The decision to award Argentina a penalty after striker Julian Alvarez collided with Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic has caused widespread debate among football pundits across the world.
La Albiceleste were given a chance to open the scoring from the spot when Alvarez, who had made a perfect run between Croatia’s central pairing, was through on goal with only Livakovic in his way.
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Alvarez chipped his effort past Livakovic but was sent tumbling to the ground thanks to the Croatian gloveman’s leg.
The ball was cleared away by Dejan Lovren to prevent the initial goal, but the referee pointed to the spot and Livakovic was given a yellow card for his troubles.
Lionel Messi stepped up to smash home the penalty with an inch-perfect strike into the top right corner.
However, not every analyst believed the referee made the right call.
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Speaking on ITV’s broadcast, the trio of Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Ian Wright all took the same stance.
Neville didn’t mince his words on what he thought of the decision.
“This is not a penalty,” Neville said.
“What else can he do? He has to make that motion to try and save the ball, he plants his feet.
“If he’d carried on running out and taken out Alvarez then fair enough, but he stops before it and I don’t know if that’s a penalty.”
Wright added: “When you look at it, the centre forward, he’s actually miskicked it to be honest. If he hits it and it goes into the goal, the goalkeeper can’t do anything like you say, he’s stopped.”
Keane said: “Poor defending overall to let him get a run in on goal, but I agree with the lads, I don’t think it’s a penalty, where else are you supposed to go?”
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Speaking on SBS, Craig Foster and Mark Bosnich shared differing views on the referee’s crucial call.
Bosnich said: “For me, like I said, I really don’t think that was … a penalty. I don’t really know what you expect Livakovic to do.”
Foster replied: “He could come and save the shot but he has come to make a challenge.”
Bosnich said: “But if he stops, you can’t just jump out of the way because somebody is running into it.”
Foster concluded: “But you don’t have to be there, that is the thing, it is a foul on the player. The ball has gone over, he can collect it on the other side, so he has to give a foul.”
Former Ireland international Kevin Kilbane also aired his opinion and took to Twitter to share his thoughts.
“100% clear cut pen IMO,” Kilbane wrote.
“Not even a debate.”
