CONCACAF assigning thought process for me... if Garcia gets another game (and it looks like he needs one), it might have to be USA v Jamaica. The other three options remaining have way too much of a direct potential effect on Mexico qualifying. Also, I'd pencil Aguilar in for Mexico v Panama. Costa Rica v Mexico could be a very interesting assignment, too. The appointment will be made before we know if it will really matter, but the CONCACAF Committee has to assume it will. I wonder who they will turn to for it.
That late Panama goal might further complicate assigning. Because now there are games Moreno really can't (or shouldn't) do--you might argue that he shouldn't do any of them now, actually. I thought the Americans were done, but Geiger (or someone else?) might get called upon one last time. It's an interesting puzzle.
Maruffo maybe? would you rather have your best wc candidate get a game that won't help/hurt his chances or your perceived #2 that might help him out?
Marrufo heads to the U17s right around that time. Likely can't get one. But I agree about Geiger--no upside to getting a potentially volatile match at this point... other than the simple thrill of having a big game.
Actually the appointment has changed after 06/09 and the previous matchday. Marriner was listed as referee from Saturday.
CONMEBOL Zone 11/10 Ecuador - Uruguay: RICCI (BRA) Argentina - Peru: VERA (ECU) 15/10 Chile - Ecuador: VUADEN (BRA) Uruguay - Argentina: HENRIQUE (BRA) UEFA Zone Estonia - Turkey: RIZZOLI (ITA) Denmark - Italy: LANNOY (FRA) Albania - Switzerland: PROENCA(POR) Spain - Belarus: NIJHUIS (NED) Bosnia@Herzegovina - Liechtenstein: LIESVELD (NED)
2 More appointments CONMEBOL 11/10 Colombia - Chile: OLIVEIRA (BRA) UEFA 11/10 Sweden - Austria: CAKIR (TUR)
Looks like any match with the slightest chance of affecting qualification in CONMEBOL will have a Brazilian official. Those are very big matches for Lannoy and Cakir. There are several huge ones still to be announced. Bulgaria/Czech Republic, Netherlands/Hungary, Norway/Iceland, England/Montenegro, Ukraine/Poland, and England/Poland are probably the biggest, but there are several others that affect qualification directly and will need top officials (for example, Sweden-Germany will be absolutely massive if Sweden doesn't get a result vs. Austria). I wonder if all Elite referees will be out over the two days. I would think CONCACAF appointments should be out soon. I think this is the first matchday where any UEFA assignments have leaked before CONCACAF.
CONCACAF: Mexico : Panama - AGUILAR (SLV) Honduras : Costa Rica - MARRUFO (USA) Marrufo has his crew, plus Toledo as 4th. He then heads to the UAE for the U17 WC, so start of a big stretch for him.
USA : Jamaica - BONILLA (SLV) I'm struggling to see how Garcia fits into Matchday 10. Seems impossible. Would be very odd for him to only get one Hex match and the go to Brazil. And who gets the Costa Rica v Mexico game? Has to be Lopez, I think. Or I hope!
Some CAF assignment as well 11/10 Burgina Faso - Algeria: DOUE (CIV) 13/10 Tunisia - Cameroon: COULIBALY (MLI) 15/10 Cameroon - Tunisia: BENNETT (RSA)
Geiger is reportedly going to Jamaica for the Honduras match. Will confirm once the other Matchday 10 assignments come out.
His "patron" (from Mali) lost his place in the African soccer ruling body, otherwise he probably would be going. It's nothing to do with that game in 2010. PH
15/10 Ghana - Egypt: EL AHRACH (Morocco) Goes without saying that Ghana don't like the call-up as El Ahrach comes from North Africa and they expect him to favor Egypt. Shows the level of trust African teams have in refereeing. That said El Ahrach is actually very highly rated, although he was the referee of the game between Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal that ended in a riot. El Ahrach will also be refereeing the 1/2 final between Esperance and Orlando Pirates in the CAF Champions League. In my opinion he can't afford to mess up either of these high-profile games, or he will basically sabotage his own career. Anyone know if he's a World Cup candidate? --- EDIT: Found it! No he's not! Shame they didn't give Gassama for the Ghana - Egypt match. Hands down best African referee.
Costa Rica : Mexico - WIJNGAARDE (SUR) Jamaica : Honduras - GEIGER (USA) Panama : United States - CAMPBELL (JAM) Surprised it's Wijngaarde, a non-candidate, over Lopez, a candidate, in Costa Rica. I suppose Lopez could be the missing piece in Panama, but he was just there, so that seems unlikely. Can't be a Mexican, can't be Moreno, can't be anyone from Matchday 9. The options are extremely limited. If it's someone from the regular rotation, I think Quesada is the only option. I am very surprised that Garcia ended the Hex with only one game. That has to bode well for Rodriguez.
If it is Quesada, expect (justified) howling from the US. I can't imagine CONCACAF doing that, unless of course either they A. don't care, B. are intentionally trying to hose the US, or, C. view this as a sort of meaningless game and the assignment as a chance to try and patch up the relationship between Quesada and the US. Also, b/c of Panama's languishing status, I wouldn't be surprised to see an second tier ref on this game, and b/c of Panama's American familiarity, perhaps even a Canadian might make Hex debut in the last round. Not sure if they have ever used a new ref this late in qualifying, but it is CONCACAF.
The answer (if it's Quesada) is A. It's A for sure. And it's not just a thing toward the US. Remember when CONCACAF stuck the Costa Ricans with Terry Vaughn? Even if Panama loses to Mexico, it can still qualify for the playoff. I can't imagine CONCACAF putting a debutant referee on a match that directly affects World Cup qualification. Looking at all the Hex assignments, the only referees who could possibly fit the assignment are Quesada, Lopez, Campbell and Rodriguez of Honduras--and the last one is a stretch as he's only done one match and Honduras has not yet clinched. Lopez had Panama on 9/6, Campbell had the US on 9/10. That leaves Quesada. I think it has to be him. Anything else would be a big surprise. You'd have to go to the Gold Cup referees who haven't done qualifying. Even then, Santos is a 4th for Wijngaarde, Cruz is heading to the U17s then, and several others are conflicted. The next two "logical" options are Gantar and Brea. I don't see that happening. It's very clear that Mexico's lack of qualification and the small pool has really tied the committee's hands. Might be a lesson for next time.
It's Campbell for Panama v USA. Odd to see him again so quickly, but I guess that match is more about Panama than the USA.
UEFA Zone 11/10 Albania - Switzerland: PROENCA (POR) Andorra - Romania: KLOSSNER (SUI) Armenia - Bulgaria: BRYCH (GER) Azerbaijan - Northern Ireland: DE MARCO (ITA) Bosnia Herzegovina - Liechtenstein: LIESVELD (NED) Croatia - Belgium: WEBB (ENG) Denmark - Italy: LANNOY (FRA) England - Montenegro: MALLENCO (ESP) Estonia - Turkey: RIZZOLI (ITA) Faroe Islands - Kazakhstan: MUNTEAN (MDA) Germany - Republic of Ireland: GUMIENNY (BEL) Greece - Slovakia: AYTEKIN (GER) Lithuania - Latvia: REINERT (FRO) Luxembourg - Russia: STUDER (SUI) Malta - Czech Republic: JUG (SVN) Moldova - San Marino: ROZADOS (AND) Netherlands - Hungary: ATKINSON (ENG) Portugal - Israel: HAGEN (NOR) Slovenia - Norway: CARBALLO (ESP) Spain - Belarus: NIJHUIS (NED) Sweden - Austria: CAKIR (TUR) Ukraine - Poland: ERIKSSON (SWE) Wales - Macedonia: BALIYAN (ARM)
Belgium : Wales - KARASEV (RUS) Scotland : Croatia - HATEGAN (ROU) Denmark : Malta - STAVREV (MKD) Bulgaria : Czech Republic - KASSAI (HUN) Italy : Armenia - OLIVER (ENG) Sweden : Germany - COLLUM (SCO) Republic of Ireland : Kazakhstan - DIREKTORENKO (LVA) Switzerland : Slovenia - KUIPERS (NED) Norway : Iceland - TAGLIAVENTO (ITA) Hungary : Andorra - STEFANSKI (POL) Turkey : Netherlands - BENQUERENCA (POR) Azerbaijan : Russia - MAZIC (SRB) Israel : Northern Ireland - DUHAMEL (FRA) Greece : Liechtenstein - KOVARIK (CZE) Lithuania : Bosnia-Herzegovina - ZWAYER (GER) England : Poland - SKOMINA (SVN) France : Finland - KOUKOULAKIS (GRE) Still need to fill out Serbia/Macedonia, Faroe Islands/Austria, Romania/Estonia, Cyprus/Albania, Portugal/Luxembourg, Latvia/Slovakia, Montenegro/Andorra, San Marino/Ukraine and Spain/Georgia, but I doubt any of those need Elite referees or candidates with the possible exception of the Romania match. There seem to be several top officials who are deliberately not on the final two matchdays. Could be a signal that they are in place for the playoffs. Clattenburg, Stark, Kralovec, Rocchi, Moen, and Thomson all stick out as referees who could have been used in October, but weren't. Doubt all 6 will figure in the playoffs, but I bet several of them will.