Enzo Fernández Rubs Salt in England's Wounds with Social Media Taunt

Enzo Fernández rubs salt in England's wounds with social media taunt after Argentina's World Cup semi-final victory.

What happened?

On 18 June, Enzo Fernández scored a late equaliser for Argentina against England in the World Cup semi-final, before Lautaro Martinez bagged the winner in stoppage time. The 25-year-old Chelsea midfielder then celebrated with a social media post that will likely anger English fans.

Why it matters for Enzo Fernández

Fernández's recent social media activity is unlikely to win him any favour with England supporters, who will probably not offer the 25-year-old a particularly cordial reception if he travels across the country with Chelsea next season. The controversy surrounding the Falklands banner that made its way onto the pitch and into the hands of victorious players on Wednesday evening has already drawn widespread criticism.

What comes next?

The London club itself attracted criticism in the immediate wake of Argentina's triumph after publishing a post of Fernández celebrating on their official X account. The image was captioned "Enzo Fernández," accompanied by an explosion emoji, but it triggered an outpouring of fury from supporters, including some of their own fans, as the post rapidly spread across social media before being swiftly removed.

Fernández had already irritated fans by celebrating his equalising goal exuberantly, with the midfielder cupping his ears and gesturing as if mimicking chatter. The Argentina squad also faced widespread criticism for their behaviour throughout the match amid heightened tensions.

The match itself was a thrilling encounter, with Anthony Gordon putting England ahead in the second half, but Argentina seized control of the match after their opponents sat back in an attempt to protect their lead. This handed Lionel Messi the opportunity to orchestrate yet another stirring comeback, with Thomas Tuchel drawing considerable criticism from fans and pundits alike for England's meek capitulation in Atlanta.

Lionel Scaloni acknowledged that Argentina "smelt blood" when England retreated, saying: "The opponent doubted themselves a bit. We smelled blood and went for it. We all felt it."

The aftermath

Fernández's recent social media activity is unlikely to win him any favour with England supporters, who will probably not offer the 25-year-old a particularly cordial reception if he travels across the country with Chelsea next season. The controversy surrounding the Falklands banner that made its way onto the pitch and into the hands of victorious players on Wednesday evening has already drawn widespread criticism.

The London club itself attracted criticism in the immediate wake of Argentina's triumph after publishing a post of Fernández celebrating on their official X account. The image was captioned "Enzo Fernández," accompanied by an explosion emoji, but it triggered an outpouring of fury from supporters, including some of their own fans, as the post rapidly spread across social media before being swiftly removed.

category: match_report