Saturday 22 June 2024

UEFA EURO 2024 Match 22: Belgium - Romania (discussion)

The last referee to make his debut at EURO is Szymon Marciniak. The Polish will officiate Belgium - Romania.


Game 22, Group E
Cologne, 22 June 2024 21:00 CET
BELGIUM - ROMANIA 
Referee: Szymon Marciniak POL 
Assistant Referee 1: Tomasz Listkiewicz POL
Assistant Referee 2: Adam Kupsik POL
Fourth Official: Donatas Rumšas LTU
Reserve Assistant Referee: Aleksandr Radiuš LTU
Video Assistant Referee: Tomasz Kwiatkowski POL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 1: Bartosz Frankowski POL
Assistant Video Assistant Referee 2: Nejc Kajtazović SVN
UEFA Referee Observer: Costas Kapitanis CYP
UEFA Delegate: Paolo Rondelli SMR 

81 comments:

  1. This match, 1/8 and semifinal for Marciniak - it's possible?
    Or maybe 2 GS matches, and QF like Germany - Spain, or Portugal-Netherlands?
    The other option is a treatment like Brych 3 years ago - 1/8, QF and SF.

    Otherwise, a Marciniak treatment since SF CL is strange - a ban for interviews, now a last referee with a single match.

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    1. It's easy to guess, even without knowing, that committee was very disappointed, to say it kindly, after the mistake between him and the assistant referee. Putting VAR out of order is the worst mistake today... nevertheless, the punishment so far has been indeed very harsh. Still, I can't imagine him, afte this management by committee, getting a very big game like a semifinal. But hard to believe as well that he will stay only with one game, maybe a middle solution, indeed, we will see, and of course all it's about the performance.

      Another consideration, about group E: it seems that we will have MD3 with all four teams having 3 points. WOW :) This means two games 100% crucial for qualification, that's rare.

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    2. Thank you for your response. I think that Committee will need Marciniak for hottest games like Portugal-Netherlands, specially if we can realise that Turpin may be rejected, Orsato will be protected etc.

      Unfortunataly, UEFA don't have a many reliable referees, so my predictions are: Marciniak with three games total, including one very hot game, but maximum quarter-final.

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    3. To add, the path of getting only one Group Stage game and then directly a KO like a Round of 16, is not common in UEFA tournament. This is rather used by FIFA. But with UEFA making a very accurate analysis of each performance (and after Turpin first game, we can be sure about that), it would be indeed very far from this logic to appoint a referee for KO only after one group stage, it's more likely to get three group stage games before. So, it's very tricky to guess about Marciniak next games. He should be out again in a few days but time is very short... well'see.

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    4. @fest: Turpin was not rejected by UEFA for the Germany-Scotland performance.

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  2. poor start. Missing an obvious foul in the corner and then not cautioning for a cynical bad foul

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  3. Imo Marciniak ignored a clear YC with the SPA blocking at 17’.

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  4. English commentators described it as a very "old school" performance

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  5. Opening YC for Belgium in minute 35. Clear and expected.

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    1. very inconsistent refereeing. Where was the yellow card on the challenge against lukebakio

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    2. Which minute was this? I think I missed it as I started watching a little late :p

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    3. https://streambug.org/cv/1dd53b

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    4. Thank you for the clip @Euro Soccer Ref. Hmm, this is an interesting one, potential SPA/LoR but to be honest I don’t feel like it’s a mandatory yellow, especially not one to open the game with. I’m content with the decision Marciniak took of no card.

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    5. In this situation, he reacts within the framework of stepwise application of the disciplinary toolbox and if you see the situation a bit further then you see that Marciniak firmly and clearly speaks with the Romanian player.
      A situation where w card can be given but better to save the ammunition.
      Thanks for the clip

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  6. You can immediately distinguish Marciniak from most other referees with the fact that he initially pursued a career as a football player and as such deeply understands, next to the LotG, the in and outs of professional football.
    Players accept him based on his experience and charismatic authentic leadership style. You hardly see protests or dissent and let the game flow where possible.
    He makes the match become a real match
    Players know that simulation has no chance and mostly works counterproductive.
    Some fouls could have been penalized, but he prefers to let the game flow and limit "unnecessary" interruptions

    Good 1H without significant problems and/or contradictions. He has complete and reuired control

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    1. Yep agreed. Good step by step approach as you said, this works very well for Marciniak in particular because of his experience and reputation and his style of refereeing. Full control of the first half in a normal game.

      As opposed to @Mikael W and @Chefren, I don’t want a yellow card at minute 15. I think for this game and at that stage during the game, it would not have gained more effect than the card at minute 35.

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  7. This in 17' was a big yellow card, you can add how much blatant, indeed lack of respect, this action was. Clear mistake not to give it, and of course a referee like the Polish is aware he has to book for such incidents, so Mikael is right... he ignored.

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  8. I don't consider the 1H bad, but the period from 15' to 35' was definitely too lenient and somewhat inconsistent (unusual for Marciniak, if I may say). After a good assessment in 15', with no YC for BEL14 for a step on the tip of the shoe, I think he missed (or rather ignored) a pretty clear YC to ROU6 for SPA-impeding/blocking. To be honest, I would have liked to see another YC to BEL8 for a (IMO) reckless tackle in 20', and it would have been a perfect opportunity to start clamping down on harsh fouls from both sides. Another opportunity came in 35', when Marciniak correctly issued a mandatory YC to BEL4 for a reckless tackle/SPA. Regarding KMIs, a penalty appeal by ROU in 39' was probably correctly rejected: if there was a significant holding, I think it came in the moment when the BEL GK was already first to the ball.

    Generally speaking, a lenient performance in regard to foul detection and disciplinary management, which does contribute to a good game, but it also cause some pretty hard fouls, some of them being borderline to a YC. I would have liked to see Marciniak applying his usual authoritative approach to player management in these instances; after all, he is one of the strongest authority figures in refereeing nowadays. However, I somehow missed this approach. On the other hand, I think he "stabilised" after the 35' YC. Let's hope for the best in the rest of the game.

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  10. Totally missed offside decision by broadcaster after the 2-0 scored by Lukaku. Replay after replay and then when they returned live with the game, goal had been cancelled. Even the commentators were not aware about that..

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    1. We have to say the camera work on this championship is simply awful.

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    2. Yeah really looked onside live but that just shows how much angles play apart of making offside decisions.

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  11. Goal disallowed for offside after VAR had its say. Looked very tight (onside) live but no replay shown yet. Then penalty shout from Romania but not a punishable handball since it was kicked from his own teammate directly on the arm. Then mandatory yellow card correctly issued for Romanian player.

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  12. And what do you think about the handball just after the disallowed goal ?

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    1. Not punishable according to new directives, clear trajectory change from teammates body (kicking it straight on the arm). Probably wouldn’t even be a handball if an opponent did it to be honest, such close distance and pretty much natural position.

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    2. IFAB/FIFA/UEFA are clear: never a punishable handball if your teammate kicks the ball at your arm.

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    3. not punishable because the ball came from his own teammate. correct decision to play on.

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    4. Euro soccer ref. Unnatural position, deliberate or scoring with the hand/arm will always be punishable no matter what. Maybe you are refering to this specific situation. but if you mean in general then it's not the case.

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    5. How do you mean? If a teammate deflects a ball heading towards the goal, and another teammate touches the ball with his hand - even involuntarily - and stops it from entering the goal, isn't it a penalty because the ball comes from a teammate?

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  13. Now I challenge you to say that the assistant should have seen this offside. You can't even see it with the SAOT graphics...

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    1. Yeah haha, literally a TOE offside. Impossible for the AR to see live.

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  14. A too lenient approach from Marciniak. Agree 17' was a mandatory YC.

    Seems he lacks motivation.

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  15. Looked indeed very tight. Until now no Replay and VAR analysis and that is somewhat strange!?
    YC's OK and fully fitting within his disciplinary approach

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  16. Reckless foul on the goalkeeper despite playing the ball before the it crossed the line so goal should have been disallowed? :P

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    1. Exactly my thought. We applauded Zwayer 3 hrs ago for whistling this and giving yc.

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    2. It is an interesting point, imagine if the force was a bit more excessive, would VAR have intervened with a DFK and RC instead of a goal?… what do you think?

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    3. Tricky situation while scoring the 2-0. After playing the ball and scoring, De Bruyne continues with a straight leg at the Romanian goalkeeper and hits it.
      Curious how the other experts evaluate this?

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    4. Well my opinion is: never ever a foul, bad luck for the Romania goalkeeper, De Bruyne fully fairly played the ball first (also my view on the early Vincic incident suggested by some as potential RC). My initial comment tonight was ‘tongue in cheek’!

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    5. The goalkeeper is there in front of De Bruyne. Scoring a goal doesn't mean you can perform the tackle as you want, not caring for an opponent's safety. To be honest, I can't imagine any serious referee observer supporting the no intervention by Kwiatkowski here.

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  17. Goal by De Bruyne - he followed through with studs into the goalkeeper’s leg with some force, this would be a foul on halfway line imo

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  18. 82' very good advantage, almost leading to a goal

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  19. Wow, what an incident with the second goal... De Bruyne's follow-through studs on leg are clearly YC challenge according to the instructions (even without them), therefore the goal shouldn't have stood. But De Bruyne was clearly held down by the defender. Therefore, the optimal outcome should be an OFR to disallow the goal, award a penalty and issue a direct RC for DOGSO-no attempt.

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    1. Thank goodness, common sense old style officiating prevailed. G-O-A-L!!!!!

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    2. Calling this back for a PK + Red + Yellow/Red when no one is asking for anything goes against all common sense. Sometimes the technically correct call isn't the needed outcome.

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    3. Dear MX , can you please explain. Behind your text is very often a meaning and even a hidden message. Would like to understand.

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    4. I'm going to go scream into a pillow for 5 minutes. Yikes.

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    5. Nothing about my texts are meant to be hidden or difficult to understand, me writing +1 to CWY2190’s comment is me voicing my opinion that I agree with his comment and the point he is making. What else is there for me to explain? :p

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    6. Thanks and "old school"

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    7. While I absolutely understand Euro Soccer Ref's arguments and, from a pure technical standpoint, they are correct, I think this is the exact situation where we need to apply some much needed common sense. Let's analyse the situation a bit: at the moment of the studs-contact, the ball is already past the goalkeeper and literally going into the net, with maybe half a second left for it to cross the goal line. Then about the studs-contact itself: I strongly argue that it was the holding/pull by the Romanian defender that throws De Bruyne off balance and causes his follow-through on the GK's leg. I think it would be against the spirit of the Laws, the spirit of football and sport in general, and actually against common sense to punish De Bruyne by cancelling this goal. Sometimes the letter of the law is not the only argument in assessing a situation. Common sense and spirit of the law are more than important even in law enforcement (I probably wouldn't be alive otherwise), let alone in a contact sport such as football.

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    8. Just one question. How would you justify a card to De Bruyne when he HIMSELF had been previously fouled, which caused his fall (change of movement), and therefore most probably the subsequent potential foul on the GK?

      Thank GOD common sense prevailed here.

      I can't imagine how a player would react if a player gets fouled and also gets a YC, or in other case potentially a RC just for "falling inappropriately".

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  20. So far and this is basically the case all over the world for elite refs, the whistles being used are:

    Molten Valkeen
    Fox 40 Classic
    Fox 40 Sonik Blast

    Except Marciniak who seems to be using Molten Dolfin Pro.
    Very rarely you see refs outside of Europe with an Acme Tornado T2000 or 635.

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  21. Old school performance by Marciniak. Calm, top control of the game. One more, and I hope that we will se him in knock out stages. Answer to VG- Most referees in football now used Valkeen, especially in Europe. Rare referees like Turpin and Peljto use Fox 40 classic. Fox 40 Sonik Blast, only Letexier and Velasco Carballo from 2012 onwards. Acme Tornado t2000 is characteristic for Nordic referees like Eriksoon and Ovrebo, while 635 from top referees was only used by Pavel Kralovec. Also 635 most commonly is used by Czech and Slovak referees.

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    1. I wouldn't say most pro refs use Valkeen. It's probably around 35-45%. If you look at England it's basically all Fox 40 Classic. Eriksson used Valkeen when it started being produced.

      Here In Sweden where I live it's 100% Valkeen for exactly every pro ref which I find interesting since there really are other whistles that I think sound nicer and can make you more unique.

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    2. Zwayer uses Fox 40 mini :D

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  22. Reminds me of Collina, does it his way and most of time it works
    No-one who follows football would expect that goal disallowed especially if it then ends up with YC, RC. OFR and penalty

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    1. Agreed. Like CWY2190 said in his comment and what I like to say: do what is expected and is in the spirit of the game. Do what football wants, do what players and fans want. Sometimes referees need to take EXPECTED decisions, just like this one allowing the goal - not overanalyzing and overcomplicating it.

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    2. Dear MX, some reflection on your above contribution:

      As said sometimes we agree that we can disagree.
      In your statement:
      "Do what football wants, do what players and fans want"

      I have a fundamentally different view on this issue and that is that the law (as in society and nearly everywhere) prevails over what the society or others want.
      Certainly when it comes to fans or players. What football wants is determined by UEFA and other umbrella organizations. Of course, clubs, directors, trainers, players, and fans have a voice, but the framework, standards, and values ​​are set by UEFA/FIFA and we should adhere to that.
      During the yearly change process, rules are discussed, adapted, and deployed where appropriate.

      Also in society, judges follow the law and not what society expects or wants. The law is the guiding framework and nothing else!
      I know and register that nowadays in society and also in sports there is a certain trend to take the law with some grain of salt. That intrinsically includes the danger that we slowly dismantle our law, agreed rule and guidelines and as such also the LotG.

      As said before I respect your view but accepting this one is a different story.
      Giving in to society and everybody's wishes is easy. Standing for and applying/implementing the agreed rules, norms and values is quite difficult, but in the longer end rewarding.

      Saying:
      Do what football wants, do what players and fans want is for me a step too far.

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    3. For me, spirit of the game = what football wants as a whole (eg: fans & players). The whole reason that the laws of the game exist is to keep football as ”the beautiful game”, to be a joy for fans around the world and to inspire people to continue the amazing world of football - not to punish things ”football doesn’t expect/want”, this is the difference in society laws and football laws, they exist for different purposes and therefore have different results and therefore can’t be compared 1:1.

      You can not become a good referee by ignoring the laws of the game, nor can you become a good referee by strictly following what the laws of the games says word by word. The best football referees interpret and apply the laws of the games to match the spirit of each and every single unique game and when neccessary apply: ”what football wants”. That is the beauty of football.

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    4. One last reaction:
      Law is law, and indeed, they are made for different aspects of society and sports, but they all serve the same purpose:
      What is allowed and what is not allowed?
      In sports, the law and its rules are in place for the safety of the players, the integrity of the game, and to create as fair a competition as possible.
      What football wants is laid down by UEFA/FIFA and nobody else.
      As such our observing process as such should be guided by the above.
      One can/may argue about required or wished modifications for which the LotG modification process is in place, but as long as they are not approved, the guiding framework is the LotG in combination with the UEFA guidelines.
      This UEFA/FIFA LotG modification process finds its way through the IFAB and agreed modifications are yearly published, deployed, and implemented.

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  23. And what refs expected for the last two games in this Group? Is a hard one. Manzano with Belgium and Siebert with Romania? Or another refs?

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    1. Schärer and the two French referees are also possible and logical, if they aren't used on Tuesday.

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    2. You can’t put France referee in Group E, because the runner Up of Group D meet runner Up Group E, and France is in D. And Group D will finish Tuesday. I will go with Manzano and maybe Taylor.

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  24. HERE is the example situation used by Rosetti in the press conference to show a tackle which should be assessed as reckless despite the ball being played:

    https://www.streambug.io/cv/68599c

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    1. My general idea is that any situation where the ball-playing player has -- 1) made a clear and successful play on the ball to change its direction, and; 2) made some effort to 'pull out' and not follow through -- my *personal* preference is to play on. This would include the above clip! Notable exceptions in this genre (ie. not pulling out, or even the opposite) would be Sweden-Ukraine RC at the last Euro and Omar Artan's AFCON red, which were correctly solved by the officials on both occasions. Hummels penalty at PSV was also rightly judged as a foul in my view, for not fulfilling the first criterion.

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    2. UEFA's comment:

      Even though he plays the ball, the player makes a strong unfair contact with the opponent and should be cautioned. Ball must be played in a fair manner.

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    3. For this clip, I agree with you, it shouldn't be a foul (or at most careless), because the player pulls back and therefore reduces the impact.
      However, de Bruyne's challenge is clearly worse IMO, because he ends the action with a dangerous, high contact against the GK's leg. Without playing the ball, it would have been in the SFP area.
      And if the foul from the clip is already reckless for UEFA, de Bruyne's must be as well, right?

      But yes, apparently no debate about the goal on and off the pitch outside of refereeing circles is also a factor to be considered in the big picture.

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    4. De Bruyne’s challenge is a clear foul and a mandatory YC in pretty much any other scenario except for this one where the ball is about to roll into an empty net. Sometimes we as referees have to apply common sense/spirit of the game/what football wants although tehnically incorrect - that’s just how refereeing is sometimes in my opinion.

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    5. Agree with Mikael and Philips S
      For me, the safety and health of players is far more important than all other things. What when the Romanian goalkeeper broke his leg or got seriously injured in this specific situation??

      Are we going to say:
      "Yes not nice but scoring the goal was more important. We wish the injured player good luck."

      Happy to see that UEFA is going more and more in the direction of fairplay and protecting the healthiness of players and instructing referees with clips as posted by Mickael.

      Football will become even more attractive if we stop this reckless behavior and punish it accordingly, independent what happens after the attack. Alone already by watching these reckless attacks hurts.

      But I have to recognize that there are different views and respect them as such, but for me safety and health of players remains priority number one, and will instruct/observe referees in this context.

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  25. I think it has mostly been a good performance by Marciniak overall. Although I clearly criticised him for some decisions in 15' - 35' period, especially the missed YC to ROU6 for SPA in 16', it was probably the only mandatory YC he missed, at least for my taste. Speaking of other potential incidents, both in regard to foul detection and disciplinary management, I think he presented a clear, although really lenient line and can actually be supported in most of the cases. After all, it was his chosen style for this match and he upheld it all the way to the end, thus ensuring consistent and balanced approach to both teams, as well as a dynamic and intense game which was entertaining to watch. I admit I would prefer if he had used his otherwise strong personality and authority to manage some situations and hard fouls more intensively during the 1H, but his control over the players was never in any real jeopardy, nor were the players showing any real challenge to his authority (like with Orsato: do they even dare?). On the other hand, those YCs he eventually gave were all good decisions and were issued in exactly the right moments to ensure the game never "slips through his fingers": 35' (BEL4, reckless tackle/SPA), 59' (ROU11, late tackle/LoR) and 65' (ROU6, SPA/LoR). The one from 35' was, IMO, especially beneficial for game control.

    Coming to PAIs, he faced two and solved both correctly, IMO: no penalty for ROU in 39' and no handball penalty for ROU in 65' (the ball was literally shot to the defender's hand by a teammate from a very short direction, his arm being out for balance purposes). As for the VAR intervention to cancel a BEL goal in 64', there is absolutely no blame for AR2 in this instance: such an offside is impossible to detect for a human eye and it would have actually been a mistake not to hold the flag down in such a situation. I have already analysed the potential foul by De Bruyne before the 2-0 goal in detail in a comment above; all I can say is that I strongly prefer the goal to stand, as a very commonsensical and expected solution, at least for me. Lastly, I think AR1 had one wrong offside call in 79'.

    All things considered, I think the performance tonight can be described as positive, even with one or two suboptimal calls.

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    1. To me Marciniak seemed more approachable and “kind” with the players, like he was happy to build a relationship with them. Recently (Georgia-Greece especially) anyone who went near him got a firm telling off

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    2. Agreed with your analysis as a whole, although I disagree with the foul at 16’ being a mandatory yellow for SPA- I think solving it with game management is okay that early into the game.

      Other than that, great analysis like always. Marciniak always in control with huge acceptance (probably because of his reputation) and a good feeling for letting the game flow, making the game enjoyable to watch. Obviously not massively tested but I think his leadership contributes to this, all in all a solid performance.

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  26. Wilmar Roldan... what a RC missed.. to be honest I never understood what CONMEBOL found in this referee by years, it's incredible.
    https://streamin.me/v/cd4a2ce1

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    1. I was worried, that by your comment he was going to stick with yellow card after review. But I agree, every world cup game he got had some controversy. A poor referee to be honest

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    2. I am really annoyed by seeing how many players were allowed to stand around the referee, trying to influence him. Just looks awful from my point of view. Really like that we haven't seen similar things in the Euro. But yes, shocker to miss that RC on field. Agree with Oliver that I thought he would stick with YC (which would've been crazy) after your comment.

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  27. With apologies for the rigor, but this referee is one who makes serious mistakes and it can be seen that he is on the side of a team.
    Let's remember the match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich?
    Well, in the Belgium - Romania match, he clearly refused a penalty for Romania in the first half, when a Belgian player stepped on the ball in the box and then fell with his hand on the ball. To top it off, this referee dictates a foul for Belgium instead of dictating a penalty for Romania...
    The replays clearly showed this. I don't understand why VAR didn't change the referee's decision. Or was the penalty awarded to Romania too much?

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  28. Highlights:
    https://files.fm/u/pbcb833tym

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