​France are taking a relaxed view of an Argentinian referee being chosen for their World Cup quarter-final against Morocco, Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano said on Wednesday. “I don’t focus on who the referee is. We have never done that. We are focused on Morocco and want to win the match,” Upamecano told the French daily L’Equipe ahead of Thursday’s showdown.
FIFA has appointed Facundo Tello to oversee the first quarter-final of this World Cup, a choice that surprised many in French media. The France-Argentina rivalry runs deep, with the South Americans defeating Les Bleus on penalties in last year’s final. Four years earlier, France had eliminated Argentina on their way to the 2018 title in a memorable last-16 encounter that finished 4-3.
“We must not become paranoid,” added France reserve goalkeeper Robin Risser. “If these referees are involved, it’s because they are up to the level of the competition.” France can only meet Argentina again in the final or the third-place play-off if both teams win their upcoming matches.
In contrast, French referee François Letexier was in charge of the controversial World Cup last-16 clash between Argentina and Egypt, which the holders won 3-2 after a dramatic late comeback from 2-0 down. The Egyptians voiced anger over several refereeing decisions.
The decision to appoint Tello as the referee for the quarter-final has drawn debate in France, but supporters emphasize a pragmatic focus: concentrate on their own performance, respect the officiating standards, and advance by delivering their best against a formidable opponent. As the tournament progresses, the questions about refereeing fairness and consistency are likely to linger, yet the teams’ managers and players prefer to keep their attention on the pitch, on tactics, and on securing a victory that would bring them closer to lifting the trophy.
With both teams potentially on a collision course for a final meeting, the quarter-final represents a crucial crossroads in a tournament filled with intense history, tactical intrigue, and the ever-present scrutiny of officiating at the world stage. For France, the immediate task is clear: disable Morocco’s threats, manage the game effectively, and take the next step toward glory, while preserving focus away from the officiating narratives that inevitably accompany such high-stakes encounters.