The Norwegian referee will officiate the last act of the tournament.
Saturday 8 July 2023
Final
18:00 CET - Batumi (Adjarabet Arena)
ENGLAND - SPAIN
Referee: Espen Eskås (NOR)
Assistant Referee 1: Jan Erik Engan (NOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Isaak Elias Bashevkin (NOR)
Fourth Official: Rade Obrenovič (SVN)
Video Assistant Referee: Christian Dingert (GER)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Bartosz Frankowski (POL)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2:Tiago Bruno Lopes Martins (POR)
UEFA Referee Observer: Roberto Rosetti (ITA)
UEFA Delegate: Per Eliasson (SWE)
UEFA Referee Observer: Roberto Rosetti (ITA)
UEFA Delegate: Per Eliasson (SWE)
Expected and deserved appointment, I would say the only referee with a very clean path at the tournament, true that he didn't have to face many situations like other officials, but he showed a very good and strong presence and when called to major and big decisions, he didn't hesitate.
ReplyDeleteI think that Strukan paid the possible penalty that he didn't whistle, but apart from that quite good as well, maybe the second referee at the tournament if we want to make a ranking about performances...
Ranking is a wonderful idea to summarize the performances especially for who didn't follow all matches. Can you rank them according to the feedback received by different comments ?
DeleteThose comments were really reliable😂🙈
DeleteBased on the comments would be definitely not reliable ;)
DeleteWell, don't tell me that I'm the only one who fully trust on our blog....:-) I see that many of readers post some unreliable comments but most of you are really competent and able to make a tentative ranking. I love this blog
DeleteDomenico Messina new head of Cyprus referees, he replaces Mazic.
ReplyDeleteMazic goes to Russia
DeleteAre these moves confirmed?
DeleteYes. Mazic has been appointed as Head of RFU Refereeing Depart and already held pre-season seminar of Russian refs
DeleteBased on the games I watched, appointments and some comments, Id say in this tournaments we have:
ReplyDeleteWinners:
Eskas
Obrenovic
Lambrechts
Krogh
Losers ( mostly not satisfied with the perfirmances and appointments):
Lindhout
Al Hakim
Aghayev
Mixed-feelings:
Rumsas & Delajod - very good performances, but not appointed in later stages
Fesnic
Pinheiro
Strukan
By merit in order IMO,
Delete1. Eskas
2. Obrenovic
3. Rumsas
4. Fesnic
5. Pinheiro
5. Strukan
6. Krogh
7. Lambrechts
8. Al Hakim
9. Aghayev
10. Lindhout
For me:
ReplyDeleteObrenovic
Eskas (good performances but in not demanding matches, no serious situations to asses in penalty area etc, would like to see him in tougher matches)
Strukan
Fesnic
Delayod
Rumsus
Lambrechts
Aghayev
Krogh
Pinhero
Al Hakim
Lindhout
My U17 WC UEFA referees prediction after U21 EURO: Peljto, Pinheiro, Obrenovič, Rumsas & Eskås.
ReplyDeleteMine,
DeleteReferee: Peljto, Eskas, Obrenovic, Krogh, Rumsas/Pinheiro/Delajod.
VAR: Dieperink/Kamphuis, Kajtazovic, Mariani, Verissimo/Portuguese VAR except Godinho (already U20)/Martins (too much for U17), maybe 1 Spanish/English.
I don’t think Rumsas will go because he’s already in Argentina.
I have a feeling that Pinheiro/Delajod could not be selected, all referees could be from third world countries and all VAR except Slovenian could be from big FA.
Maybe Pajac from Croatia most promising referee in Europe
DeleteIMO,
ReplyDelete1. Eskas
2. Obrenovic
3. Rumsas
4. Fesnic
5. Pinheiro
5. Al Hakim
6. Krogh
7. Lambrechts
8. Aghayev
9. Strukan
10. Lindhout
For me Jovic nr. 1 in Croatia
ReplyDeleteStop spamming pls (this is not the first example!), we do not need anonymous completely unrelated comments without any arguments. Even more because there are few regular users from Croatia that try to be constructive
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
DeleteEh guys, stop smoke with your ranking :) most of you put Lambrechts in 7th place. He whistled 4 matchs with 1 QF et 1 SF and hé make 0 crucial mistakes. No bad penalty, no bad red card. Respect the referee guys.
ReplyDeleteHe’s from big FA, he’s already 38 y.o, indeed he make 0 crucial mistake but referee assessed not only by how many he made mistake, cmon guys..
DeleteHis presence, his body language are nothing comparing to his background. Or maybe I put too much expectation about him, because recently so many comments said that Lambrecht now is BEL No.1 above Visser. IMO Lambrects is not more better than Van Driessche, so Visser must be BEL No.1, maybe not much better but more younger, this is crucial point. Respect the referee? I don’t think that point rely on this topic, we saw how UEFA treating Rumsas and thank God Eskas appointed on the final.
I agree that he's no better in terms of presence and body language. But he's managed all his matches without controversy. And I think, in a Euro, it's important to finish a match without people talking about the referee. I prefer a referee who lacks a little presence to a referee with a lot of body language who goes to VAR every match for a clear mistake.
DeleteA Euro? Come on this is only U21, could you imagine in real Euro he can managed well? This is not preferency but the objective point he couldn’t reach a Euro level with this performance, I think with respect to him, many of readers on here agree that SF for him was undeserved. Again comparing to Rumsas.
DeleteLast, if you try to compare I think the baseline must be apple to apple, can you mentioned a name referee with lot of body language who goes to VAR every match that trusted by UEFA :)
Yes of course : Makkelie, Turpin, Taylor, Oliver too
DeleteAre they every match get VAR intervention like anonimos 16:56 said?
DeleteThen only Makkelie.
DeleteWell played
DeleteIn Belgium, for the league (players, trainers, clubs) : 1st Lardot, 2nd Lambrechts, 3rd Visser. For the FA (ref com.) : Lambrechts, Visser and then Lardot. In UEFA until now : Visser, Lambrechts... and maybe Verboomen... and after Vandriessche, Lardot...
ReplyDeleteFinal referees:
ReplyDelete2023 - Eskas
2021 - Kruashvili
2019 - Jovanović
2017 - Bastien
2015 - Marciniak
2013 - Jug
2011 - Tagliavento
2009 - Kuipers
2007 - Skomina
After 2010, only Marciniak is a really big name
You know, the story of Kruashvili is very particular, still not clear how committee sees him...
DeleteAbout Jovanović, before Italy - England on last March he was more than ready to become a really big name, but after that... and let me say very harsh punishment, a so long time without any assignment.
+1
DeletePanama vs Qatar
ReplyDeleteReferee: CESAR RAMOS (Mexico)
1st Assistant Referee: ALBERTO MORIN (Mexico)
2nd Assistant Referee: MARCO BISGUERRA (Mexico)
4th Official: FERNANDO GUERRERO (Mexico)
VAR: ERICK MIRANDA (Mexico)
AVAR1: GUILLERMO PACHECO (Mexico)
Mexico vs Costa Rica
Referee: SAID MARTINEZ (Honduras)
1st Assistant Referee: WALTER LOPEZ (Honduras)
2nd Assistant Referee: CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ (Honduras)
4th Official: RANDY ENCARNACION (Dominican Republic)
VAR: CHRIS PENSO (USA)
AVAR1: SELVIN BROWN (Honduras)
Guatemala vs Jamaica
Referee: DREW FISCHER (Canada)
1st Assistant Referee: MICHEAL BARWEGEN (Canada)
2nd Assistant Referee: CALEB WALES (Trinidad and Tobago)
4th Official: JOSEPH DICKERSON (USA)
VAR: EDVIN JURISEVIC (USA)
AVAR1: TIM FORD (USA)
USA vs Canada
Referee: MARCO ORTIZ (Mexico)
1st Assistant Referee: CHRISTIAN ESPINOSA (Mexico)
2nd Assistant Referee: JORGE SANCHEZ (Mexico)
4th Official: OSHANE NATION (Jamaica)
VAR: ENRIQUE SANTANDER (Mexico)
AVAR1: RICARDO MONTERO (Costa Rica)
Ramos and Martinez are very logical appointments for those matches.
DeleteFischer not gone yet for the WWC, but Nesbitt probably is. Also nearly no alternatives for GUA-JAM. Maybe Barton, but he seems out of favour after MEX-USA.
Good game for Ortiz, who seems to be the Mexican number 2 now (with good chances for 2026), also after the U20WC QF.
Semifinal appointments could be tricky, if Mexico and Guatemala qualify. Probably Calderon, but who else? Maybe Martinez again.
Without Guatemala, Escobar or W.Lopez could be appointed.
Escobar or W. Lopez, Barton, Nation or Parchment, the names for the SF will come out of those 4.
DeleteDepending on the result of GUA-JAM, of course.
FINAL: It will be for Calderon (CRC).
Source: Felipe Ramos Rizo (MEX) (World Cup exreferee).
I think about what would happen if CRC advances to the final?
DeleteIt seems that CONCACAF does not see it that way, the Mexican said that this will happen in an interview where he was asked about the final appointments and he assured this but I am not sure.
Fischer is paired again with Jurisevic after the much-debated OFR in Mexico-Qatar.
DeleteFurther matches as referee for Parchment are impossible after his first and last match.
DeleteMaybe Escobar and one of the other names for semis and Barton straight in the final?
If the final is MEX-USA Barton won't get it, trust me
DeleteDo not forget that USA is playing with (almost) their B team. Even after the CNL semi-final USA-MEX, Barton is still rated very highly by Concacaf. The fact that he only got one group stage match and no QF indicates that Barton, who is also neutral (SLV), has been saved for something very important - the final or, at least, a semi-final.
DeleteBut do you think, that Barton could referee MEX or USA again so soon?
DeleteLet's wait to see who will play the final. However, there are not many choises since Escobar did the 2019 final and Martinez did the 2021 final plus the recent Nations League final, while Barton has not done yet any of them.
ReplyDeleteIf Mexico will not advance, Ramos could be an option for the final as well. Calderon would have been a candidate, but his last performance was not considered top level.
DeleteHow about Aguilar’s 3 finals in a row? I think Escobar still have the chance, Martinez because UNL final seems not possible, and then Barton after catastrophic in USA-MEX, IMO is also not possible but again the committee maybe mark Barton higher than everyone on here, despite one could said (inc. me) that Barton performance in WC22 it’s not different than Michu in Swansea, “one season wonder”
DeleteBatres' and Aguilar's repeated Gold Cup finals in old times, under a totally different Concacaf leadership. If someone will repeat the final, it will be Martinez, not Escibar. However, Concacaf was happy with Barton and considered that no other referee could have done any better in that infamous USA-MEX. He is being kept for the final or a semi-final.
DeleteCorrect YC for ENG21, reckless stamp.
ReplyDeleteNow correct (albeit too delayed) YC for ESP16.
DeleteClear second yellow for #21 missed unfortunatelly
DeleteIndeed Eng player had 2 goes
ReplyDelete"Revenge" foul also correctly cautioned
Mass confrontation now after English goal...
ReplyDeleteTwo players booked (Colwill & Sancet) & one member from each bench sent off in the aftermath.
DeleteVery intense game for Eskås.
Hardly any of added time actually played. Although I would have done the same myself
ReplyDeletePossible second YC before the goal, for a SPA, but I think it can be supportable to whistle without booking, then big troubles when England scored and here Eskas had to face for the first time a very challenging context. Correct decision to book both players and to send off some team officials from the benches.
ReplyDeleteManagement of added time was not good, he should have waited 1 or 2 minutes more before the end.
At the end I think the "Qatar management" is the only possible one and Collina is right.
"Correct decision to send off some team officials from the benches" - are you an AI bot or a person? Spanish coaches were the ones causing the trouble. Ashley Cole was trying to calm everyone down - and got a red for that. Did you even watch the game, or just came here to throw some empty praise while trying to sound like an expert? Come on...
DeleteHe remained very calm, obviously taking in info from AR1 and 4O, was impressed with his management
ReplyDelete50': possible violent conduct?
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion at least a YC for SPA #16, which would have been his 2nd in the game. Big mistake from Eskas
Delete+1
DeleteYes missed 2nd Yc for 16 Spain
DeleteThat’s not even close to violent conduct. It’s just unsporting behaviour. Yellow card yes.
DeleteCorrectly disallowed goal by AR1.
ReplyDeleteNever a 2YC, some on here have no feel for the game
ReplyDeleteHaha, ridiculous!
DeleteYou are one of those who think less cards automatically means a better referee, yes?
Delete82 minutes in, resist the urge to comment so far. Eskas has had a very good game, very calm and controlled, the way he has chosen to referee is to control through yellow cards, when things got heated he got the red out for the benches, this is absolutely brilliant management. Both RC as mentioned could be seen as letter of the law RC but in the spirit of the game, he is trying to keep it 11v11 and most important consistency through the game. A referee is never perfect but this is a very good performance. Bravo to the Norwegian team on the brilliant final performance, on his way to Elite.
ReplyDeleteI don’t see any personality. No smiles, no facial expressions. Typical referee.
DeleteWOW, OFR in the very last minute of the game, penalty to Spain.
ReplyDeleteWow, PK after OFR!
ReplyDeleteI'm not convinced by clear and obvious mistake here. First feeling, then maybe I will change idea, but the Spanish player with his behavior (remaining on the ground) caught the attention of VAR maybe more than the needed?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteWas there contact? Yes
ReplyDeleteDid it make him fall over? No
Had all fouls of that level of contact been given? No
The only time the officials were inconsistent
4 red cards and 10 YCs - fair play that he kept giving them
I think he did very well
Is it a penalty? Possibly. But I really don't like what the referee was shown. I would have liked it in live speed then slowed so he could get a better feel for the incident. You might as well not have OFRs if that's all that is shown.
ReplyDeleteI also feel the strictness of bench control is verrry different to what we saw from more experienced officials in the club Uefa finals.
Finally, how the captain was able to take the penalty after being so badly 'injured' for several minutes is beyond me. I would like to see folk who stay down clearly feigning an injury, or exaggerating a contact, even when fouled, to be cautioned for feigning an injury. But that's a personal annoyance and one for another day :-)
Excellent remark about bench management, well, simple and only answer must be that in Under 21 final is easy and allowed to work in this way, but not the same with club competitions...
DeletePlease, if someone has the most important clips of the match, can they share them?
ReplyDeleteI didn't see the game and I would like to see the plays :)
Try this
Deletehttps://streamin.me/v/0375b99d
Average perfromance By Eskas. I think that he still need to work on himself in some aspects to be Elite referee.
ReplyDeleteFor sure this game was the most challenging one for him so far, maybe not even regarding his experience at EURO 2021, but for most of his international games (hopefully I'm not exaggerating), having said that, a short comment about his performance in my opinion could indeed report that he has some aspects in which he has still to work, but that's also normal, given his path and development as UEFA referee.
DeleteI think he can be supported in all crucial decisions, to understand how much committee will consider the penalty as significant mistake, I'm not sure. The overall picture is not negative, but surely it wasn't a full expected level performance. My idea is that Rosetti can be a bit disappointed, but not that much, he could have imagined that sooner or later the Norwegian had to face his first real challenging match.
Sure,not negative photo about Eskas final performance,and, I totally agree with you, but, first very challenging match for him, and he was,as I sad, average. But, we will se his further development. Cheers,Chefren!!!
DeleteWould be interessting to hear an official opinion. Totally different bench management compared to e.g. Taylor in the EL Final. Then maybe missed 2YC, probably correct, because they want 11vs.11 in finals. The penalty was completely accepted on the field. But also correct by the book? I dont know…
ReplyDeleteClear kick on the foot. It’s an obvious penalty.
DeleteAlso ENG player celebrating in Ruiz's face deserved YC,I know it's high emotions but you cant disrespect opponnet like that and getting away with it.
ReplyDeleteAny prediction for UEFA SuperCup Man City Sevilla, to be played on Aug 16th?
ReplyDeleteI think all “big names” are out to this kind of competition. I’m thinking about 3 referees, in this order:
1) Dias, 44yo, great season for him, a well deserved UCL SF, not so young anymore.
2) Letexier, 34yo, the future of French refereeing, maybe too soon for a SC appointment, but it would be a good first achievement for his international career.
3) Meler, 36yo, i dont really like him as a referee, but he is trusted by Comm, and achieve a UECL SF, and a UEL QF on this season.
Bonus: Scharer, but he missed a part of season for injury; Zwayer, but he did UEFA NL Final a month ago.
What do you think about it?
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3xSGtF6Cy3Fsjv6HKGZeICOtIiuo8i6hpvonF4xdY3kTfHA/viewform?pli=1
DeleteSorry for the deleted messages, an INCREDIBLE situation in USA-CAN, assistant 1 Espinoza (MEX) was hit in the face with the ball, he bled and had to be attended by doctors.
ReplyDeleteNation (JAM) fourth official, replaces Espinoza for 1 minute and then Caleb Wales (TRI) who was in the PREVIOUS GUA-JAM match as assistant is now assistant 1.
Two games in one day for Wales.
Incredible.
Wales had too very good decisions in the first game, including an onside on the goal. And now a very good close offside call at the end of the first half. Great work by the Trinidadian.
DeleteLong video review, handball against a US defender was correctly detected by the VAR, but Ortiz found a foul by a Canadian attacker just prior. Seemed a little soft if you ask me, but there is a push.
DeleteAfter all is said and done, the first half ends in the 12th minute of added time, followed by a mass confrontation between the teams. Concacaf!
How is it possible that Concacaf does not have reserve ARs in the quarter-finals of their top continental competition??? Someone must be accountable for this incredible and unacceptable situation.
DeleteWith Mexico and Jamaica advanced, who do you think will lead the final? IMO the Guatemalan are on pole position, either Escobar or Lopez. I don’t know how Concacaf rate Calderon and at the moment Barton.
ReplyDeleteBarton
DeleteI think Calderon is a likely candidate, he was excellent in Guatemala vs Guadeloupe the other day. Barton normally would be the obvious choice, but perhaps not possible after his last USA vs Mexico game. Especially if the teams are the same.
DeleteEscobar for JAM-MEX and Barton for USA-PAN, Calderón direct to the final.
DeleteI know that Jamaica just beat Guatemala, but knowing Concacaf they are going to ignore it and they are going to put Escobar (López is also possible but I personally see Escobar working here) and they are going to send Barton to San Diego for the USA-PAN.
And Calderón hasn't done badly, no crucial mistakes so far by the Costa Rican.
Someone can say the hand sanctioned as PK in the GLP-GUA, for someone it will be a penalty for others it will not be a penalty but nothing serious, there was not much controversy, GUA won and nothing happened.
He sanctioned another PK for GLP and at the end the expulsion for the GLP player, both correctly.
We'll see tomorrow with the appointments for SF.
If CONCACAF wants a new name, Calderon indeed seems the only realistic option (at least, if MEX is in the final).
DeleteOtherwise Martinez and W.Lopez could also be possible.
And yes, JAM-MEX should be Escobar. For USA-PAN probably Calderon or Martinez, depending on who is not planned for the final.
I still don't expect Barton anywhere after his treatment at the tournament so far, but we'll see.
Barton in the final with Escobar and Walter Lopez in the semi-finals
DeleteOfficial
ReplyDeleteEscobar for JAM-MEX and López for USA-PAN.
The interesting thing is to see Calderon as fourth official in the USA-PAN duel, his assistant 1 Mora as a reserve in the same game and his assistant 2 Pupiro as a reserve in JAM-MEX.
With quite strange arrangement, still I don’t think Barton would get the final. IMO Martinez could be the next Aguilar or still Calderon and I think we can’t exclude potential for USA/Mexico bottled, the ref could be from there, as we can see that it would be rare to see the final without USA/Mexico representative.
DeleteIMO Calderon will do it, these appointments tell me something I don't know, Martinez comes from doing the CAN-USA in NL so (assuming a North American final) I don't think he will be there, I prefer to give it to Calderón.
DeleteBut Concacaf loves Barton, even with his mistakes, I don't rule him out.
Concacaf has never made appointments based on merit, it is always favoritism.
But for me it will be Martinez or Calderón
You must be Costa Rican :) A fourth official in a semi-final has never been appointed to referee the final of the same competition at the national team level. Saving Barton for the final is the only reason why he has not been involved in QFs and SFs.
Delete2022 UEFA European Women's Football Championship
DeleteEngland 4–0 Sweden
Fourth official:
Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)
England 2–1 (a.e.t.) Germany
Referee:
Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)
Anticipation of CALDERON in Copa Oro final 2023.
Rizzoli is one fan of CALDERON.
Full appointments
DeleteUSA-PAN: W.Lopez (GUA), Corrales (NCA), Feliz (DOM), Calderon (CRC) - Brown (HON), Pineda (CRC)
JAM-MEX: Escobar, Ventura, Panjoj, B.Lopez (GUA) - Montero (CRC), Cornejo (SLV)
VAR choices are quite interesting:
- Fully neutral officials, i.e. not from USA or MEX
- Therefore the 4 names where the only options, because Borjas, Guzman and Perello are already at the WWC
- Montero works as main VAR for the first time since HAI-QAT on MD1
- The two Costa Ricans not appointed together
Barton left yesterday due to a family reason. Martinez or Ramos in the final, depending on Mexico advancing or not.
DeleteAny infos about new UEFA Payment system?
ReplyDeleteThe innovation is that payments for UCL, UEL and UECL are made based on the competition and the stage of the game, while for the matches between national teams (EURO Qualifiers) they are paid based on category.
DeleteI think that this shows us how much are considered more important club competitions than national teams games.
To add, Champions League final is the highest payment, while I find interesting that both CL quarterfinals and semifinals rounds are paid the same as Europa League Final.
Ok,but,what are the numbers, I think that Ref Fot ask that?
DeleteIt's not a simple situation. Salary depends a lot. A few years ago, Makkelie was paid a certain amount for the UCL barage. And last season he received half that for the same match.
DeleteIf you know that UCL QF=UEL Final, you must know the amounts paid. So, could you please share the match fees?
Delete