I spoke to a few people this morning about the game. I admit I know very little about soccer, and have never followed it. It’s really a ‘generational’ and ‘regional’ thing, as soccer wasn’t really a sport nearby when I graduated high school. That being said, when I watched the game I thought it had gotten to the point that they might as well just put on pads like American football. There was more physical contact than I expected, and the Referees didn’t seem to want to interfere.
I am not shocked by the fight after the match, they were basically ‘fighting’ during the match.
Argentina was fighting during the match, and trying to get under the skin of Spain’s players. Spain didn’t take the bait.
Paredes got a red card after the match for the punches he threw after the whistle. He should’ve have a second yellow during the game, but the ref apparently decided to not have Argentina play without two players.
Mexico plays like this a lot, too, and it’s one of the reasons I don’t pull ever for Mexico.