"If nobody is yelling at you, you're probably doing a good job. If EVERYBODY is yelling at you, you're probably doing a good job." - Alexi Lalas I don't think he's wrong in the least.
T.V. people just said that there were 19 fouls so far. Can you imagine a count like that in a U16 boys' match?
So far the lid is just about staying on, but I don't think another half of refereeing like that will be sufficient. Not great optics that the first YC was to an England player given the numerous late deliberate challenges from the Argentinian players. Also not great optics that it takes half the Argentinian team charging at him to get a player booked. I think he's currently fortunate that the England players aren't overreacting to the provocation of the Argentinians, but as I say, if it continues, and England players get booked following an overreaction from the Argentinian players, I fear things will spiral. Hopefully he steps it up in the second half.
I think this criticism is fair. Argentina's midfield is clearly using fouls as a tactic. Simeone with 5 committed and Enzo with 3 are individually close to PI, as well.
Reminds me of Joe Buck commentating NFL games when both fanbases in the same game would say he hates them and is biased against them
I wouldn't go that far as you. It's been passable because you do have to grade on degree of difficulty. But it also hasn't been great either.
Doesn’t apply to me at all. I’ve been very critical of his previous matches. You would think this was Tantashev’s match thread reading these criticisms.
I understand the desire to keep it 11 v 11 but if the players perceive they can get away with persistent fouling this is what you get.
It seems like people want this game to be the NBA all star game where no one plays defense or fouls or anything. That's not what World Cup semis and finals are. The players are going to play with emotion. You can't manage that away. You can't manage it so they don't touch each other. There were 20ish fouls. That doesn't change if he gives 5 cards in the first 20 minutes.
Simeone should have had the first one, missed two clear fouls for England, one in a promising spot. Those are for starters.
He needs to hit them hard in the first 10. minutes of 2nd half to quiet them down otherwise it could get very rough the way 3 or 4 of the Argentineans are going. PH
Yesterday's semifinal was cleaner than this and also much more boring. I think Elfath is allowing an appropriate level of physicality for this level of play.
Parades purposely cracks the ball against Bellingham after the foul and predictably gets away with it.