Enzo Fernandez has been branded “crazy” by Gary Lineker and “stupid” by Alan Shearer following his red card in the World Cup final. The midfielder received his marching orders towards the end of the second half of Argentina’s 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain.
Fernandez's Red Card Incident
After picking up a booking for showing dissent toward referee Slavko Vincic, Fernandez received a second yellow card for a poor challenge on Pau Cubarsi. He appeared to apologise to Argentina supporters by raising his hands in their direction as he made his way off the pitch.
Fernandez then witnessed his team-mates Leandro Paredes and Thiago Almada clash with Spain’s Gavi, which resulted in Paredes receiving a red card after the final whistle.
Lineker and Shearer's Criticism
Both Lineker and Shearer were critical of the Argentine pair's behaviour. “We saw a bit after the final whistle,” former Match of the Day host Lineker said on the Rest is Football podcast. “Paredes let himself down.”
To which Micah Richards replied: “That was embarrassing. Win or lose, you’ve got to shake hands” before Lineker continued: “Most of their players were magnanimous. Messi and others, they were fine. Paredes got given a red card after the game, which is just. Enzo Fernandez, that was crazy wasn’t it? The first one was for whinging.”
Shearer weighed in, saying: “Absolutely stupid. He got done for dissent which he should never have done. But then to do that… To go into that tackle when you’re on a yellow, that’s when you thought Spain are going to win this. He’s cost his country massively. As much as he helped get them through to the final with that wonderful goal against England, he’s cost them.”
Scaloni's Reaction
Reflecting on his side’s defeat, Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni said: “I feel sadness but knowing that we left everything out there. I have a lot of things to say about how we got here, but it’s not worth it. I want to thank these guys eternally for giving us another World Cup final and for competing until the end. They were better, that’s the truth. But I’ll hold on to an enormous memory of what they have done, of what it’s worth to get this far. We have to give it huge validity because it takes a lot to get here.”
