Referee: Felix BRYCH (GER) Assistant Referee 1: Mark BORSCH Assistant Referee 2: Stefan LUPP Additional Assistant Referee 1: Bastian DANKERT Additional Assistant Referee 2: Marco FRITZ Fourth Official: Milorad MAZIC (SRB)
Brych isn't afraid to give red cards in these big matches, especially second caution red cards. Wonder if he will chicken out if given the opportunity tonight like many other referees.
Nice half, really. Brych is very present, as usual. Cautions settled the game down and they're playing soccer. Does Marcelo have an elastic wristband on?
The answer is clear now. Not sure it's the right decision though, and in any case not sure if it's necessary at this point of the final either.
Seemed soft and possibly wrong. He other stepped on him deliberately, which is VC, or he didn't. Not sure how you split the baby and get a yellow card. Ramos won that round. Overall, he's been okay. But some clear inconsistencies. Kroos gets booked moments after Marcelo didn't for what was a similar, but worse challenge. Thought Brych was good in the first half but slightly below average (with possibly a critical mistake) in the second.
This is also might be a reminder of why red cards are so rare in finals. You better be sure. Brych gets lucky here because the game was likely over anyway. But imagine if he did this in a 1-1 match? I didn't like RS91's initial post because of the verbiage--no one is chickening out when they don't take the "opportunity" to send someone, particularly in a final. They are only doing so when they ignore obligation. Brych had no obligation here.
Maybe there was misconduct? Still don't know how you go 2CT over VC, though. Seems VC or nothing. And interesting to note that VAR would have played no role in a 2CT decision--but could have intervened in a VC one.