Spain-Sweden should be a cracker. The way Sweden performed today, they surely have to be in with a decent shout of winning it overall. Hard to see who there is in England's half of the draw that's going to beat Sweden without needing a huge amount of luck.
My last 4 was Netherlands, Sweden, France and England before these Q.Finals.
I thought the Dutch would frustrate the Spanish and they nearly did and the overturned Penalty sealed the deal later with a good goal by the 19 year old Paralluelo.
Game of two halves, Japan v Netherlands with the 1st 63 minutes and the 2nd 37 minutes. Sweden deserve the credit for dominating in that 1st period and Japan going for it in the 2nd period.
That seems fair, but there's definitely an element of FIFA protecting France and nobody else here haha
I think she is a lucky girl not to get a three match ban. I feel a bit sorry for her because I'm sure she didn't hurt the girl and wasn't going to do any damage to her and it was clearly a rush of blood, but FIFA would normally just look at the facts of the foul that didn't need to be made. Anyway, it feels about right.
That seems fair, but there's definitely an element of FIFA protecting France and nobody else here haha
I think she is a lucky girl not to get a three match ban. I feel a bit sorry for her because I'm sure she didn't hurt the girl and wasn't going to do any damage to her and it was clearly a rush of blood, but FIFA would normally just look at the facts of the foul that didn't need to be made. Anyway, it feels about right.
Agreed, could easily have been a 3 game ban, and the commentator at the time was expecting one
I like the idea of VAR, but it needs some major changes in implementation:
1) VAR has to make a decision within 60 seconds, if they can't then it wasn't a "clear and obvious error"
2) VAR needs to have confidence in it's own decision making process. None of this calling the ref over to a monitor. The ref got it wrong first time, why would you ever ask them to take a second look. 3rd umpire in cricket doesn't ask the on-field umpires to review the footage, it makes a decision and informs the on-field officials they were wrong or right.
3) Offside needs to be simplified. All this drawing vertical lines nonsense is time consuming and goes against the whole reason the rule was introduced. Just make it so that just the heels of the players matter, if the attacking player has one heel onside (i.e. pitch-side of the defenders back-most heel, they're one). I'd also say we need linos to make decisions (sort of like the soft signal in cricket). If VAR can't work out the offside in under 30 second then stick with the on-field decision.
4) Stop hiring referees to run VAR. The reason we have VAR is because of the generally poor level of decision making by referees, we won't see an improvement until we have specialised VARs. Training should be simple, we've got literally thousands (if not millions by now) of videos of decisions we can use to train them. The ones with the highest accuracy rate and who can do it within the above timescales qualify to be the VAR on match days.
I would stop this asking the ref to look at a screen. It is basically saying, I think you got it wrong, have a look for yourself. There is immense pressure on the ref to overturn the decision he/she has made. Basically, if the ref has missed something obvious, like no contact, fair enough, tell them and they don't need to look at it. If it is down to interpretation, stick with the on field decision.
I always knew FIFA would cock up VAR because they are trying to make something that should be fairer into perfection, which is not possible. Look at the mess with handball this approach has caused.
The reason the ref goes over to the screen on certain penalty or foul play situations is so the on-field ref still has to be seen to be in control. As there are about 5 people checking in the VAR room the pictures should be on screen quickly but the biggest issue for me was the Japanese nearly scored before the handball by the Japanese player was told to the referee. It's only a matter of time before a goal is scored down the other end. Has that happened in any game with VAR 🤔
With the play acting and diving in both the Men's and the woman's game; not as bad but it is creeping into the female matches as the rewards increase.
The biggest moans are about the current rules of the game and VAR only carries this out and in the majority of cases successfully.
The offside by the armpit is embarrassing and some improvement still need to be made with VAR.
The reason the ref goes over to the screen on certain penalty or foul play situations is so the on-field ref still has to be seen to be in control. As there are about 5 people checking in the VAR room the pictures should be on screen quickly but the biggest issue for me was the Japanese nearly scored before the handball by the Japanese player was told to the referee. It's only a matter of time before a goal is scored down the other end. Has that happened in any game with VAR 🤔
With the play acting and diving in both the Men's and the woman's game; not as bad but it is creeping into the female matches as the rewards increase.
The biggest moans are about the current rules of the game and VAR only carries this out and in the majority of cases successfully.
The offside by the armpit is embarrassing and some improvement still need to be made with VAR.
But it doesn't work. The ref is under pressure to change their decision when it comes to looking at the video replay. That is why it is very rare they keep to it. If the ref has clearly made an error the VAR room can tell them and if it is close enough for them to have another look, stick to the original decision.
I think there was a penalty last season in the game between Man Utd and Seville. The ball hit part of the body and deflected onto the arm. No way that was a penalty but the ref gave it after looking at the screen.
Well Mutley the example you gave was a mistake by the VAR and the ref compounded the decision. If we listed all the decisions that are correct after the chat between the ref and VAR it would be much greater than the errors.
For me is there is a lot of interpretation in football. What is one persons push might be minimal contact to another. What is intent in a handball to one is not to another. The football authorities just have to accept this is a fact of football. When we say about a penalty, that is a bit soft, it is different to saying that is definitely not a penalty. We do need to trust refs a bit more and if their judgement is off, they end up getting relegated.
At the lower levels of the game where there is no VAR we trust refs. When we are at elite levels where we have the best refs, we don't! For me every team should have a review that can only be used for goal scoring or sending off decisions. If correctly used, they keep it and if not, they lose it. There could be a middle ground where the appeal can be viewed as not spurious where they still keep it. Then they have some power to affect a mistake and if they waste that power, it is partly their fault. Not perfect but you can't get perfect.
Haha. That usually goes for me too Tel, especially the All Blacks. But I had a sneaking wish for NZ girls to do well being at such long odds, and having been trounced in their warm-up games.
G'day Look Mate, it's great to see a big crowd for this Q.final and I hope this match is a ripper and the Matildas can triumph. When the main hosts stay in the tournament it keeps the energy high and the dream continues.
I like the idea of VAR, but it needs some major changes in implementation:
2) VAR needs to have confidence in it's own decision making process. None of this calling the ref over to a monitor. The ref got it wrong first time, why would you ever ask them to take a second look. 3rd umpire in cricket doesn't ask the on-field umpires to review the footage, it makes a decision and informs the on-field officials they were wrong or right.
In cricket the calls are entirely "factual" - did the ball touch the ground, will the ball hit (enough of) the stumps etc
With football VAR decisions, other than offsides, there are judgements to be made. Is that foul a yellow, a "bad" yellow or a definite red? Is that a foul in the penalty area or is the attacker going down too easily?
The onfield referee would lose all accountability to the players if these decisions were totally taken out of their hands.
I have a funny feeling that this is the day that the lionesses’ luck runs out. They’ve dodged too many bullets so far. Hope I’m wrong and they do an “Italian 90” and suddenly find something in the latter stages of the tournament.
I have a funny feeling that this is the day that the lionesses’ luck runs out. They’ve dodged too many bullets so far. Hope I’m wrong and they do an “Italian 90” and suddenly find something in the latter stages of the tournament.
I think England's luck ran out when we lost our Captain Williamson, our main goal score Beth Mead, Our play between the lines Fran Kirby and our X factor player in this WC Lauren James.
If we don't find our A game today then the counter attacking skills of Colombia will punish us.
Lucy Bronze always worries me when defending and how we didn't concede a penalty late on with her clumsy challenge I really don't know against Nigeria.
I think England's luck ran out when we lost our Captain Williamson, our main goal score Beth Mead, Our play between the lines Fran Kirby and our X factor player in this WC Lauren James.
If we don't find our A game today then the counter attacking skills of Colombia will punish us.
Lucy Bronze always worries me when defending and how we didn't concede a penalty late on with her clumsy challenge I really don't know against Nigeria.
Fair comment. The replacements have not stepped up.
Can't stand this French keeper. Ever since the first game she's looked shaky but has spent the entire time screaming at everyone else on her team if they commit the crime of letting the ball cross into her half just in case she has to do any work beyond looking menacing. I would be quite satisfied if the Aussies put 5 penalties past her. Plenty of time to go before that becomes a possibility though
Comments
With Japan going out a new team will lift the WC trophy for the first time.
I thought the Dutch would frustrate the Spanish and they nearly did and the overturned Penalty sealed the deal later with a good goal by the 19 year old Paralluelo.
Game of two halves, Japan v Netherlands with the 1st 63 minutes and the 2nd 37 minutes.
Sweden deserve the credit for dominating in that 1st period and Japan going for it in the 2nd period.
1) VAR has to make a decision within 60 seconds, if they can't then it wasn't a "clear and obvious error"
2) VAR needs to have confidence in it's own decision making process. None of this calling the ref over to a monitor. The ref got it wrong first time, why would you ever ask them to take a second look. 3rd umpire in cricket doesn't ask the on-field umpires to review the footage, it makes a decision and informs the on-field officials they were wrong or right.
3) Offside needs to be simplified. All this drawing vertical lines nonsense is time consuming and goes against the whole reason the rule was introduced. Just make it so that just the heels of the players matter, if the attacking player has one heel onside (i.e. pitch-side of the defenders back-most heel, they're one). I'd also say we need linos to make decisions (sort of like the soft signal in cricket). If VAR can't work out the offside in under 30 second then stick with the on-field decision.
4) Stop hiring referees to run VAR. The reason we have VAR is because of the generally poor level of decision making by referees, we won't see an improvement until we have specialised VARs. Training should be simple, we've got literally thousands (if not millions by now) of videos of decisions we can use to train them. The ones with the highest accuracy rate and who can do it within the above timescales qualify to be the VAR on match days.
I always knew FIFA would cock up VAR because they are trying to make something that should be fairer into perfection, which is not possible. Look at the mess with handball this approach has caused.
As there are about 5 people checking in the VAR room the pictures should be on screen quickly but the biggest issue for me was the Japanese nearly scored before the handball by the Japanese player was told to the referee. It's only a matter of time before a goal is scored down the other end. Has that happened in any game with VAR 🤔
With the play acting and diving in both the Men's and the woman's game; not as bad but it is creeping into the female matches as the rewards increase.
The biggest moans are about the current rules of the game and VAR only carries this out and in the majority of cases successfully.
The offside by the armpit is embarrassing and some improvement still need to be made with VAR.
I think there was a penalty last season in the game between Man Utd and Seville. The ball hit part of the body and deflected onto the arm. No way that was a penalty but the ref gave it after looking at the screen.
If we listed all the decisions that are correct after the chat between the ref and VAR it would be much greater than the errors.
At the lower levels of the game where there is no VAR we trust refs. When we are at elite levels where we have the best refs, we don't! For me every team should have a review that can only be used for goal scoring or sending off decisions. If correctly used, they keep it and if not, they lose it. There could be a middle ground where the appeal can be viewed as not spurious where they still keep it. Then they have some power to affect a mistake and if they waste that power, it is partly their fault. Not perfect but you can't get perfect.
Look Mate, it's great to see a big crowd for this Q.final and I hope this match is a ripper and the Matildas can triumph.
When the main hosts stay in the tournament it keeps the energy high and the dream continues.
With football VAR decisions, other than offsides, there are judgements to be made. Is that foul a yellow, a "bad" yellow or a definite red? Is that a foul in the penalty area or is the attacker going down too easily?
The onfield referee would lose all accountability to the players if these decisions were totally taken out of their hands.
The Shelia's are having a real go and the French are looking nervous.
If we don't find our A game today then the counter attacking skills of Colombia will punish us.
Lucy Bronze always worries me when defending and how we didn't concede a penalty late on with her clumsy challenge I really don't know against Nigeria.