England vs. Argentina semifinal: First half marked by fouls and tension, no goals

The highly anticipated World Cup semifinal between England and Argentina in Atlanta was a tense affair in its first half, characterized by physical play and numerous confrontations rather than scoring opportunities. The match saw heated exchanges and contested fouls, but ended with neither team managing a shot on goal.

From the early minutes, the game was physical. Jude Bellingham of England was fouled by Argentina's Leandro Paredes with an elbow to the face just two minutes into the match. Shortly after, an Elliott Anderson challenge on Argentina captain Lionel Messi resulted in a retaliatory foul from Enzo Fernandez. The referee's apparent lack of intervention on these incidents drew strong reactions from the England bench.

The intensity continued as Anderson was fouled again in the seventh minute, but England failed to capitalize on the resulting free kick. The midfield battle remained fierce, with Anderson and Fernandez involved in another near-clash, joined by teammates Morgan Rogers and Paredes. England felt aggrieved by decisions involving the Argentinian midfielder, with coach Thomas Tuchel expressing his frustration on the sidelines, yet no cards were issued at this stage.

Discipline eventually came in the latter part of the half. England's Elliott Anderson received a yellow card in the 38th minute for a challenge on Messi, which sparked a scuffle involving players from both sides. Shortly after, in the 42nd minute, Argentina's Martinez was booked for pulling back Rogers, protesting the decision before play resumed. By halftime, England had committed seven fouls, while Argentina had committed 12. Possession was closely contested, with Argentina holding a slight edge at 56 percent to England's 44 percent.