Ex-Egypt Boss Tardelli Claims Referees Helped Argentina

Former Egypt coach Marco Tardelli has accused match officials of helping Argentina reach the 2026 World Cup final.

The Italian’s remarks revived the debate that followed the holders’ controversial win over the Pharaohs.

Speaking on Rai 1’s Notti Mondiali before Sunday’s World Cup final, Tardelli questioned Argentina’s route through the knockout stages. afrikasportnews.co.za

“Argentina had to reach the final, and certain referees got them there,” Tardelli said. “It seems they have friends in high places.”

The 1982 World Cup winner did not identify any officials or provide evidence for his allegation.

Tardelli’s comments follow several refereeing disputes involving Argentina during the tournament. The most significant controversy for Egypt came during the round-of-16 meeting in Atlanta.

Egypt led 2-0 before Argentina scored three times in the final 11 minutes to win 3-2. However, the Pharaohs disputed several decisions by French referee Francois Letexier and his VAR team.

VAR advised Letexier to disallow a goal by Mostafa Ziko with Egypt leading 1-0. Officials identified a foul by Marwan Attia on Lisandro Martinez earlier in the attacking move.

Ziko later doubled Egypt’s lead, but Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi brought Argentina level. Egypt then demanded a penalty after Julian Alvarez challenged Mohamed Salah inside the area.

Letexier allowed play to continue, and Argentina launched the attack that produced Fernandez’s stoppage-time winner.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan described the officiating as unfair and claimed the tournament was “directed towards Argentina”. The Egyptian Football Association also questioned the consistency of the decisions and VAR’s application.

FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina subsequently rejected allegations of bias. He said VAR correctly identified Attia’s foul before Ziko’s disallowed goal.

Collina also backed the decision involving Salah and Alvarez. Officials viewed the incident as normal contact after Alvarez played the ball.

“Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials,” Collina said in a FIFA interview. He added that nobody, including FIFA’s president, could influence the refereeing team.

Tardelli coached Egypt during their 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign in 2004. The EFA dismissed him after a 2-1 defeat away to Libya damaged the Pharaohs’ qualification hopes.

Argentina will face Spain at the New York New Jersey Stadium after beating England 2-1 in the semi-finals. Lionel Scaloni’s side came from behind through late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez.

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Doha, Qatar: The FIFA World Cup is remembered for stunning goals, iconic celebrations and unforgettable players. But behind many defining moments is another battle, one fought from the touchline.

At World Cup 2026, several of the tournament’s biggest results were shaped not only by individual brilliance, but by managerial decisions. Some coaches trusted their instincts and changed matches with bold tactical moves, while others saw promising positions slip away after one crucial adjustment failed.

For several teams, the decision to protect a lead proved more costly than the desire to chase another goal.

England appeared on course for the final after Anthony Gordon put them ahead against Argentina in the semi-finals. But instead of maintaining their attacking approach, Thomas Tuchel switched to a defensive setup, with England managing only 12 percent possession after taking the lead and failing to register a touch inside Argentina’s box. Lionel Messi eventually took control, creating late goals for Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez as Argentina completed another comeback.

Egypt suffered a similar fate against the same opponents. After taking a stunning 2-0 lead, the Pharaohs abandoned the counter-attacking approach that had troubled Argentina and retreated into their own half. Argentina responded with 17 shots before scoring three times in the final 14 minutes to end Egypt’s historic run.

The Netherlands also paid the price for becoming too cautious. Ronald Koeman switched to a five-man defensive line against Morocco, but after Cody Gakpo’s opener, the Dutch dropped deeper and lost the attacking identity that had produced 10 goals in the group stage. Morocco seized control, scored a stoppage-time equaliser and completed the comeback in the penalty shootout.

Senegal experienced a similar collapse against Belgium in the Round of 32. After building a 2-0 lead, the Lions of Teranga abandoned their aggressive approach and invited pressure. Belgium dominated the closing stages, scoring twice late in normal time before adding a penalty in extra time to complete the turnaround.

Switzerland’s quarter-final against Argentina showed the importance of adapting to changing circumstances. After levelling at 1-1, the Swiss continued with a high defensive line despite Breel Embolo’s red card four minutes later. Argentina exploited the space behind the tiring defence in extra time, scoring twice to win 3-1.

However, while some managers watched their plans unravel, others changed matches with decisive interventions.

England themselves benefited from Tuchel’s tactical adjustments earlier in the tournament against DR Congo. Trailing after conceding early, England struggled against a five-man defence until Tuchel introduced Gordon and Bukayo Saka, shifting the focus towards the flanks. The change transformed the game, with Gordon creating both goals for Harry Kane in a 2-1 comeback win. Norway’s shock victory over Brazil was shaped by Stale Solbakken’s changes at half-time. Introducing Oscar Bobb and Andreas Schjelderup added width and pace to Norway’s attack. As Brazil pushed forward, Schjelderup provided two assists for Erling Haaland’s late goals, sending Norway into the quarter-finals.

Argentina’s Round of 16 comeback against Egypt also reflected Lionel Scaloni’s attacking gamble. Instead of becoming desperate after falling 2-0 behind, the Argentina coach pushed more players forward and maintained pressure. The reward was a stunning three-goal turnaround.

Spain’s semi-final victory over France highlighted Luis de la Fuente’s tactical precision. Identifying France’s left side as a weakness, Spain repeatedly targeted that area through Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro. The pressure disrupted France’s balance and helped Spain secure a 2-0 win.

Perhaps the boldest decision came from Portugal coach Roberto Martínez. With the knockout tie against Croatia heading towards penalties, Martínez made the difficult call to substitute Cristiano Ronaldo. Trusting Goncalo Ramos instead, he was rewarded when the striker scored the winner, turning a risky decision into one of the tournament’s defining moments.

A substitution, a formation change or the decision to attack rather than defend can alter the course of a nation’s football history. At the World Cup, glory and heartbreak are often decided not only by those on the pitch, but by those making the calls on the sidelines.

East Rutherford: When Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal line-up against each other in the World Cup final tonight it will mark the closing of an incredible full circle moment that has been two decades in the making.

In 2007, a 20-year-old Messi and Yamal, born in July of that year, posed together in a photo organised by UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), the global agency which provides humanitarian and development to children and mothers worldwide. Yamal’s family had entered and won a raffle to pose with a Barcelona player for a 2008 UNICEF calendar.

In one photo from the shoot, Messi is seen helping Yamal’s mother, Sheila Ebana, give the smiling five-month-old boy a bath in a blue plastic tub.

“The photographer, Joan Monfort, has said that Lamine Yamal stole Messi’s heart because he was always smiling,” UNICEF Catalan’s Laia Ruich said on the organisation’s website.

Fast forward nearly 20 years, and now Messi and Yamal are sharing football’s greatest stage.

Spain star Yamal, the teenage prodigy who has followed in Messi’s footsteps at Barcelona, has only just turned 19.

Argentina captain Messi, 39, will be playing in his third World Cup final in what is almost certainly likely to be his last appearance in the tournament.

“That photo is incredible,” Messi said at a fan event in Manhattan on Friday.

“I took a picture with him when he was a baby ... the fact that we’re both playing in the World Cup now is crazy.”

Messi said while he has a soft spot for Yamal given his association with his former club Barcelona, it will not detract him from the task in hand -- beating Spain.

“I wish him luck because his success will be Barcelona’s success, (but) we’ll try to keep him from playing at his best.

“He’s 19 years old and has his whole career ahead of him. I wish him the best, but we’ll give it our all to ensure he doesn’t become champion this time.”

Photographer Monfort describes Messi and Yamal’s first meeting and subsequent World Cup final date as “a true miracle of destiny.”

“If you wrote this in a film it would not seem possible,” Monfort told the BBC.

Even Yamal’s Spain teammate, Mikel Merino, said Friday he initially believed the photo was an AI-generated hoax when he first saw it.

“The first time I saw it, I thought it was AI and that it wasn’t even real,” Merino said.

“It’s unbelievable that two of the best players to have played the game -- and hopefully Lamine, in the future, will be one of those -- share a picture like that.”

Messi and Yamal now both serve as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors.

“Growing up, all I had was a family, a ball, a park and a dream,” Yamal said in June.

“Playing football gave me structure, a sense of belonging, and hope for the future. I know how important it is for children to have a safe place to play, so that they can simply enjoy being children.”

Tokyo: Indian badminton star Pusarla Venkata Sindhu ended a title drought of almost two years at the Japan Open on Sunday and said winning would give her "a lot of confidence".

Sindhu, a world champion in 2019 and Olympic silver medallist in 2016, beat Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in Tokyo to win the competition for the first time.

It was her first title since she won the Syed Modi India International in Lucknow in 2024.

Sindhu has set her sights on a medal on home soil when New Delhi hosts the world championships next month, and she said her win in Japan would boost her chances.

"This one was very important because playing in finals is one thing, but winning and getting that gold is a different thing altogether," the 31-year-old said.

"I'm happy that I'm on the positive side. This gives me a lot of confidence."

Sindhu was playing in her first final since winning in Lucknow, after losing in the semi-finals twice on badminton's world tour this year.

She is currently ranked number 10 in the world.

Sindhu jumped out to an early lead against world number three Yamaguchi and held on to take the first game.

She clinched the title when Yamaguchi hit a shot that was called in, only for Sindhu to successfully overturn it with a challenge.

"I had tears in my eyes because it was really important to me," Sindhu said.

"I am working hard and focusing hard on myself.

"I kept believing that I could do it, even though a lot of people were wondering what was happening."

Popov wins men's title

France's Christo Popov captured the men's singles title, beating Japan's Koki Watanabe 21-11, 21-19 in the final.

It was Popov's third title of the year, following wins at the European Championships and German Open.

"It's a great performance, it's one of the biggest things I've done in my life," said world number five Popov, who was the fifth seed in Tokyo.

"I'm actually very happy to do it in Japan. I've always liked the country, the culture and respect."

Popov said his performances in Tokyo had convinced him that he can win a medal at the world championships.

Gold medalist France's Christo Popov (L) and silver medalist Japan's Koki Watanabe pose on the podium. (Photo by Yuichi Yamazaki / AFP)

"I know it's very difficult, way harder than here," the 24-year-old said.

"I think the pressure is much higher as well and the players will be ready 100 percent there.

"I want a medal, that's my goal."

China's Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping won the mixed doubles title, beating Hong Kong's Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet 21-14, 14-21, 21-15.

South Korea's Kim Hye-Jeong and Kong Hee-yong won the women's doubles title after an epic battle against China's Jia Yifan and Zhang Shuxian, eventually triumphing 14-21, 21-15, 30-29.

Indonesia's Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Shohibul Fikri beat South Korean top seeds Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae 21-19, 21-17 in the men's doubles final.