Paraguay - France is the third game at 2026 WC for Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev.
Match #89
Round of 16
4 July 2026, 23:00 CET
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
PARAGUAY - FRANCE
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev UZB
Assistant Referee 1: Andrey Tsapenko UZB
Assistant Referee 2: Timur Gaynullin UZB
Fourth Official: Abdulrahman Al Jassim QAT
Reserve AR: Taleb Al Marri QAT
Video Assistant Referee: Juan Lara CHI
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Marco Di Bello ITA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 : Joe Dickerson USA
Good luck to Tantashev! One off-topic question to our dear friend Mickael- about possibility of bid Argetina-Colombia- may we expect Letexier if he dont recive round of 16?
ReplyDelete*Mikael W:)
DeleteCould be a great assignment for him given he has almost no chance of anything past the QF I think (France/Turpin)
DeleteI have a very bad feeling about this match. I don't think Tantashev will be up to the task to handle all the South American dark arts that Paraguay is going to pull, especially on the three headed Mbappe-Dembele-Olise monster. I hope the cards come out early.
ReplyDeleteAs long as we get the old fashioned dramatic gestures from.previous games, I'll be happy.
DeleteCards will be kept away as long as possible, it’s unreasonable to expect cards early when we haven’t seen it all tournament.
DeleteThere is much more at stake in these games now at this stage of the competition. Might Collina/Busacca have directed the referees to take a different approach from these games on. We’ll soon find out.
ReplyDeleteIt does sort of seem that way after the Canada-Morocco game doesn't it? Entire tournament, no cards for anything, then Oliver gives 6 in the first half of the Round of 16. It would be a welcome surprise.
DeleteYou wonder what changed? Certainly a big departure in terms of approach?
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ReplyDeleteWell he's certainly started with the same high bar for physical contact as previous games
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a higher bar but in some ways it is a good start for Tantashev, the pattern has been set early and haven’t seen too much to be concerned. I don’t mind he is getting the French players to get up after contact but the dark arts stuff is only going to get worse the longer the game goes.
DeleteLosing control already ,allowing Paraguay to foul at will and not awarding any free kicks .This game could end up a free for all
ReplyDeleteWhat control has been lost? Setting a high bar as is his standard and so far the game looks fine to me.
DeleteJohn being not at all dramatic.
DeleteWhat? Lost control? Where?
DeleteThe incident with Olise ,not be shown as a repeat ,so something went on . the push on the french player in the box .The Paraguayians throwing themselves to the ground all the time.
DeleteThe only one losing control is you John
DeleteAgree, no control lost. Good start for him to 18’
DeleteCorrect YC on 19' for reckless
ReplyDeleteNever a YC here with a very little contact. Harsh one.
DeleteYess
DeleteIt doesn’t fit with the consistency of the tournament thus far, you just wonder whether he felt pressured with the Paraguay bench coming right to the edge of the field and the way the player embellished contact.
DeleteIt looked much worse in real time, in slow motion you see how little contact was made. Has set a very low bar very early on.
Horrendous simulaton imo
ReplyDeleteI thought so too, but after the third replay I noticed that he was clearly hit on his foot (and not on his shin). So, good decision for me
DeleteAgree here @ecosse, embellished contact
Delete@Jonas had it hit his shin then the YC might have been warranted but in this World Cup we haven’t seen any sort of YC for this challenge.
What's this?
ReplyDeleteNew guidelines?
Surprised to see yc there
Maybe a different stricter approach?
DeleteAfter Oliver 6 YC’s in the first half of previous game? Maybe
DeleteReactive refereeing from the ref there
ReplyDeleteNever a yellow card... however what Paraguay says goes!
Yes, combination of Paraguay bench and player over reaction has sold him here.
DeleteSupportable YC, good to see a lower tolerance to reckless, hopefully it continues
ReplyDeleteDid we all see what Almiron done wiping away the line and bringing the ball up 10 yards? Blatant cheating
ReplyDeleteNo team work from The fourth
DeleteAre you new or a casual fan? That is the CONMEBOL way. If the referee gives them an inch, they'll take a yard.
DeleteDark Arts but we shouldn’t be surprised, you’d hope that one of the team would have picked it up (AR1, FO, RO)
DeleteI think some good acting led to that YC... It's difficult to know whether to like Tantashev for letting the game flow, or if it's a neverending catalogue of missed upper body fouls and late blocks
ReplyDeleteThe paraguay player wiped away the spray and moved the ball 2 meters forward
ReplyDeleteTantashev was deeply moved by the Paraguayan player's cry.
ReplyDeleteI dislike the kind of officiating where referees issue a yellow card in response to an emotional outcry
Agree.
DeleteThe Paraguay players have started playing with the referee just like they tried to do in the Turkey match. The referee of that match, Ivan Barton, handled it well;
ReplyDeleteI hope tantashev doesn't fall for these fake crocodile tears..
Barton = CONCACAF
DeleteTantashev = AFC
CONCACAF referees see and are used to a lot of what transpires in CONMEBOL.
This referee is not good enough at this level ,he is being manipulated by the Paraguayian players .
ReplyDelete34' needs a SPA YC, not given, confrontation
ReplyDeletePerfect opportunity to even the cards with a YC for SPA for Paraguay but not given, I think he's fortunate
ReplyDeleteParaguay doing what Paraguay does.
ReplyDeleteI called it. This referee is not equipped and or suited to handle the CONMEBOL style.
As the match rolls on an the scoreline remains tied. It's only going to get worse and more prevalent.
The Paraguayans came to break up the flow of the game. It’s clear they want to slow down the pace of the match.
ReplyDeleteAnd just like that control is gone... not his fault though
ReplyDeleteLosing control of the game is always referee fault. 😒
DeleteTotally his fault ,if he ignored the Paraguayian play acting and wave play on ,they would soon recover.
DeleteIt's difficult to assess management of mass conflict when there is none...
ReplyDeleteClear yellow missed
ReplyDeleteNo control and very bad management of the mass confrontation.
ReplyDelete35" Has to be YC for Paraguay #14 - I thought he should just based on the holding but with this tournament I'm not sure what is and isn't but surely even more because of what followed
ReplyDeleteEnough is enough. Tantashev is completely fooled by the Paraguayans and lacks the required composure and level. He allows anti-play against the goalkeeper and ends up lecturing the keeper, misses a foul on Mbappé, and reacts too late, once again focusing only on Mbappé! He doesn’t have the authority needed to properly manage South American players!
ReplyDeleteHow on earth on this half the only YC is for France !
DeleteAbysmal first 30 mins. Ref is totally being manipulated by the Paraguayan players.
ReplyDeleteIf he doesn't want the match to slip away, he'll have to start cracking down on the Paraguayans and stop giving in to their cries...
ReplyDeleteIf France score, it would increase the tension much more..
That’s really disappointing. Paraguay no14 and Mbappe deserved a caution for being the instigators of the mass conf. No consistency following Oliver in the earlier game.
ReplyDeleteReally poor so far. Wrong YC for Barcola, referee conned by the dive. Blocking the keeper not dealt with no card. And then Mbappe beats a player in attacking position who then pulls him back and kicks him down from behind. No YC, Mbappe reacts expectedly and the referee just goes charging in escalates and then walks off, what was the AR doing too. Not impressed
ReplyDeleteI like the referee’s calmness and how unaffected he appears, but we’ve now had a few minutes of weaker match management. When a Paraguay player prevented the goalkeeper from restarting play, he chose to calm down France’s reactions instead of addressing the root of the problem—the Paraguay player deliberately standing in front of the goalkeeper. That player got away with it completely. Shortly afterwards, Mbappé was clearly held and pulled without a free kick being awarded, creating frustration on the pitch, leading to a small confrontation and increasing the intensity of the game.
ReplyDeleteAgree completely he should have adressed the paraguay player
DeleteYC to #23 par?
ReplyDeleteViolant conduct at leadt yc
ReplyDeleteNo violent conduct on Mbappe?
ReplyDeleteMissed a very harsh and bad foul on Mbappé ! Where is Chilian VAR !!!!
ReplyDeleteThe referee is lost...
ReplyDeleteI think YC can be supported in this type of situations
ReplyDeleteRed card in my opinion. But the mistake is more in the VAR rather than the referee
ReplyDeleteThis game could explode
ReplyDeleteMissed red card
ReplyDeleteAbsolute clear RCmissed. Unbelievable mistake.
DeleteParaguayan Player intentionally hits his opponent far away from the ball + nothing happens. Is the VAR on the toilet or drinking?
good foul 39'
ReplyDeleteWe blame VAR for the missed VC, I think YC is supportable but the referee is 5 yards away looking straight at it
ReplyDeleteIf this does not calm down in the halftime this will be chaos
ReplyDeleteReferee has his work cut out now. Paraguay are using a lot of the “dark arts” and the French are becoming increasingly frustrated. He has to recognise and act on the Paraguayans tactical fouling.
ReplyDeleteOnly a strong disciplinal approach for the first 5-10 minutes of the second half would lower the tension
ReplyDeleteFrance may very well win the match because they are vastly more talented.
ReplyDeleteBut their players will not get out of the match unscathed. How badly they're beat on, all depends on Tantashev.
Arbiter now being dramatic. Are you John in disguise, or maybe the same person.
DeleteBeing abusive shows the gutter which you come from
DeleteMy comment relates directly to match I am watching and the level that Tantashev is showing. He's not doing much to protect the more talented French and is falling for Paraguay's gamesmanship and dark arts.
DeleteAnd no, I am not John. John does well for himself and can speak for himself.
Completely agree with my fellow mexican guy. Referee must protect the game and football makers. He didn’t assume this role and failed completely.
DeleteNo worries. I’m only having a bit of banter on a Saturday night. John can speak for himself. It’s just what he says that I find odd.
DeleteBijzonder zwakke arbitrage, een WK totaal onwaardig. Straalt noch gezag, noch autoriteit uit.
ReplyDeleteNo coprendo.
DeleteTranslate : Exceptionally poor officiating—completely unworthy of a World Cup. It commands neither respect nor authority.
DeleteThree minutes added time is a bad joke.
ReplyDeletethree minutes ??
ReplyDeleteThis is a joke.
ReplyDeleteRef looks like he wants out
ReplyDeleteReferee should be on the next plane home
ReplyDeleteThe refereeing is not up to the standard required by the context of the match. The referee issues a YC at the first foul by the French team but completely lets the Paraguayans disrupt the game and commit fouls, sometimes off the ball and bordering on violent conduct. This is a poor performance from the Uzbek referee.
ReplyDeleteAfter viewing replays from foul on Mbappé, my thought is that VAR HAD to intervene for violent conduct. Intention to kick away from ball his opponent is quite obvious. RC for me.
DeleteTo the Europeans who were surprised by Paraguay's game, I invite them to watch a Libertadores match; the game is the same thing.
ReplyDeleteOr worse. hahaha
DeleteBut it is what it is and the CONMEBOL do very well in that environment. Seems that the AFC referee can't cope.
A very weak first half from an overwhelmed referee.
ReplyDeleteCan the referee ,be replaced by the 4th official and do us all a favour
ReplyDeleteJesus Christ. What a poor performance. Honestly, most of the referees at the WC should be ashamed of themselves and the problems they are causing us at home in our matches on lower levels. Players and coaches will take the WC as a "good" example of how to behave... It will take a good amount of time and effort to re-educate...
ReplyDeleteAnd the "higher ups" why nobody wants to be or remain a referee at the grassroots level. The boorish behavior trickles down to the lowest and youngest levels.
Delete* wonder why
DeleteThis is why Barton was like that in his first match. This is his normal and that's why he was so intense.
ReplyDeleteAlot of what you see in CONMEBOL you see in CONCACAF. Maybe not as extreme, but it happens. And Barton was infinitely more prepared, equipped, and suited to deal with the CONMEBOL way.
DeleteI'd argue Panama/Honduras/Nicaragua/El Salvador can perform the dark arts as well as anyone.
DeleteOh yeah! Tell me about it. I've definitely dealt with it on various occasions. Central American clashes can very easily turn into all out wars on the pitch.
DeleteBarton is well known for his serious approach, exactly in that point. By the way, Martinez, too, but not so harsh. The others, esp. Ramos, let it flow...
DeleteTantashev has a very high threshold for calling fouls; he lost control for a moment and—unlike Oliver in the previous match—used his whistle to quell the French defender's outburst. Later, during a heated general confrontation, he chose to step away from the fray and simply observe. He should have issued yellow cards to both players for the shoving, but since it involved Mbappé, he opted just to have a word with them. The yellow card he did issue was the right call, though he missed a serious incident involving Paraguay's #23. There were also several niggly fouls by the French that frustrated the Paraguayans, such as #4 (France) putting his hand in Enciso's face (45'+1). All in all, it was a fiercely contested, heated match, but very entertaining to watch. He erred by adding only 3’—essentially just accounting for the hydration break—when he could have added at least 7’ given the various incidents.
ReplyDelete??
DeleteWhy is a South American allowed to be a VAR official ,when a South American team is playing .He is not going to get involved unless it benefits Paraguay
ReplyDeleteMost of what you post is negative. You have nothing positive to add to this blog. I’m stooping to your level with engaging with you but I will just this once. You are the complete definition of keyboard warrior. I don’t know you but I would hazard a guess that you are in your 30s or 40s, still living with your parents and sitting in your attic bedroom in your underpants furiously typing away. Good night to you sir.
DeleteYou are a complete arsehole ,i am in my 60s and spent a lifetime working in sport including officiating .I was asking a relevant question as too why Collina has allowed this
DeleteYou accused me earlier of being abusive. I don’t think I was but I haven’t used language like you’ve directed towards me, and others. You are a rude man who should know better at your age.
DeleteTHINK ABOUT WHAT YOU WROTE IN YOUR LAST POST WITH YOU CHARECTER ASSINATION ,THIS WAS SERIOUSLY OFFENSIVE .
DeleteThey tried to do the same thing in the Turkey match, but they were up against a referee who was even crazier and more aggressive than they were. fifa should assign referees with Barton's style to Paraguay matches
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, this has been a first half well below the expected standard from the referee. His foul detection has been reasonably good, but he has lacked proactivity and shown poor game understanding by allowing Paraguay to get away with tactical offences that should have been dealt with earlier and more clearly. There has also been virtually no preventive work to speed up the game or deal with time-wasting. Players have been allowed to move the ball away “by accident” after the whistle, kick it away when it was clearly out of play, and engage in other delaying tactics without any intervention. He also failed to send off Paraguay’s No. 23 for clear violent conduct, and barely managed the mass confrontation, let alone issued the mandatory cautions that should have followed
ReplyDeleteWhoa!!! I hadn't noticed that. Is that a typo or is the VAR really a CONMEBOL referee?
ReplyDeleteFor me, this referee is clearly not at the level this kind of World Cup game requires.He looks too passive. He doesn’t really read the game or understand what the players are trying to do, especially the Paraguayan players, who are constantly looking to provoke, waste time and break the rhythm.
ReplyDeleteA referee at this level has to feel the game before problems explode. Here, he is always reacting too late instead of preventing situations.Physically, he also looks limited. He struggles to stay close to play, and that affects his decisions and his authority. This match needed a strong personality with good game awareness and the ability to manage emotions from the first minutes. Instead, the game is controlling the referee, not the other way around.
But stop to talk and give a card for god sake !
ReplyDeleteGod’s *
ReplyDeleteAFTER REVIEW
ReplyDeleteNUMBER 10
PARAGUAYYYY
COVER HIS MOUTH
DECISION IS RRRRRRED CARD…
Can we sub Barton in right now
Missed hand ball lrad to dengerous corner
ReplyDeleteLead
DeleteClear handling by Mbappe which leads to corner which then leads to an injured player.
ReplyDeleteEqually, one could say Paraguayan players focussing on dissenting rather than being alert and setting up to defend the corner, led to an injured player... Yes, it was a missed handball
DeleteObvious hand missed by Mbappé…Tantashev is definitively lost….
ReplyDeleteClear handball by Mbappé missed quite incredible to miss that and then after foul on Keeper and potential YC missed
ReplyDeletehow could it be a YC ? French player jumps to avoid a tackle..
DeleteWhere did you see foul on GK there?🤣
DeleteNever a foul on gk…
DeleteAgree Clem, unfortunate outcome, but nothing wrong by the player
DeleteTantashev read the game so poorly there. And found himself kilometers out of the most ideal position.
ReplyDeleteIm not trying to celebrate a refs struggles but part of me wants to look at Collina/Bussaca and say "see what happens when the matches get real and refs can't do their job?"
ReplyDelete+ 1
DeleteI like your comment. Referees outside Uefa with some exceptions are very far from Expected level. While we watch this performance tonight sonMany good referees stay at home
DeleteCollina would more than likely lie to our faces once again. By making up some random narrative to say that Tantashev was not only good but very good.
DeleteParaguay wins at least 3 minutes by coming to close at French corner kicks. Should be sanctions with YC next time.
ReplyDeletebtw pretty smart by Mbappe to enforce quick corner kick so VAR doesn't have sufficient time to sack it
ReplyDeletePossibly why he also let the block come in to give away the corner rather than take a shot
DeleteTo sack what? It was clear corner kick and the missed foul is not
DeleteSubject of a review. Are yiu sure you understand?
Seeing that match is so sad. I just hope nobody gets seriously injured. And when I remember watching AVCON - Was it really worse? OMG
ReplyDeleteWhat a shame on fifa and Collina…
DeleteI'd rather watch the AFCON than the AFC Asian Cup.
DeleteWatching the AFC Asian Cup is downright brutal. You'd have to be a masochist to find the refereeing in the AFC acceptable and or enjoyable.
Will be interesting to see how much additional time will be added in 2nd half.
ReplyDeleteIt's min 63' and already 5 full minutes of the 2nd half were wasted by the Paraguay team:
- 1 min on the foul on Almiron in min 46
- 2 mins on the GK injury after duel with Dembele
- 1 min on Alderete substitution
- 1 min on Enciso subsitution
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ReplyDeleteIt's extraordinary that Paraguay have escaped any sanctions in this game
ReplyDeleteSorry but what a shame ! How on earth no foul on Doué ? How on earth !
ReplyDeletePoor Hdez Hdez
ReplyDelete64' that missed foul call for France right in front of his face... wtf is this
ReplyDelete