France's patience with referees has already been tested, and it seems that history may repeat itself in the upcoming match. The all-Argentine officiating lineup has sparked controversy, with sections of the French press and fans expressing their discontent on social media.
The decision to appoint referee Facundo Tello, along with his Argentine assistants, has raised eyebrows. However, the French players seem to be taking a pragmatic approach, focusing solely on their opponents, Morocco. Defender Dayot Upamecano stated, "I'm not going to focus on who the referee will be. We've never done that before, we're going to focus on Morocco. What we want to do is win this match, that's the most important thing."
Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser echoed Upamecano's sentiments, adding, "We mustn't fall into paranoia; it's your role to stir things up. There's been a certain bitterness for a few years now, but that's part of the game. If these referees are there, it's because they're up to the level of the competition."
The controversy surrounding the match officials continues, with the French referee at the centre of Argentina's controversial win over Egypt facing an official complaint from the Egyptian FA. They have demanded that he have no further role to play in the competition, adding to the tension surrounding the upcoming match.
