Now that the tournament is reaching its final stages, let's have some traditional fun Who do you think will referee the 2019 Women's World Cup Final? Here is the history of all previous Finals: 2015 - USA : Japan - MONZUL (UKR) 2011 - Japan : USA - STEINHAUS (GER) 2007 - Germany : Brazil - OGSTON (AUS) 2003 - Germany : Sweden - BABADAC (ROU) 1999 - USA : China - PETIGNAT (SUI) 1995 - Norway : Germany - JONSSON (SWE) 1991 - USA : Norway - ZHUK (USSR) Ogston is the only non-European Final referee so far. For bonus points and bragging rights, try to get all 8 members of the crew right (Referee, AR1, AR2, 4th, Reserve AR, VAR, AVAR1, AVAR2).
My bet is firmly on her now. I think she will get a relatively low-key QF, perhaps Norway - England. If that goes well, the Final should be hers.
At this point, given how much focus there is on officiating and VAR, it might make sense to just save her for the final. Risking her on a QF is, well, risky if she’s the answer to the question. And I agree with you. I’m not sure who else the answer should be. If France loses to the US, Frappart could be the sentimental choice. Other than that, maybe the Russian referee if she has another good game? It seems too early for Yamashita, but if you risk Umpiérrez and something goes wrong and France progresses... well, you might get stuck.
I agree. This would have been unusual before this WWC, but with VAR added to the equation, it would be a sensible move. Perhaps FIFA even already had that planned after the group stages (the only thing that could hinder the plan being Brazil reaching the Final), which is why we don't see her on the R16. I also think it works in her favor that all CONMEBOL teams are eliminated early, and among the CONMEBOL referees, she is by far the most experienced. At the men's WC last year, Pitana or Ricci could have done the Final. There is no other feasible candidate here.
Of course she's also probably the best referee here who hasn't already done the final, which helps a lot.
That goes without saying, yes. I was just pointing out additional factors that work in her favor. Cakir and/or Ricci had reasonable claims of being the best referee at WC 18, yet neither of them got the Final.
I actually predicted US-Netherlands for the final at the start of the knockout round. I’d rather be right in that prediction.