Erling Haaland Slams Excessive VAR Wait as Mbappé Misses Penalty Before Scoring France Winner

France reached another FIFA World Cup semifinal, but the biggest talking point was not the final score. Instead, attention quickly shifted to a controversial Video Assistant Referee review that left Kylian Mbappé waiting more than three minutes before taking a penalty.

The long delay sparked immediate reactions across the football world. Norway striker Erling Haaland voiced his frustration on social media, while television pundits questioned if such lengthy interruptions give goalkeepers an unfair advantage. Even though Mbappé eventually led France to victory, the debate over VAR quickly became almost as memorable as the match itself.

What Is the Talking Point?

Mbappé / IG / The controversy unfolded during France’s World Cup quarterfinal against Morocco. Mbappé burst into the penalty area before Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui brought him down.

Referee Facundo Tello immediately pointed to the penalty spot, and France looked ready to take an early lead. Instead of allowing the kick to proceed, the VAR team launched a lengthy review. Officials spent 3 minutes and 10 seconds checking the incident before confirming the original decision.

Throughout the delay, Mbappé remained near the penalty spot, speaking with the referee while waiting for permission to continue. When play finally resumed, Mbappé’s penalty lacked its usual power. Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou guessed correctly and comfortably stopped the effort, giving his team a huge boost during the opening half.

The save completely changed the atmosphere inside the stadium. Morocco celebrated while France suddenly faced new pressure after missing an excellent chance to move ahead.

Haaland’s Reaction Goes Viral

Watching from Norway’s team hotel after his country’s tournament exit, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland shared his thoughts almost immediately. He posted a picture of Mbappé waiting over the ball with a blunt caption. “Need to wait 5 min to take a penalty is way too long.”

Although Haaland slightly overstated the actual waiting time, his message quickly spread across social media. Many supporters agreed with his opinion, arguing that long interruptions affect a penalty taker’s rhythm and concentration far more than the goalkeeper’s.

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane also questioned the lengthy review during live television coverage. Keane argued that forcing a player to stand over the ball for several minutes shifts the psychological advantage back toward the defending team.

The discussion highlighted an issue that has become increasingly common since VAR entered international football. While many accept technology as a valuable tool for correcting mistakes, lengthy reviews continue to raise concerns about how they affect the flow of matches.

Mbappé Responds Like a Superstar

Mbappé / IG / Missing the penalty could easily have affected Mbappé’s confidence. Instead, the French captain produced exactly the response expected from one of the world’s best players.

Early in the second half, Mbappé found space near the edge of the penalty area before curling a brilliant shot beyond Bounou. The goal finally broke Morocco’s resistance and gave France the breakthrough it had been chasing throughout the match.

Only six minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé doubled France’s advantage after another attacking move involving Mbappé. The quick pair of goals secured a comfortable 2- 0 victory and booked France’s place in a third consecutive World Cup semifinal.

Mbappé’s recovery showed remarkable mental strength. Many players struggle after missing an important penalty, especially during a World Cup knockout match. Instead of allowing disappointment to linger, he quickly became the game’s most influential player.

The winning goal carried extra significance beyond sending France into the semifinals. It also added another remarkable achievement to Mbappé’s already impressive World Cup career. His strike made him only the second player, after Lionel Messi, to reach 20 World Cup goals. Even more remarkably, Mbappé achieved the milestone in only 20 World Cup appearances, underlining his extraordinary consistency on football’s biggest stage.