Semifinals & VAR: England-Argentina, France-Spain & the Wire That Wasn't Reviewed

Four teams left, and one big argument. Gary Striker and The Qooligan are straight into it, as The Qooligan — a referee himself — lays out the VAR problem hanging over the quarterfinals: an England goal that appeared to clip an overhead camera wire and was never reviewed (FIFA say it didn't), and the red card that he believes unbalanced Switzerland's fight with Argentina before it started. His argument isn't conspiracy, it's transparency: release the data, or people will assume you're hiding something. Then the semifinals. It's England vs. Argentina — a fixture loaded with history, and the first time Lionel Messi has ever faced England — followed by France vs. Spain. The guys sketch the four contrasting characters left standing: a scrapping, streetwise Argentina; an England side being carried by a genuinely world-class Jude Bellingham; a boring-but-brilliant Spain who've conceded once and bored the pair of them senseless; and a swashbuckling France whose front four have accounted for every goal — possibly the best international side ever assembled. Plus an off-the-cuff awards segment: goal of the tournament (Cape Verde's stunner against Argentina still leads), best young player, and why Tuchel's willingness to tear up his own system in-game gives England a puncher's chance. Predictions: France to beat Spain — and The Qooligan, reluctantly, is going England. New episodes of Summer '26 every day of the tournament at [hooligan-soccer.com](hooligan-soccer.com). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices