‘Don’t hear the French about this stage’: Polish referee who whistled sarcasm at World Cup final with smartphone photo credited to French media | world Cup of football

Messi seemed to give Argentina certainty of the world title in the second overtime. Lautaro Martínez was first stopped by French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, but Messi was there like a chicken to push the skin over the line. Jules Condé’s rescue came too late.

Lucille exploded and the Argentine reserves rushed onto the field en masse. Some not so early, as can be seen from the photos (see above). Even before Messi’s kick crossed the line, some Argentine substitute players were already on the field.

And this is why referee Simone Marsignac should have disallowed the goal,” French sports newspaper L’Equipe wrote earlier this week. “At the time of Messi’s kick, some of the Argentine substitutes, overcome with emotion, were already celebrating on the pitch. This is not allowed.” L’Equipe barely gave Marciniak 2/10 to take control of the race.

However, it must be said: the French themselves were not freed from sin either in the final. Pictures circulated on social media of Randall Kolo Mwani’s chance to decide the final before the penalty shootout. Video filmed from the stands shows how many Frenchmen were already on the field when the striker kicked. The same story with Mbappe’s penalty goal in extra time – and those shots were seen by referee Marciniak.

When asked about France’s criticism at a press moment in Poland, Marciniak added the photos himself. Marciniak even pulled his smartphone out of his pocket and backed up his explanation with screenshots. “The French didn’t say anything about these pictures, as you can see that there were 7 Frenchmen on the field before Mbappe scored,” said Marsignac, who denounced the criticism in L’Equipe. “The game has never been affected by it. How much influence have the players taken on the field? He is looking for small things. It’s not serious business.”

Marciniak then admitted that he had just received a lot of compliments from the French players for the way he led the final. “The French thanked me after the match and were satisfied with our performance. Everyone approached us and shook our hands. I chatted a bit with Hugo Lloris and Olivier Giroud. Kylian Mbappe even hugged me.”

Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s chief referee, also did not spare praise for Marchignac. He said Marciniak was “better than technology” and that “all his decisions were correct and accurate”.

Not real! Argentina is from heaven to hell and back, and Mbappe also cannot keep Messi and his comrades from the third world title.

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