece James, but no foul was awarded.

31’ — Fernández led a three-man attempt to stop Bellingham as he charged forward, with the Chelsea player eventually bringing him down. A foul was given, but no card.

33’ — Simeone led with his head while challenging Marc Guéhi from behind in a bizarre duel. Foul, no booking.

34’ — Nahuel Molina charged into the back of Bellingham on the left corner of the penalty area.

36’ — Lionel Messi kicked out at Djed Spence after being brought down.

37’ — Argentina’s players frantically appealed for Harry Kane to be sent off after Mac Allister and Paredes demanded a harsher sanction for the England captain speaking to the referee while covering his mouth.

41’ — Lisandro Martínez pulled Rogers back to stop an England counter-attack and was booked.

45+1’ — Someone on Argentina’s bench threw a second ball onto the pitch to delay England’s throw-in.

45+2’ — Paredes left a high boot on Anderson shortly before half-time.

HT — Messi and Fernández surrounded the referee and continued complaining towards the tunnel.

Second half

48’ — Messi threw Bellingham into the advertising boards as they rolled off the pitch.

51’ — Cristian Romero wrestled Bellingham to the ground with both arms.

53’ — Simeone swung an arm into Spence’s face without receiving a yellow card.

58’ — Romero remained in Pickford’s path as the goalkeeper attempted to claim the ball.

73’ — Messi nudged Spence during an England throw-in.

85’ — Romero celebrated Enzo’s goal by screaming directly in Pickford’s face.

88’ — Argentina’s players surrounded the referee after John Stones went down with a head injury.

90+2’ — Gonzalo Montiel confronted Bellingham and gave him a mouthful.

90+7’ — Emiliano Martínez caught a high ball before going down smiling to waste time.

FT — Argentina’s celebrations sparked a confrontation involving players from both teams.

Post-match — Argentina’s players posed with a banner reading: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”.

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Post-match chaos and political storm

The final whistle sparked ugly scenes. England’s Jude Bellingham was involved in a confrontation and reportedly slapped Argentina substitute Valentín Barco on the back of the head. Argentina defender Nicolás Otamendi confronted Bellingham, while Morgan Rogers also became embroiled in a verbal exchange with Argentine players.

Outside the stadium, armed police made multiple arrests as England and Argentina fans clashed, with sporadic fighting breaking out near the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

But the most incendiary moment came when Argentina’s players unfurled a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” — “The Falklands are Argentine”. Giovani Lo Celso retrieved the banner from the stands and held it aloft alongside Otamendi and Romero, with Messi and others gathering for a photograph that was broadcast live around the world.

The display appears to contravene FIFA rules prohibiting political messages. Argentina’s vice-president Victoria Villarruel had stoked tensions before kick-off, posting on social media: “Tomorrow we play against the usurping pirates. This isn’t just another match. Until our last breath, we’re going to claim what’s ours!”

Britain’s business secretary Peter Kyle called the banner “entirely inappropriate” and urged FIFA to investigate what he described as an “egregious violation” of the rules. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falklands definitely are”.

FIFA is expected to launch disciplinary proceedings, with potential sanctions ranging from fines to player suspensions that could impact Argentina’s final against Spain.

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A record-breaking war of attrition

The opening 30 minutes produced 12 fouls and not a single shot — a World Cup record for shotless football in data going back to 1966. By half-time, both teams had committed 20 fouls between them.

While The Telegraph argued Argentina mastered football’s “dark arts” to gain a psychological edge, others pointed to England’s increasingly defensive approach after going ahead, with Tuchel’s side unable to withstand relentless Argentine pressure in the closing stages.

Argentina will now face Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final, while England must regroup for the third-place playoff against France. But for many, this semi-final will be remembered not for Lautaro Martínez’s heroics, but for the 93 minutes of controversy that preceded them.