A third game in the competition for French referee François Letexier, he is in charge of Argentina - Egypt in the Round of 16.
Match #95
Round of 16
7 July 2026, 18:00 CET
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
ARGENTINA - EGYPT
Referee: François Letexier FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Cyril Mugnier FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Mehdi Rahmouni FRA
Fourth Official: Espen Eskas NOR
Reserve AR: Isaak Bashevkin NOR
Video Assistant Referee: Jerome Brisard FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1 : Willy Delajod FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2 : Bram Van Driessche BEL
Why is Eskås' reserve assistant referee Isaak Bashevkin and not Jan Erik Engan?
ReplyDeleteThis is the second 4th for Espen and it is time for AR2!
DeleteWhat can we expect from this ref ?
ReplyDeleteA very good refereeing as usual ;)
DeleteWish Big luck to Francois. Will be match of big tension! All best! Go Francois Go!:)
ReplyDeleteOt some source say tello is 100% for morocci france
ReplyDeleteLe choix entre Tello et Valenzuela
DeleteWow,what an atmosphere in Atlanta! Enjoy for every official!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to French officials, by the way I knew way back at the very start of the tournament that Letexier must be appointed to Argentina at a certain point at this World Cup
ReplyDeleteCorrect play on call at 05:13
ReplyDeleteQuarter Finals Match Official:
ReplyDeleteMorocco-France:F.Tello
A carbon copy of the 2022 World Cup quarter-final for Facundo Tello—except it was Portugal vs. Morocco instead of France vs. Morocco.
DeleteCorrect foul call, no yc issued,also correct!
ReplyDelete10:22 Correct foul, before that correct play on!
ReplyDeleteIs fouls bar becoming soft again ?
ReplyDeletehttps://xcancel.com/FIFAcom/status/2074523844950315436
ReplyDeleteFacundo Tello confirmed by FIFA for France vs Morocco
The whole team is Argentine; the French probably won't be too happy about that
DeleteThis was the easiest prediction ever.
Delete@HB2300 I mean, a French ref is in charge of Argentina at the moment, so....
Delete13th minute correct foul without yellow,then excellent managmen of potential dissent.
ReplyDeleteYep,and here we go with typical argentinian protests and mobbinh the ref.
ReplyDeleteAnd now Egy leads.
ReplyDeleteChallenging match incoming.
Very good from Letexier, who continues to show excellent foul recognition even as the Argentinians begin protesting. To no avail.
ReplyDeleteThat was not a foul at all.
Delete1-0 Egypt will make this more difficult for sure
ReplyDelete16:27 Correct play on!
ReplyDeleteNot a penalty imo
ReplyDelete+1
DeleteWhy no penalty ? No possibility to play the ball and contact with attacker…
DeleteYou must be watching a different game; clear penalty.
DeleteFull-Sequence 19' (PEN):
Deletehttps://streamable.com/ikimei
Attacker initiate contact, this is just mutual challenge of the ball. We already had multiple situations like this not given has penalty in this world cup and i like consistency
DeleteManagement 21' Clip:
Deletehttps://streamable.com/lf1402
Correct PK called live and good "no flag" from AR1 on 19'
ReplyDeleteCorrect penalty
ReplyDeleteNO PENALTY!!
ReplyDeleteNo penalty as the defender makes no moving with his legs/feets against the attacker but the attacker moves his feets against the defender. It lokked penalty live but not at the replay. I understand thslst it was given.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteGood penalty and no offside decision.
ReplyDeleteCorrect pelanty
ReplyDeleteYC for dissent by EGY coach on 21'
ReplyDeleteExtremely challenging game ahead now for Letexier
ReplyDeleteThis game could go any where from now
ReplyDeleteGood yc for Disney by EGY Assistant Coach but for me missed YC for SPA
ReplyDeleteIMO penalty soft in general and even more so in this tournament. On the other hand expected no VAR intervention as it can be supported even if it's not best decision
ReplyDeleteWow,what an officiating. First, excellent penalty call with previosuly no offside call, then top yellow card for dissent. After top managment on both sides, excellent start for disciplinary reaction.
ReplyDeleteClear simulation by Tagliafico. Attacker initiated the contact. No penalty.
ReplyDeleteAgree!!
DeleteClear penalty—are you watching a different game?
DeleteCome on….
Delete@Hans, just because you disagree with me, doesn' t mean I'm watching a different game. I thought it was an undeserved penalty, you didn't, that's what the blog is for isn't it?
DeleteLexeter was blowing before the contact was made ,in line with Trump's instructions
ReplyDeleteJust stop it
DeleteYes, clear PK when the going gets tough...... Anyway impressive performance by Letexier leading to our first Hydration break
ReplyDeleteA successful opening quarter for the officiating team led by François Letexier, who has stood firm against the Argentine pressure and kept full control of the match with authority, without needing to issue any cautions on the field. He immediately calmed the technical areas by showing a well-timed yellow card to the Egyptian assistant coach. He has also remained unmoved by the South Americans’ constant protests over the fouls awarded and, in my view, correctly awarded a penalty. A solid performance.
ReplyDeleteAh, la vem o chato.... if was any other ref giving this penalty you guys would kill the ref.
DeleteI know you are angry about Zwayer lack of success but drink some water, you will be fine.
DeleteNot angry tho. It's just boring every time you came and god a guy who simply does nothing that great. It's the God Letexier. That's boring.
DeleteReferee Analyst is not an analyst, it’s just the French fanclub. Always praising and defending the French, everyone else gets trashed.
DeleteApparently, When I saw some commentaries, there is a huge « French fanclub » here….ridiculous words from ? Who ? Unknown…
DeleteThey’ll get another penalty soon unless they score
ReplyDeleteCorrect foul called again!
ReplyDeleteSoft FK
ReplyDeleteAgain clear foul and dangerous FK for Argentina.
ReplyDeleteFirst mistake rightly corrected by VAR : wasn’t corner at all.
ReplyDeleteWell,from his angle who was by book tough to see,actually type of protocol better to call corner becouse it can be corrected! But what we saw, its not considered as mistake throguh WC!
Delete“Clear corner missed. Poor from Letexier” did I do it right?
DeleteIt's not a mistake, it's a good decision 🥰 FIFA directive is: if you're unsure, call corner!
DeleteYk, thks for your ridiculous comment. What a gift for the blog ! ❤️
DeleteEvery decision.
ReplyDeleteComplaints and protests.
What a terrible comment. Zwayer is mediocre and not good enough for a World Cup.
ReplyDeleteNo one is saying about Felix tho ;) and you should be a great referee then you would be in WC but you are a spectator on the couch just hating a good ref for nothing.
DeleteRegarding the Penalty; the Argentine player intentionally places his foot in the defender’s running path, making contact inevitable. He initiates the collision rather than the defender committing a foul. What is the defender supposed to do here? Disappear?
ReplyDeleteAlso, VAR overturned a wrong awarded corner (after the ARG freekick).
+1
DeleteAfter what Collina said about Messi having no intention of hitting the Algerian player's leg, nothing surprises me anymore. There is a well-established conspiracy to help them.
Delete+1
DeleteIn my opinion the whistle by Letexier is correct and accepted as clear penalty in modern football, but in reality all is made by attacker who joins the path of defender (the latter had already started his action), he couldn't stop. My question is always the same when I see such incidents, what the defender should then do to avoid the contact? He can do nothing and he can't be aware that opponent is coming. But still, it's alwasy seen as penalty. Once not called, honestly it's hard also for VAR to stay silent. In my opinion the "best" penalties are the situations in which it's defender going against attacker but missing the ball, all the rest can be always manufactured, at least in a short percentage.
ReplyDeleteSaid that, he even seemed to whistle before, because the winning skill of Letexier is to read the action before it happens. This was the key of his success at international stage, he already knew that this was about to happen, while other referees can't be so mentally in the game all time long.
Let's add, if Collina agreed with Faghani and the explanationa about Mbappé incident, this was even more simulation by attacker, but you can see, refereeing is also matter of supporting referees or not, black or white doesn't exist, in this regard, using VAR for most of situation in my opinion, I repeat, it's rather useless.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Chefren, and I hate such penalty’s.
DeleteTen years ago, we had blatant simulations. Nowadays, we have the “VAR penalty,” where an attacker deliberately creates the inevitable contact, and conservative (European) VMOs refuse to overturn such decisions simply because contact “exists”
+1 inconsistent
DeleteSolving situations with smile. Perfect Letexier!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the best smile in the world. The way he smiles is just perfect.
Delete44:42 correct foul called.
ReplyDeleteMissed YC on Salah
ReplyDeleteNot mandatory! Correct to not be issued with criteria that is setted today.
DeleteYes agree. Perhaps because Argentinian defensor touched the ball before.
DeleteIf you slide into someone like that, it should be a yellow card. Pretty reckless imo
DeleteAgree w JorisC
DeleteIts unbeliavable . This is a dangerous play. YC for sure
Delete45' Rather late by Romero, with studs showing, even if little force. A touch lucky to get away with that
ReplyDeleteWe've seen many Uefa referees going with their typical line, rather than a notably softer one. Letexier seems to be an exception to that. He had quite a strong line on cards in the UEL final, but has been rather forgiving today
ReplyDeleteDon't remind UEL final because in that match Letexier missed a RC
DeleteOne minute more added. Very concentrated refereeing by Letexier. Should have give a YC to Romero but overall very convincing half with great abilities to avoid dissents and establish a good communication with players especially Salah for example.
ReplyDeleteWhat a performance for Letexier in probabbly hardest game for officiating in knock out round! Pefrect fitness, tecnhincaly also excellent with crucial decisions correctly taken. Set up the right criteria with go over the line handled properly, with YC CORRECTLY ISSUED Hope he will continue LIKE THIS.
ReplyDelete+100
DeleteFrance Paraguay was harder. But with a blind referee ^^ !
DeleteHalf time, pretty good performance from the French officials Letexier and company on the PK I now stand at 70/30 in favor of no penalty, foul detection is ok but not flawless
ReplyDeleteSecond half promises nothing but the best test Letexier will ever have in his career
Second half will be hot and egy pkzyer probably will dodark arr
ReplyDeleteDark art
ReplyDeleteIn terms of discipline, the officiating isn't up to the same standard as the technical performance. There are situations that are baffling. Letexier is usually very strict about handing out necessary yellow cards. Today, strangely enough, he is being very lenient.
ReplyDeleteTechnically, he is excellent—as always—but the disciplinary side... oh boy.
Not true, every decision was correct, expected and supported. Bravo Letexier! 👏
DeleteOnly one card could be given in the first half. Speaking as there was a lack of several YC missed isn’t the reality.
DeleteOn a comment about YC today, he is clever that he know if start to give stupid YC that are 50/50 justified he will have 20 players out. Thanks God, he is always mentally prepared and always two steps ahed of every game he officiate!
ReplyDelete+25 I've never seen a referee who is as well prepared mentally. Probably many hours of meditation ahead of the game, it's not human to be this calm and composed. Very smart refereeing. With how many steps ahead he constantly is, it's surprising he only has two legs!
DeleteSometimes I don’t know what is irony here and what isn’t. Don’t get me wrong, Letexier is a great referee and the performance has been generally good so far. But some people here really exaggerate a bit.
ReplyDelete46:57 correct play on, then correct called atacking foul, and also foul on Tagliafico!
ReplyDeleteWe can see that these types of matches are not familiar to Letexier. There are too many protests, which are clearly affecting his body language. The penalty he awarded was not a penalty and I was surprised that the VAR remained silent. Tagliafico cleverly put his leg in front of the defender, who did nothing wrong. He’s fortunate that the penalty was missed.
ReplyDeleteAgain no YC for Argentina ( dark arts)
ReplyDeleteAnd ok decision with only foul. Never YC here.
DeleteYC never expected there, good decision!
Delete51:31 Correct foul called!
ReplyDeleteThat’s never a foul!
DeleteSalah was about to break through alone.
Impossible to say something without replays guys….
DeleteWas soft but with Argentina involved, a soft foul is a guaranteed fk or penalty
Delete@Referee analyst you are right of course. But there seems to be no room for balance here tonight. You are either a Letexier lover or a Letexier hater
DeleteIts not Lexeter ,its outside influences on the game
DeleteDisclaimer there are trolls in the building watch out
ReplyDeleteGod Letexier, Amem!
DeleteLexeter once again conned by Messi ,Messi dived into the Egyptian player to get a free kick.
ReplyDeleteThat was definitely a good and supportable free kick decision though. Or am I blind?
DeleteLol how can that be in the APP it was about half an hour before the goal
ReplyDeleteFull-Sequence 58' (OFR):
Deletehttps://streamable.com/l9pta6
Correct VAR intervention and correct final decision by Letexier
ReplyDeleteCorrupt ,Corrupt ,Corrupt ...If Messi had scored ,the goal would have stood in the same circumstances
Delete100 % foul with replays. Stop your bullshit.
DeleteClear mussed foul in app
ReplyDeleteSo hard foul to detect, VAR called, excellent teamwork! In final correct decision!
ReplyDeleteWhat a shock. Superb goal ruled out because its argentina
ReplyDeleteDisagree. Live was very impressed by no foul decision but we can see at 100 % the foul on Argentinian foul. Good intervention by VAR Brisard.
DeleteI have serious doubts as to whether this decision would have been taken the other way around as well
ReplyDeleteCorrect VAR intervention for APP
ReplyDeleteWhat letexier said i am not understand totaly ?, can some repeat us
ReplyDeleteHe speaks the best English, it was 100% clear.
DeleteOk what he said if you understand
DeleteSo, for now, I see one-sided refereeing in favor of the Argentines, and anger at the Egyptians. Inspired by the universal praise for this referee, I expected something different.
ReplyDelete----
I wrote this text in the first half, but didn't send it right away. I wanted to wait for a chance to change my mind. No, it got even worse.
+100
DeleteDefinite foul but that's too far back to penalize imo
ReplyDeleteNah there was never a reset of the attacking phase
DeleteBuild-up to the goal. Possession of the ball.
DeleteNo Yc for the celebration?
ReplyDeleteNo No, the player has started to go down before!! It had never happened on the opposite side.
ReplyDeleteLetexier and Argentina really is the worst combination on this blog. People lose all their neutrality.
ReplyDelete+1
Delete+1000, really frustrating
Delete+70
DeleteWow what a OFR at 0-2. at a World Cup of high bars its get real this is more than dark arts but a certain team has to win just all. I think this incident is shameful and embarrassing for FIFA than the Balogun one
ReplyDeletePlease stop to say bullshit at all. Stamp on foot is obvious with replays. Clear decision to come back to the foul.
DeleteDid the egypt attacker get yellow card for celebration (he took his shirt off) or it got cancelled? New rules?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteInfantino working his magic again.....
ReplyDelete+1 thank you at side one we 100% agree
ReplyDeleteWhile that is a correct intervention and final decision, it’s surprising given the high bar for intervention and punishment of offenses in this tournament.
ReplyDeleteThe one moment when the referee decided to give Egypt the benefit of doubt and not be fooled by Argentina, he gets it wrong. Wonder how he's gonna handle things from now, especially regarding Argentine theatrics. But Letexier is always an alert referee
ReplyDeleteIndeed, extremely alert and will surely not make any mistakes.
DeleteClear foul in APP. What's to discuss?
ReplyDelete+ 1
Delete+1
Delete-1
Delete17 seconds between the careless foul and the goal, i would prefer in this case only to come back if the foul is at least reckless. Not wrong tho, but goal would be better in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteGoal with a clear foul before which have as consequence the opposite attack ? Well…don’t understand your assessment…
DeleteWith the VAR we have seen since the start of the World Cup, I'm in trouble to accept the clear and obvious mistake for such incidents. It seems fair to say that interventions from the VAR room have increased during the knockout stage, almost as if things weren't being taken seriously before. In the overall picture, there is a miss of line in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI agree
DeleteAgree Chefren but you can’t tell us that wasn’t a clear stamp on foot before the goal ? You can ?
DeleteYes, there was a foul, but problem is VAR.
DeleteAgree : no VAR constancy and clear miss of line. Agree.
DeleteDisallowing a goal because of such a slight step on the toes, 100 metres away from the goal, is incredibly harsh. Argentina have nothing to complain about tonight.
ReplyDeleteYeah. It's mediocre no? 😂😂😂
DeleteWow, not even the top UEFA referees are exempt. It applies to ALL.
ReplyDeleteIs VAR checking for another foul 100 yards away in APP??? Or does this one count?
+1 embarrassing huh
Delete+5
DeleteWow!!
ReplyDeleteHow are they going to rule this one out? Penalty to Argentina?
ReplyDeleteThe Egyptian gods prevail in so defeating FIFA ( OVERTURN THIS)
ReplyDeleteWhy the Egypt goal is disallowed but in the last World Cup Tchouameni goal v England is ok!
ReplyDeleteFull of respect,but how many incompetent comments here! Guys, objecitve is main goal of this blog. We need to understand one thing what is less/more official, its different when VAR called you for tough thing that is unclear like this APP, which is hard to see with textbook positioning like Letexier was, and Its different when VAR call for obivous and stonewall thing like Penalty at Brazil Norway,or situation like that!
ReplyDeleteVery good intervention to send Lautaro Martínez well away (even with a little shove to the chest ^^).
ReplyDeleteDid he forget a yellow card for the disallowed goal celebration?
ReplyDeleteNo,Zico recive YC.
DeleteCan some body have an answer here ? Can we avoid the YC because goal is cancelled or referee had to be give it ?
DeleteYellow must be given and stay if goal is cancelled.
DeleteWhat are you talking about? Law factually states it MUST be given even if disallowed for taking the shirt off.
DeleteThe guy I replied to deleted his comment, hence my comment above.
DeleteI can't find any record of the YC being given. You'd like to think it was, but nowhere (including Fifa) suggests it was
DeleteTop no offside call from linesman.
ReplyDeleteIf this were an any other referee, this performance would be described as horrible, disastrous, but since it's Letexier, it's applauded.
ReplyDelete+1000
DeleteThe very same people doing the mental gymnastics to support and justify the Frenchman were the same ones who were roasting Drew Fischer for pretty much doing the same thing the other day.
Delete+55
DeleteExactly arbiter. That's the point I wanted to get.
DeleteArbiter spot on +100 someone called it double standard
DeleteI always enjoy negative comments, especially from people whose career highlight was reaching the second or third division.
ReplyDeleteLike to see the replays and the FIFA onside line ,but i doubt if it will be shown
ReplyDelete+2
DeleteSuch a shame and a stain ion the tournament once again.
ReplyDeleteThat disallowed Egyptian goal looms LARGE!!!
No check on Messi goal on whether there had been a foul at least 2 minutes before in the build up,but 1 law for Messi and 1law for everyone else
ReplyDeleteIt was….Onside.
DeleteWell, the Argentines have started to cope without a referee; they don’t need any more help.
ReplyDeleteThe EURO bias is strong today. The decision to disallow the Egypt goal would have been eviscerated if it was a referee from another confederation or even a lesser UEFA referee. But because it's Letexier, he can do no wrong. Laughable.
ReplyDeleteNot one action against all protests with gestures referees, must act and be much mucch stronger! I dont understand that Collina can be the leader of this referees!!
ReplyDeleteLetexier fanboys are all over this blog. No suprise so them out in full force today to defend their pet
ReplyDelete