Ex-Brighton man at the centre of a World Cup semi-final flash point
There were some unsavoury scenes in volving former Brighton man Valentin Barco and Jude Bellingham after England lost to Argentina in the World Cup semi-final.
England took the lead early in the second half through Anthony Gordon but paid for a negative approach thereafter as Enzo Fernandez struck in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez’s stoppage-time winner.
Barco - who joined Brighton in 2023 before moving on to Strasbourg - was seen celebrating in front of the England bench, which former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson described as 'the worst example of sportsmanship.'
Barco, 21, then went on to the pitch to celebrate Argentina's victory and appeared to say something to England midfielder Bellingham.
The Real Madrid man took exception to whatever was said, slapped Barco around the head and briefly squared up to the former Albion man.
The situation defused after a number of players engaged in some push and shove and an angry Bellingham was ushered away .
Barco joined Brighton from Boca Juniors in 2024 for around £10m and made just six appearances for the Seagulls.
The Argentine had an unsuccessful loan at Seville before kick-starting his career at Strasbourg.
He made a permanent move to the French outfit - Chelsea’s BlueCo sister club - in 2025 for around £10m and could be part of Xabi Alonso's plans for Chelsea next season.
Thomas Tuchel’s tactics
Meanwhile, Gary Lineker has described Thomas Tuchel’s tactics in England’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina as “unfathomable”.
peaking on The Rest is Football on Netflix, former England striker Lineker said: “I found it absolutely unfathomable that, if your tactic is to sit everyone deep, you do that against the greatest player ever to play football.
“I think he’s just cementing that game after game after game. Most goals in the World Cup, most assists in the World Cup. And he moves to the right, and you play a back five, and you still don’t go and get tight to him.
“Just put someone on him. He had so much space. He just whipped ball after ball after ball into the box.”
‘I can’t stand us losing like that’
Former England defender Gary Neville was also critical of the tactics and failure to get tight on Messi.
Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, Neville said: “I can’t stand us losing like that.
“The big problem for me was before he even made substitutions. We’d started to drop deep into the box before then. I’ve seen it so many times. How can you not just go and man mark him (Messi)?
“We’ve been found wanting the minute we’ve played a tough team. I think that’s the closest you’re going to get to a World Cup final.”
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