10 NEDBEL Collina
Having played twice in qualifying for World Cup 1998, Netherlands and Belgium faced off in their final tournament opener - the successful defensive tactics of underdogs Belgium lead to a scoreless game, where Patrick Kluivert was sent off for hitting out with the ball far away.
Famed Pierluigi Collina was the referee selected for this Low Countries derby - a sometimes boring, often niggly match to officiate for the Italian. Emmanuel Zammit, his assistant referee from Malta, correctly saw Kluivert's elbow away from the play, and in general Collina reffed this game well.
Big Decisions
We television viewers had an anxious wait, as Patrick Kluivert's elbow on Lorenzo Staelens was only shown at the end of a minute long replay sequence of the verbal dust-up between the two of them, Kluivert's resulting elbow was exactly what Staelens wanted, and got; a nod to the days when excessive force constituted (just) that!
Maltese AR Zammit did very well here - his flag went straight up, surely pressing the buzzer too, and Collina went over to talk to him, before presenting the red card. Very good alertness by Emanuel Zammit here, well done.
The biggest decision that Collina had to take was at 29' - was Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink pulled down by Éric Deflandre on his way to what would have been an (obvious) goal-scoring opportunity?
Well yes, he was, and the more correct call is a freekick + RC I think. However there are some arguments in favour of play on - first holding is mutual, Hasselbaink might not have reached the ball after that first hold and Hasselbaink is the player who brings them both down at the end. Ultimately, Collina's call is probably supportable.
The biggest decision that Collina had to take was at 29' - was Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink pulled down by Éric Deflandre on his way to what would have been an (obvious) goal-scoring opportunity?
Well yes, he was, and the more correct call is a freekick + RC I think. However there are some arguments in favour of play on - first holding is mutual, Hasselbaink might not have reached the ball after that first hold and Hasselbaink is the player who brings them both down at the end. Ultimately, Collina's call is probably supportable.
The other assistant, Italian Gennaro Mazzei, might well have indicated to his team leader to issue a red card for violent conduct too! Luís Oliveira clearly and deliberately stamps on Ronald de Boer right in front of AR Mazzei, who obviously missed the scene (surprising course of action by Oliveira, right under Mazzei's nose too, perhaps too close). It's hard to blame the Italian too much (-> 6), though.
Managing the Game
This was a tough match to officiate - two wily, street-wise teams who knew each other perhaps a little too well, in which Pierluigi Collina did a good job overall.
His disciplinary control was quite messy. The flying reckless tackle at 20', yellow card given, was the consequence of two under-managed incidents prior to that (3', 15'); another reckless foul at 24' resulted in a verbal warning for the perpetrator. SPA at 29' was clear, and the Italian might have punished another tactical foul with a yellow - 34'.
Having ridden out ten/fifteen choppy minutes (20'-34'), the game was pretty calm after that; Collina's approach worked. That being said, I can't help but think that this match would have been much more edifying if the Italian referee had rigorously punished Belgium players for their clear tactic of rough play.
Having ridden out ten/fifteen choppy minutes (20'-34'), the game was pretty calm after that; Collina's approach worked. That being said, I can't help but think that this match would have been much more edifying if the Italian referee had rigorously punished Belgium players for their clear tactic of rough play.
Foul detection / selection was actually not the strongest point of this performance either (eg. 28', 31') with whistles which surprised the players or were a bit late. Though talking about a specific technical aspect, I would highlight Collina's whistle tones - they were excellent!
Otherwise: supportable play on at 24', what do you think about his manner at 34(?), correct play on at 42', and a clear caution ignored at +94.
Assistant Referees
Reporting Kluivert's violent conduct was excellent by Emanuel Zammit, but that was as good as this performance got for the Maltese assistant - he made clear and important mistakes at 56' and 68'.
Thanks to German television (and their PS1 graphics :)), we can see just how far Zammit was out of position at the 68' incident. He idiosyncratic ally runs backwards - ARs today don't do the crabbing gait for nothing, it helps keep both the passer and the receiver in view, and avoids getting into the horrible position the Maltese AR was here in.
Unfortunately these mistakes are definitely too much at a World Cup level and even despite seeing the 80' incident right, I would conclude that Zammit failed the test, despite great work on the VC.
Solid cross-over onside at 5' (and 62' incident) aside for Gennaro Mazzei, this was a quiet evening for him.
Solid cross-over onside at 5' (and 62' incident) aside for Gennaro Mazzei, this was a quiet evening for him.
Balance
With the help of his assistant Emanuel Zammit to spot the red card, cognisant of some doubts, good performance by Pierluigi Collina. A second appointment should follow for the Italian.
| Pierluigi Collina - 7 Gennaro Mazzei - 6 Emanuel Zammit - 5 Ramesh Ramdhan ITA, ITA, MLT | Netherlands 0-0 Belgium Group Stage 13 June |
 Staelens (20') - Tackle Deflandre (29') - SPA (Holding) | |
 Kluivert (80') - Violent Conduct (Striking) |
@68': I didn't remember that analysis tool and would like it to be used nowadays as well. Panning to the AR's angle to find out, why he did or didn't decide correctly would be a nice feature. Or even to the referee's angle to show e.g. that he had a blocked view on a critical situation.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree wholeheartedly! It was part of a post-match analysis section and I clipped it on to the situation in the HL.
DeleteSome might sneer at the PS1 graphics (though I'd argue EA Sports EURO 2000 was a great game ;)), but it's an excellently analytical approach which is missing nowadays.
However, in this particular instance I don't think it accurately represents what happens - Zammit is SO focused on seeing when the ball is passed (look at the way he is running, with no eye on the second last defender), by the time he turns to see Kluivert, it is past the still that German television gives us with the graphics.
That's why ARs should 'crab', ie. run sideways, in order to best keep in view the passer and the receiver. The graphic does brilliantly show how impossible it is to determine offsides when you are out of position with the second-last defender, too.
You can look forward to more such graphics later in the tournament! :)
Collina was never perfect in his World Cup matches, but was widely considered the best referee ever. This shows that what matters most is the big picture, rather than the details.
ReplyDelete