I feel that England may have two of the top 10 (if not top 5) referees in the world. Seems like such a waste to see only two games get an English center.
Though I think both Webb and Clattenburg are amazing, I'd caution that we (all) can sometimes fall into the EPL-trap. Or the UEFA-trap. I thought Pitana was second-rate before this tournament. Vera, too, based on seeing him once. And last time I hadn't even heard of Baldassi and ended up thinking he was the best at 2010. Plus, I still think Nishimura is one of the best in the world--one call be damned. My point is that (almost?) none of us regularly watch some moderate-to-major leagues. We have no idea what the #2 or #3 or #4 in Argentina, Japan, Mexico or Australia might be like on a regular basis. So while English refereeing is certainly near the top and Webb and Clattenburg are at the top (internationally) of that group... putting them automatically in the Top 5 without really knowing what we're comparing them to seems unfair to the field.
July 8, 2018 in Moscow really shapes up well for a CONCACAF referee now, huh? Sorry, couldn't resist!
I don't know who from CONCACAF could do it since Geiger won't be eligible because the USMNT will be playing.
What happens if the Swede shows up to do the match? Who's going to call the assignor? Jeez, I hate when that happens, especially if there are only 2 guys at the other field.
Part of me wonders if Eriksson's inability to work the sub board in the semifinal cost him the 4th official slot.
Well, it's one of the reasons I thought it was so unlikely. But I guess, given what we've heard about teams having a bit of a veto on preliminary assignments, it helps make sense of the appointment. I mean, Rizzoli had to be one of 5-6 guys seriously considered. You run it up the flagpole with Argentina, they say "Sure!" If Germany says "UEFA ref we all know? Great!"... well, then that makes it easy, particularly if either A) one of the teams didn't want Eriksson or B) Busacca wanted Rizzoli over Eriksson. Or over Proenca, for that matter.
You know I have seen it a hundred times and I can't for the life of me remember the sponsor! So much for marketing! I know it begins with an "H".
Nah, i am guessing a bit here but think Rizzoli got it over others because he has done a CL final before plus Italy is not as close culturally etc.. to Gemany as Sweden is presumed to be. I guessed before that having done a CL final, would place Rizzoli and Proenca ahead of others as it helped Webb last time too from what i had read. Downside for Rizzoli was that he is now doing Argentina 3 times in a row and seemed quite friendly with their players last time around. Guess that mattered less in front of more experience and non controversial performances in those 2 games.
Having Argentina get to the final reduced Webb's chances somewhat in the knockout stages. But it is odd that he only got one first round game.
Too bad I picked Rizzoli to do the Final since the group stages. Sorry for speaking the truth and shooting down everyone's dreams on here that Geiger was gonna do big things at this tournament. When in reality he was never a serious option for the latter stages of this tournament. I wasn't the one on here proclaiming that Geiger was a serious candidate for the opening game or to do a semifinal like others on here. I wasn't the one on here that said that Geiger was the #1 CONCACAF referee in the eyes of FIFA after he got Spain vs. Chile even though Rodriguez couldn't do that game because he did it at the last World Cup and had a controversial red card. Sorry for speaking the truth and telling it like it is.
I mean, Webb did Brazil x Chile two tournaments in a row. If they really wanted Rodriguez on the match they could have done it. You were wrong about Geiger but right about Rizzoli. Others were right about Geiger but wrong about Rizzoli. Others, like me, were wrong on just about every guess they had in this game of Fantasy Ref Administrator (which seems to echo my ability to play Fantasy Football...maybe I should stop with the Fantasy stuff ). C'est la vie.
Please quote the post where you unequivocally said that. Not the one where you hedge and said he "might be a frontrunner." Not the one one where you said it's "Rizzoli or Proenca." The one where you said it was going to be Rizzoli. I might have missed it. "Never a serious option." Except he was one of the 8 referees on the final 4 games. And he was being bandied about as a serious option on international blogs--not just here. But you--anonymous internet hero--you know for a fact that Busacca and the RefComm never considered Geiger to do the Final. You know it. You're sure of it. And we all believe you. Also, not everyone was predicting Geiger as you seem to imply, as, you know, this thread bears out. But a lot of people here know him and like him. And a lot of people just wanted to see an American do well. Heck, a lot of people just aren't snotty jerks. No one gets your act about all this. You've made it a point before of saying you knew you weren't anonymous; you seriously think crapping on the top North American officiating crew in the world is a smart move? And go ahead, give me the snide response about how you don't need me to look after you and you're not here to make friends. It will definitely help your case. No, you weren't, because you didn't know what you were talking about. You and your "sources" had Nishimura being sent home a few weeks ago. As evidence by his position between the technical area tomorrow, it's clear you just make stuff up out of thin air and present it as fact. Now, by the nature of this thread and this discussion, there's tons of speculation--of which I'm the most guilty of by far. However, you're the only one that presents things as clear facts and then is A) proven utterly and completely wrong or B) believes that any outcome that doesn't prove another person's hypothesis thereby proves your drivel. If you honestly believe that because Geiger didn't get the Opener, it means he wasn't seriously considered for the Opener... well, your "sources" are worse than I previously imagined. Discussing these appointments has never--in my eyes--been designed to be a pissing contest about who has what sort of inside knowledge. But when you start trumpeting things as fact that several others on here (and lurkers who are reading this forum) absolutely, positively know are false... well, you deserved to get called out. Good Lord, wasn't this already addressed? Rodriguez is at his third freaking World Cup. Of course he's ahead of Geiger on a depth chart to start the tournament. But, first of all, Rodriguez couldn't be considered for the Opener, so Geiger had a leg up there. Then things seemed to break about even. Who the hell cares? Both got big first round matches and really big knockout matches. You use the evidence to show Geiger is worse than Rodriguez. Everyone else here uses it to celebrate an American referee paving new ground, getting great assignments, and being on par with a Mexican official in his third World Cup. And this "#1" stuff based on one tournament is stupid. Is Rizzoli better than Webb and Proenca and Kuipers now? Is Cakir the #2 UEFA referee because he got a semi? So much goes into these assignments--so much that all of us can't fully understand, yet you try to argue you know "the truth" about--that it cannot possibly come down to simple rankings. We appreciate you and your sources always setting us straight.
He might as well have gone home for all intents and purposes. He didn't get another middle and Busacca kept him around due to politics. He would have been sent home in past World Cups and he should have been sent home. He cost Croatia qualification with his phantom PK decision. Unless something happens on Sunday, he will have the most memorable screw up at this World Cup.
This statement has Budweiser "Real men of genius" commercial written all over it. http://budlight.whipnet.com/
The whole concept of "sending referees home" was disgraceful when it started a few world cups ago and fortunately the practice has stopped. It is far better and more respectful that they all stay until some smaller number are retained for the last few rounds. A few people continue with the "sending referees home" rhetoric and it speaks volumes of them. They are either ignorant partisan fans who don't know any better, or know-it-all bloviators who should.