ENGLAND fans were left raging after VAR failed to intervene to check a potential foul on Bukayo Saka in the build-up to France’s opener goal.
Aurelien Tchouameni broke the deadlock against Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions in the World Cup quarter-final after just 17 minutes in their eventual 2-1 victory.
The midfielder unleashed a beautiful strike from 25 yards that went through the legs of Jude Bellingham, meaning Jordan Pickford only saw it very late as he failed to keep it out.
England were on the attack when Arsenal attacker Saka was clattered by Dayot Upamecano.
No foul was given and France quickly broke as the Three Lions scrambled to get back, but ultimately Tchouameni’s strike proved too good to be stopped.
Further VAR frustration followed when Harry Kane was denied a penalty moments afterwards, but it was the decision not to rule out France’s goal that had most supporters up in arms.
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One Tweeted: “What a bull***t France goal.. coming from a foul against Saka that was not given. Absolute joke.”
Another said: “Clear foul on saka, what a joke.”
And even the much-loved pundit Chris Kamara fumed: “Foul not given on Saka but what a strike. Good game to win now.”
As tensions mounted, another wrote: “Foul on Saka for the French goal & a 100% penalty on Kane. This is a scandal.”
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And England legend Gary Lineker commented: “One of these days, just once, we might get a decision in our favour.”
He then added later: “One hundred percent foul on Saka. One hundred percent penalty on Kane.”
ITV pundit Gary Neville said at half time: “It’s not excuses. It’s a simple decision. He just kicks his leg away and I’m not sure why it’s not a foul.
“He’s nibbling and nibbling and it should have been a free-kick.”
Roy Keane agreed and said: “It should be a foul.”
The match was being shown live on ITV, and former Premier League ref Peter Walton said on their coverage that he did not believe it was a foul and stated that the 21-year-old had gone down too easily.”
But fortunately for England the referee did see sense moments after the restart when Saka was sent tumbling in the area by Tchouameni.
And Kane kept his cool after a lengthy delay to fire the Three Lions level.
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Olivier Giroud later headed England in front again but England were awarded ANOTHER penalty when Mason Mount was sent tumbling by Theo Hernandez.
But this time Kane blazed high over the bar and was left devastated as the Three Lions crashed out of the tournament.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
