István Kovács in charge of Slovenia - Serbia, first game at EURO 2024 for him.
Game 18, Group C
Munich, 20 June 2024 15:00 CET
Munich, 20 June 2024 15:00 CET
SLOVENIA - SERBIA
Referee: István Kovács ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Vasile Marinescu ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ovidiu Artene ROU
Fourth Official: Espen Eskås NOR
Reserve Assistant Referee: Jan Erik Engan NOR
Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Rob Dieperink NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2: Marco Fritz GER
UEFA Referee Observer: David Fernández Borbalán ESP
UEFA Delegate: Arturs Gaidels LVA
Referee: István Kovács ROU
Assistant Referee 1: Vasile Marinescu ROU
Assistant Referee 2: Ovidiu Artene ROU
Fourth Official: Espen Eskås NOR
Reserve Assistant Referee: Jan Erik Engan NOR
Video Assistant Referee: Pol van Boekel NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Rob Dieperink NED
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2: Marco Fritz GER
UEFA Referee Observer: David Fernández Borbalán ESP
UEFA Delegate: Arturs Gaidels LVA
15 minutes and this is the 1st comment.
ReplyDeleteHopefully it continues calm like this.
Great 1st YC,reninded me if yesterday 's YC.
ReplyDeleteKovacs so comfortable. I predict a SF for him this tournament
ReplyDeleteI’d say a good performance for Kovacs in an easy going first half without challenging situations or behaviors. Perfect caution for a clear late tackle at the touchline. I thought one offside mistake by Ar1 few minutes before half time which not caused problems.
ReplyDeleteExcellent performance in this 1H, IMO, although nothing major to report. I think Kovacs applied a perfect foul and disciplinary criteria for this particular match, he is absolutely in control and there are no issues in either technical or management aspects. A very good YC was given to SRB25 in 25', it was a mandatory card according to both reckless and SPA criteria. Also of note is a stepped disciplinary approach, visible in 29' with the verbal warning to SVN6, which I liked. Let's hope for the same good level in the 2H.
ReplyDeleteFully agree and like your wording e.g. Stepped disciplinary approach. Like also his proactive position play and visible emphatic communication skills.
DeleteFor sure more challenging match in the 2nd half cause easier than this could not get.
ReplyDeleteBoth teams need victory so we can expect feisty 2nd half .
Not sure it was a yc got Lukic, just a normal foul and Kovacs anyway should have given advantage to Slovenia, it was a dangerous attack. Two not optimal decisions in one episode I'd say
ReplyDeleteI have no problems with the yellow card, a significant stamp on the foot. But he should have delayed issuing it. Playing the advantage should have been the best choice.
DeleteEnglish commentators with high praise for kovacs “he’s not been in the game which show’s he has been really good”. Solid game for the Romanian so far
ReplyDeleteLast 20 minutes coud get very ugly cause of the score.
ReplyDeleteSerbia missed a clear corner in the 75th minute
ReplyDeleteBravo Kovacs,so far so good.
ReplyDeleteAll bookings were correct,maybe missed one to Gnezda Cerin but all in all impressive.
Impressive season and best ref in 2024 for sure.
A lot of cards being flashed around, although they do all appear to be correct. 1-1 at the end
ReplyDeleteIn general a good performance of the Romanian, who kept control and chose a sensible and consistent line on foul selection.
ReplyDeleteContrary to other readers I wasn’t that impressed by the management in added time. To my taste he contributed a little to the tension by bit of a nervous attitude. And two of the three cautions in added time I found unnecessary or even incorrect. The first to SRB#8 can be given, but actually the Serb does not do that much (to a player trying to delay the restart). The second one, SRB21, makes complete sense as he turned his body into his opponent. But the third I feel is incorrect. SVN#18 really does nothing to the Serbian goalkeeper, who makes a lot of theater.
In the end not too important in an otherwise good performance.
He had to give the Slovenia player a yellow after the 2 similar cautions for Serbia just prior, to avoid a debate at final whistle
DeleteA noticeably heated 2H, but again an excellent performance by Kovacs, IMO. He kept his clear line in foul detection, also efficiently delaying his whistle in some potential promising situations before returning to the original foul (53', 74'). The only complaints I have refer to the missed advantage for SVN in 54' (YC could have been issued later) and maybe a missed impeding foul for SVN in 65', but the latter can probably be supported.
ReplyDeleteComing to the disciplinary management, a really strong performance by Kovacs in this aspect, applying his usual strict line in the dying minutes of the game when the level of DtR/UB rose dramatically. YCs in 87' (SVN13, DtR), 90+2' (SRB8, UB retaliation), 90+4' (SRB21, UB, off-the-ball shoving) and again in 90+4' (SVN18, UB, shove on the GK) represent a very good "tightening of the grip", so to say, when things came on the verge of escalation. I really liked this clear adapting to the proceedings on the field and demands of the game. However, I have to note he definitely missed a YC for SVN22 in 90+2', that was a definite DtR which provoked the aforementioned retaliation by SRB8.
To sum up, an excellent performance in a game which required full concentration and firm control in managing the players throughout the whole match. IMHO, Kovacs succeeded in this fully.
Referee with best performances in 2024 for sure.
DeleteLet me take this opportunity to thank you for your excellent reports Dukat, gladly read by me and doubtlessly many other users too.
DeleteAbout this match specifically: agree, absolutely a good job by Koavcs who refereed the game according to his usual style. I would also mention a no penalty call to Slovenia at 67' which was absolutely right.
67: https://www.streambug.io/cv/e0f16a
In terms specifically of impeding, personally I would judge 65' as a correct play on (attacker pushed the ball too far), but this scene in 52' wouldn't have been wrongly given as a foul, and then it would have given the referee a decision to make regarding sanction :).
52: https://www.streambug.io/cv/cdd75e
Of course, never given (these days), but interesting to note!
Glad to see that Kovacs was able to continue the level of the first half and showed no signs of weakening in this high-intensity match.
ReplyDeleteHe radiated calmness, in combination with authentic self confidence and determination. Good overall foul detection in combination with stepped disciplinary management.
All fundamentals for the required level of acceptance and effective game control. Wait&see in combination with giving advantage is an area of attention
Overall for me a good-very good performance.
General remark:
Unfortunately, in this tournament so far, we see that the level of performance of the referees is weakening in the latter part of the second half and the required level of game control is gradually decreasing.
Studies in other countries and leagues also reveal that the number of incorrect decisions increases in the last 20 minutes.
Perhaps interesting to analyze and exchange ideas about why this is happening.
Yep,cause in fear of making wrong decision it's better to whistle nothing.
DeleteIn that aspect Kovacs is different,he reminds me a little bit like Brych.
Kovacs almost perfect, concetrate,calm, top decision maked, excellent criteria, tecnical aspect, YC correctly issued!
ReplyDeleteVery solid performance from Kovacs.
ReplyDeleteHe might get something BIG at this Euro.
Everyone knows he is card happy official.
ReplyDeleteHighlights:
ReplyDeletehttps://files.fm/u/885knjdmkj
Can we get all the video clips of the games please?
ReplyDelete