bookd.
England0 - 0Portugal
Most Controversial WC Games Wayne Rooney was sent off in the second half for stamping on Ricardo Carvalho during a tangle for the ball. The bigger flashpoint was Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney's Manchester United teammate, who appeared to lobby referee Horacio Elizondo for the card and was then caught on camera winking to the Portugal bench after the dismissal. England, down to ten men, lost yet another shootout, and the "wink" became a lasting symbol of the rivalry — fueling months of speculation about whether Rooney and Ronaldo could still share a dressing room at United.
Japan2 - 1Spain
Most Controversial WC Games Japan's winning goal came after Kaoru Mitoma kept the ball in play by what looked, to the naked eye, like millimeters. VAR confirmed a sliver of the ball was still over the line, knocking Germany out of the tournament and prompting endless arguments about the geometry of the call.
Netherlands2 - 2Argentina
Most Controversial WC Games Referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz handed out a World Cup-record 18 yellow cards in a chaotic, ill-tempered match. Lionel Messi openly criticized him afterward, and the official was sent home from the tournament.
Portugal1 - 0NetherlandsMost Controversial WC Games The "Battle of Nuremberg," where Russian referee Valentin Ivanov issued a World Cup-record 16 yellow cards and 4 reds. FIFA president Sepp Blatter criticized the officiating, though he also blamed the players.
Italy0 - 1Uruguay
Most Controversial WC Games Suárez again, this time biting Giorgio Chiellini's shoulder. The referee missed it, but FIFA later banned him for four months and nine matches after reviewing video.
France1 - 1ItalyMost Controversial WC Games Zinedine Zidane's headbutt to Marco Materazzi's chest in extra time of his final career match got him sent off. France lost on penalties, and debate raged for years over what Materazzi said to provoke it.
Uruguay1 - 1Ghana
Most Controversial WC Games Luis Suárez deliberately handballed a goal-bound shot on the line in the dying seconds, was sent off, and then Asamoah Gyan missed the resulting penalty. Uruguay won the shootout, denying Africa its first-ever semifinalist on home-continent soil. Suárez was branded both villain and folk hero.
South Korea2 - 1ItalyMost Controversial WC Games Referee Byron Moreno's performance became infamous: a disallowed Italy golden goal, a soft penalty awarded to Korea, and a second yellow for Francesco Totti for an alleged dive. Italy felt robbed, and Moreno's career later collapsed amid further scandals.
Germany4 - 1EnglandMost Controversial WC Games Frank Lampard's shot crashed off the crossbar and landed well over the line, but the goal was waved off with the score at 2–1. The footage was unambiguous, and the outrage directly accelerated FIFA's adoption of goal-line technology.
Arsenal1 - 0Atletico Madrid
Arsenal’s Road to Budapest Atletico kept the second leg tight, but Bukayo Saka scored in the 43rd minute after Jan Oblak had saved an earlier effort. Arsenal protect the lead from there and reach the final with a 2-1 aggregate win.
Atletico Madrid1 - 1ArsenalArsenal’s Road to Budapest Viktor Gyokeres won a penalty that put Arsenal in front and then converted it himself. Atletico levelled later through Julián Alvarez similarly from the spot. The first leg ends in a draw, with the tie still wide open.
Arsenal0 - 0Sporting CP
Arsenal’s Road to Budapest Sporting needed a goal in London but could not convert. Arsenal kept the second leg scoreless to protect their advantage. The 0-0 draw sees Arsenal through 1-0 on aggregate.
Sporting CP0 - 1ArsenalArsenal’s Road to Budapest Sporting kept Arsenal out deep into the second half, but Gabriel Martinelli found Kai Havertz brilliantly late on for the only goal of the match. Arsenal return to London with a 1-0 lead.
Arsenal2 - 0Leverkusen
Arsenal’s Road to Budapest Leverkusen stayed in it until Arsenal scored twice from distance at the Emirates. Eberechi Eze struck first for his first Champions League goal, Declan Rice added a second, and Arsenal went through 3-1 on aggregate.
Leverkusen1 - 1ArsenalArsenal’s Road to Budapest Leverkusen took the lead through Robert Andrich and looked set to win the first leg, but substitute Noni Madueke won a late penalty that Kai Havertz converted against his former club to level the tie.
Arsenal3 - 2Kairat Almaty
Arsenal’s Road to Budapest Kairat gave Arsenal problems late, but Arsenal had already scored three times before the break through Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli. Kairat scored twice in response, though not enough to level Arsenal. The Gunners finish the league phase with eight wins from eight.
Inter1 - 3ArsenalArsenal's Road to Budapest Gabriel Jesus put Arsenal ahead, but Inter answered through Petar Sucic. Jesus scored again before the break, and Viktor Gyokeres came off the bench to score late and finish the game in Arsenal’s favour.
Club Brugge KV0 - 3ArsenalArsenal's Road to Budapest Club Brugge fell behind in the first half when Noni Madueke opened the scoring and struck again immediately after the restart. Gabriel Martinelli added a third in the 55th minute as Arsenal continued perfect away form.
Arsenal3 - 1Bayern
Arsenal's Road to Budapest Jurrien Timber gave Arsenal the lead from a Bukayo Saka corner, but Bayern responded through Lennart Karl to level the score. Arsenal then pulled away in the second half, with Noni Madueke restoring the lead before Gabriel Martinelli added a third.
Slavia Praha0 - 3ArsenalArsenal's Road to Budapest Slavia kept the game close until Bukayo Saka scored from the penalty spot after a handball. Mikel Merino then scored twice after the break, and Max Dowman became the youngest player in Champions League history late on.
Arsenal4 - 0Atletico MadridArsenal's Road to Budapest Atletico kept it scoreless through the first half, but Arsenal broke the game open after the break. Gabriel scored first, Gabriel Martinelli made it two, and Viktor Gyokeres added two more as Arsenal put four past Jan Oblak in 13 minutes.
Arsenal2 - 0Olympiakos Piraeus
Arsenal's Road to Budapest Olympiacos troubled Arsenal, with David Raya forced into an important save from Daniel Podence after Gabriel Martinelli’s early strike. Viktor Gyokeres’ strong run opened the door for Bukayo Saka to add a second in stoppage time.
Athletic Club0 - 2ArsenalArsenal's Road to Budapest Athletic kept Arsenal scoreless until the 71st minute, forcing David Raya into two crucial saves. Gabriel Martinelli, who came on as a sub, broke the deadlock before Leandro Trossard added a second in the 86th to kick off Arsenal’s away campaign in Bilbao.