28 GERYUG Nielsen
A spluttering Germany team came from two down to salvage a point against Yugoslavia in a game tragically overshadowed by events outside the stadium.
Kim Milton Nielsen was the referee on this afternoon. The man from Denmark offered one of the most noteworthy refereeing performances I have ever seen, which ultimately I'd determine was a good one.
Big Decisions
Despite the dynamic game, genuinely not too much in the way of huge decisions for the officials to take.
Germany's penalty appeal at 78' would be the subject of more theoretical than popular discussion, Bierhoff with the ball in the net was correctly not ruled as a valid goal (41'), and the Yugoslavia appeals for a penalty were all more hope than expectation, the loudest being three in a row at 39'.
Germany's penalty appeal at 78' would be the subject of more theoretical than popular discussion, Bierhoff with the ball in the net was correctly not ruled as a valid goal (41'), and the Yugoslavia appeals for a penalty were all more hope than expectation, the loudest being three in a row at 39'.
Managing the Game
This performance was absolutely incredible - especially in such a game, Kim Milton Nielsen tore up the 'rulebook' to deliver one of the most passive pieces of refereeing that I've ever seen; and in the end it worked.
I am genuinely not sure how Nielsen kept his hand on proceedings with such an approach (he did), but on reflection, it must have been his foul selection which players really appreciated. Throughout, the Dane just let them play with an extremely generous interpretation of contacts.
Such a tactical choice with two less-skilled nations would have been curtains, but for Germany and Yugoslavia, it worked rather well. What fascinates me is that Nielsen totally gambled with (Balkan) flammability - and won.
Players (of Yugoslavia) frequently threatened to disturb the laissez-faire equilibrium on the pitch, and met a totally phlegmatic referee when they did. We teetered (and at one point, 87', very nearly fell), but never did anything really accrue from the visibly rising tension; the game came to a good conclusion. Remarkable!
This performance was not faultless, though:
- disciplinary control was virtually non-existent, including some clear missed yellow cards (41' striking, 52' tackle, 70' holding but advantage), in addition to further incidents (44', +93' eg.). The only yellow card came at a tactically valuable moment at 77'.
I am genuinely not sure how Nielsen kept his hand on proceedings with such an approach (he did), but on reflection, it must have been his foul selection which players really appreciated. Throughout, the Dane just let them play with an extremely generous interpretation of contacts.
Such a tactical choice with two less-skilled nations would have been curtains, but for Germany and Yugoslavia, it worked rather well. What fascinates me is that Nielsen totally gambled with (Balkan) flammability - and won.
Players (of Yugoslavia) frequently threatened to disturb the laissez-faire equilibrium on the pitch, and met a totally phlegmatic referee when they did. We teetered (and at one point, 87', very nearly fell), but never did anything really accrue from the visibly rising tension; the game came to a good conclusion. Remarkable!
This performance was not faultless, though:
- disciplinary control was virtually non-existent, including some clear missed yellow cards (41' striking, 52' tackle, 70' holding but advantage), in addition to further incidents (44', +93' eg.). The only yellow card came at a tactically valuable moment at 77'.
- the end to the game wasn't terribly pretty; 81' precipitated an crazily angry contretemps at 87', in which Germany manager Berti Vogts did a better job of refereeing the game than Nielsen, and both instigators avoided any censure at all. If the rest of the game was skill indeed, then it was by simple pure luck that the Danish referee survived that scene.
- his management at 73' I found highly irritating. He lost his composure at fourth official Masayoshi Okada - it wasn't his fault(!) that Yugoslavia hadn't sorted out the substitution - and signalled for the freekick's taking before everybody was really ready. Without being too polemicist, I'd say Nielsen can claim something of an assist for Germany's first goal...
-> I would still say that this was a good performance in general, but...
Two further reflections, actually both related to one of the competing teams in this match, Germany:
- the perfect rendition of this tactical approach which I have ever seen was actually by Knut Kircher in the Bundesliga title decider game Borussia Dortmund - Bayern München. Ultra-lenient, but always pro-active and what stays most vivid in my mind, Kircher's brilliantly amiable attitude with the players.
What Nielsen did here worked, so I don't want to be too critical, but the difference between Kircher's smiley, pleasant, guiding-the-players through the game manner and that of the Danish referee here was vast. Nielsen just relied on his height and dealt with the players a trifle rudely, to be honest.
- if Nielsen was a referee in the Bundesliga nowadays, there would be a big campaign to keep him refereeing amongst the media and players / managers even if he was about to fall foul of the age limit :)
- his management at 73' I found highly irritating. He lost his composure at fourth official Masayoshi Okada - it wasn't his fault(!) that Yugoslavia hadn't sorted out the substitution - and signalled for the freekick's taking before everybody was really ready. Without being too polemicist, I'd say Nielsen can claim something of an assist for Germany's first goal...
-> I would still say that this was a good performance in general, but...
Two further reflections, actually both related to one of the competing teams in this match, Germany:
- the perfect rendition of this tactical approach which I have ever seen was actually by Knut Kircher in the Bundesliga title decider game Borussia Dortmund - Bayern München. Ultra-lenient, but always pro-active and what stays most vivid in my mind, Kircher's brilliantly amiable attitude with the players.
What Nielsen did here worked, so I don't want to be too critical, but the difference between Kircher's smiley, pleasant, guiding-the-players through the game manner and that of the Danish referee here was vast. Nielsen just relied on his height and dealt with the players a trifle rudely, to be honest.
- if Nielsen was a referee in the Bundesliga nowadays, there would be a big campaign to keep him refereeing amongst the media and players / managers even if he was about to fall foul of the age limit :)
Assistant Referees
Pretty quiet matches for the Maltese and Belgian assistant referees respectively - Emanuel Zammit correctly indicated a replayed offside (24'); Mark Van Den Broeck rightly gave an onside call at 34'.
Balance
A remarkable performance from Kim Milton Nielsen - having both the nerve and the skill to pull off such a lenient, passive approach in such a game is worthy of great respect. Sure, this performance wasn't perfect, but on the whole it was a good one in my view. We can expect a (strong) second appointment for him!
| Kim Milton Nielsen - 7 Emanuel Zammit - 7 Marc Van Den Broeck - 7 Masayoshi Okada DEN, MLT, BEL | Germany 2-2 Yugoslavia Group Stage 21 June |
 Matthäus (77') - Challenge |
I love your comparison of Nielsen with Kircher and Grafe! Never thought of that, but now, on reflection, I actually see it... and not only because the three of them were very tall referees:)
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