So Larrionda survives...

[codefive]

OK with everyone?
Red mist cleared a little?
Or should he have been waiting in the lobby for a cab with Poll and Ivanov?

I dunno. Viewed coldly, and in the context of some of the other performances, maybe he doesn't look so bad. But at the time I didn't yell at anyone like I yelled at him.

And he could get the final.

[ursula]

I'm an acupuncturist and I just finished needling three folks (americans) who just got back from Germany. They were still spitting fire at the very mention of the Italy-US game and Larrionda. But I agree, in retrospect he wasn't nearly that bad. Still, looking forward I don't see him being anything more than a 4th official- which in his case may mean that he has a future for 2010.

[Plxix]

He's don't seem so rotten of an apple in a pile of utter CRAP.

[uclacarlos]

Sadly, the best, most neutral refs seem to be from countries still in the thick of things.

Let's just hope that these quarterfinals are better than Japorea's!!

[TxFan]

Am I the only one who doesn't think the ref in the Netherlands-Portugal game was that bad? I mean he did give out a lot of yellow cards, but he was following FIFA's instructions to the letter... and frankly, neither team made the game easy for him. Players from both teams behaved embarrasingly...

[Killboard]

He should show red cards with kicks like Bohularouz over Ronaldo...
I think that if him show this red card, the game should be totally diferent.

[wolf6656]

This is where the game was lost. Boularouz' cynical challenge to C. Ronaldo was a red card offence. No attempt was made to play the ball, unless he is a very untalented player.

Seeing as he is a Dutch starter, one would assume that he has at least some talent of merit, therefore, one can only assume that it was not a challenge for the ball, but a deliberate attempt to injure.

I started the game feeling equally about both sides, but within the first 10 minutes, I switched to being decidedly pro-Portugal. The Dutch were keying on Ronaldo, playing him tough, as they should be doing, however twice at least on camera they had already crossed the line and fouled him, in what can only be described as attempts to injure. Between that and Robben's diving, whining and crying, my mind was made up for Portugal.

Granted, later in the game it was hard to be very proud of either team.
My point is that the referee could have taken the game under his wing early with a red card against Boularouz, and he knew it too. The fact that the foul was so early probably affected his decision. It certainly affected his judgement for the rest of the game. He spent the rest of the game waiting for an opportunity to give Boularouz what he deserved, and when the marginal play against Figo occured, the referee (ill-advisedly) followed through with a second, this time undeserved yellow, The game was already in danger by this point, but this definitely took it over the edge.

Robben who I thought before the game was in the running for player of the tournament, was embarrassing with his diving and crying to the referees.
I still can't figure out what happened on Deco's second yellow.
And shame on MVB for leaving Ruud on the bench during such an important game. Granted, Ruud had been less that stellar so far, but he has experience, and he has pedigree.

[guri]

Larrionda will get the final if it is Argentina vs Brazil.

Take that to the bank.

Mercosur rules!!!:D

[Excape Goat]

This is where the game was lost. Boularouz' cynical challenge to C. Ronaldo was a red card offence. No attempt was made to play the ball, unless he is a very untalented player.

Seeing as he is a Dutch starter, one would assume that he has at least some talent of merit, therefore, one can only assume that it was not a challenge for the ball, but a deliberate attempt to injure.

I started the game feeling equally about both sides, but within the first 10 minutes, I switched to being decidedly pro-Portugal. The Dutch were keying on Ronaldo, playing him tough, as they should be doing, however twice at least on camera they had already crossed the line and fouled him, in what can only be described as attempts to injure. Between that and Robben's diving, whining and crying, my mind was made up for Portugal.

Granted, later in the game it was hard to be very proud of either team.
My point is that the referee could have taken the game under his wing early with a red card against Boularouz, and he knew it too. The fact that the foul was so early probably affected his decision. It certainly affected his judgement for the rest of the game. He spent the rest of the game waiting for an opportunity to give Boularouz what he deserved, and when the marginal play against Figo occured, the referee (ill-advisedly) followed through with a second, this time undeserved yellow, The game was already in danger by this point, but this definitely took it over the edge.

Robben who I thought before the game was in the running for player of the tournament, was embarrassing with his diving and crying to the referees.
I still can't figure out what happened on Deco's second yellow.
And shame on MVB for leaving Ruud on the bench during such an important game. Granted, Ruud had been less that stellar so far, but he has experience, and he has pedigree.

Costinha should also have gotten a 2nd yellow before he actually got his second. The ref lost it. He gave away too little yellows when yellow cards are needed.

[unclesox]

Let's just hope that these quarterfinals are better than Japorea's!!
As long as we don't have endings like the quarterfinals at Mexico 86, I'll be happy. :)
(3/4 went to spot kicks :eek:)

[voiceoflg]

Larrionda was not great, to be sure. But Italy's acting and dives made an already bad game worse. The US did not play well either, though they gave it a go. That game needed a tough referee to stop the diving and acting of the Italians. Sadly Larrionda was not it.