‘He’s very fortunate not to get sent off’: Ante Rebic gave Croatia the lead against Argentina… but should he have seen red in the first half?
- Ante Rebic gave Croatia the lead against Argentina in their match on Thursday
- Goalkeeper Willy Caballero’s huge blunder gifted Rebic ball inside his own area
- However, Rebic could’ve saw red in the first half for a stamp on Eduardo Salvio
- Despite a VAR review, he only saw yellow which Alan Shearer believes is lucky
Croatia’s Ante Rebic was lucky to be on the pitch, according to Alan Shearer, after the winger stamped on Eduardo Salvio’s ankle on Friday evening.
Rebic was only given a yellow card for the challenge despite the game being stopped for the incident to be reviewed by VAR.
However, play continued shortly after with the decision leaving BBC pundits Shearer and Cesc Fabregas baffled in the studio at half time.
Ante Rebic (No 18) received a yellow card for a stamp on Argentina forward Eduardo Salvio (L)
The incident was reviewed by VAR but the Croatian forward escaped with a yellow on Thursday
Alan Shearer believes Rebic was very fortunate not to have been sent off for his tackle
Shearer told Gary Lineker at the break: ‘He’s very fortunate he doesn’t get a red here as well because that’s endangering an opponent. He goes over the top straight for his ankle. He’s not even interested in the ball whatsoever, he’s a yard away from the ball and he goes for his (Salvio) ankle.
‘VAR have had a look at that and if I’m looking at that on the angles that we’ve got and the room that these referees are in, for me, that’s a red card.’
Fabregas insisted that he was happy with how the technology had been used so far in the tournament but was initially confused why the incident hadn’t been reviewed before being corrected by his co-hosts.
Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli screams at the official after seeing Rebic’s stamp on Salvio
Cesc Fabregas was initially confused why the incident hadn’t been reviewed in the first half
Rebic went on to score Croatia’s opening goal with a superb volley after Caballero’s huge error
‘It’s working well the VAR but in situations like that, it’s so obvious,’ Fabregas said. ‘Something has happened there, just have a look, it takes about 10 seconds.’
It was then Rebic that made the important breakthrough for the Croatians eight minutes after the restart, after the 24-year-old pounced on a huge mistake made by goalkeeper Willy Caballero to make it 1-0.
Croatia went on to beat Lionel Messi and Co 3-0 at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium on Friday evening.
Rebic celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Argentina on Friday evening
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