Are Argentina’s wins favoured? 

The World Cup is not just about football; it is a huge stage for emotions, history, ethnic pride, memories, arguments and countless interpretations. Especially when Argentina wins, for instance, against Egypt on Tuesday night, the reaction of a certain group of opposing fans becomes almost the same. Some say that the opponent played well but luck was not on their side; some say that Argentina won despite playing badly; and some directly accuse Argentina of winning for the sake of FIFA, referees or the wider football business. As if every victory of Argentina is not the result of a battle on the field, but the result of the machinations of some invisible force. But the question is, is it really possible to “force” a team to win in this way in a game of uncertainty like football?

The refereeing debate is not new in the history of football. Different countries have felt deprived at different times. Argentina’s fans also have long-standing complaints - the team has not received justice in some World Cups due to global politics, especially the Falklands issue. The 1990 World Cup also comes up repeatedly. Argentina reached the final by defeating Italy in the semi-final, but there is still controversy over the ugly behaviour of the host country’s fans in that final, the atmosphere of the match, and some decisions. On the other hand, FIFA’s soft stance has also been accused of being soft on Brazil, Germany, or England at various times.

However, current football is not where it used to be. Now, match management includes Video Assistant Referee (VAR), semi-automated offside technology, multi-camera analysis, data tracking, and artificial intelligence. More than 50 cameras monitor every movement on the field in a big match. As a result, there may be questions about controversial decisions, but dismissing every result as “FIFA-arranged drama” is tantamount to denying reality. There may be mistakes, there may be differences in interpretation, but solid evidence is needed to reach a conclusion of planned bias from there.

Again, many say that FIFA wants to give advantages to popular teams to maintain the glamour, TRP, sponsorship and business success of the World Cup. There is no room to say that the argument is completely unfounded, because modern football is undoubtedly a huge global economic industry. But even there, some questions of reality come to the fore. If the results were predetermined, would the host teams have been eliminated so easily? Or wouldn’t the United States, one of the world’s largest economic powers, have become world champions long ago? The reality is that the biggest attraction of the World Cup is its uncertainty. Here, big teams lose, small teams win; stars fail, unknowns become heroes. 

Argentina’s recent comeback story is therefore not just a match win; it is a symbol of mental toughness, confidence and the fight against adversity. To not give up even after being two goals behind, to not collapse under pressure - this is not just a football scene, but a profound lesson in life. Argentina’s fight reminds us that it is possible to come back despite failure, disappointment, mistakes, or criticism.

The biggest message for football fans is hidden here. Before looking for referees, FIFA, or conspiracies after every match, we should look at the art of the field, the players’ labour, strategy, physical ability and mental strength. Because the real beauty of football is not in any controversy; it is hidden in the possibility of an incredible comeback until the final whistle, the determination to fight even when losing, and the aesthetics of making the impossible possible.

At the end of the day, it is a game of joy, emotion and beauty. There will be support, there will be disagreements, and there will be arguments. But let that argument not destroy relationships, create enmity, or dull the artistic beauty of the game. Let football teach us that even after falling behind, one can come back, find light even in the midst of despair, and stand tall even in the face of adversity. It would be a mistake to view Argentina’s victory only through the prism of bias; it should also be seen as a living epic of struggle and comeback.