The 2-1 victory of Argentina over England in the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup provoked divided reactions in the British press. Although several media outlets acknowledged the superiority of the team led by Lionel Scaloni and even held coach Thomas Tuchel responsible for the elimination, The Telegraph chose a much more critical approach.
In an article, the newspaper claimed that the Albiceleste resorted to the so-called "dark arts" to prevail in the match. The publication, which initially listed 29 alleged unsportsmanlike actions and later expanded the list to 31, argued that the Argentine players constantly sought to destabilize their rivals.
According to the English newspaper, Argentina committed repeated fouls, arguments, and maneuvers aimed at influencing the development of the match and the officiating team.
Among the highlighted situations are a foul by Alexis Mac Allister on Elliot Anderson, a push by Leandro Paredes on Jude Bellingham, and a tackle by Enzo Fernández in the early minutes of the match.
