2014 World Cup

[BonnieShels]

Wow. Didn't see Brazil getting those decisions.

Eugh!

[osarusan]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuichi_Nishimura

Somebody has edited the ref's wiki page.


2014 FIFA world cup

Not wearing any glasses(due to his illness "asian eyes", causing him to always have them partially closed) he couldn't do his referee duty to full extent and thus screwed up Croatia which should've gotten draw if not, victory against Brazil. Thank you yuchiyuchi mishishishi
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Nishimura was also chosen by FIFA to referee the opening game of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. [5] FIFA immediately regretted their decision to select him after he awarded Brazil a penalty for literally no reason whatsoever that changed the course of the game. Croats burned effigies of Nishimura in the streets of Zagreb. He loves the D.

[White Horse]

Anthony Buttimer may make the world cup yet.

[Closed Account 2]

Interesting that hes the ref who sent off Felipe Melo during his meltdown against the dutch at the last world cup. I thought that was a good decision, but i hope he wasnt trying to overcompensate for that tonight

[NeverFeltBetter]

Disgusted. Such high expectations for the tournament, and to open like that. What incompetent, environment influenced officiating. He was looking right at that "penalty" shout.

[pineapple stu]

Is it a bit much to draw a link between most of the controversial refereeing decisions of recent years and the referees being from Asia/Africa/Central America?

Tonight - Japanese ref. Awful call.

Other random examples off the top of my head (well, maybe with a bit of googling!)

The disallowed Spanish goal against South Korea in 2002. Awful call; Egyptian ref
Rivaldo getting the Turkish fella sent off in 2002. Awful call; Korean ref with linesmen from Singapore and El Salvador (I don't know which one was right beside the incident)
Maradona's handball - Tunisian ref


Obviously you've got to add Graham Poll's three yellows and Howard Webb's performance in the 2010 finals to balance things (though Webb I see did book almost the entire Dutch team, and maybe only really missed de Jong's kung fu kick). What other examples are there? Lampard's goal was missed by Uruguayan officials. Maybe I'm way over the top to say that some officials are invited to ensure a spread among the continents. Looking back on wiki's list of refereeing controversies probably doesn't help my argument either! Just a random 1am thought though.

Not a great game; thought Pletikosa in goals for Croatia was poor throughout. Should have saved one of the goals I think; neither of the goals from play seemed particularly well-struck, and he'd have saved the penalty if he'd kept his lower hand strong. Didn't think Croatia offered too much, and ultimately the result was probably right. Brazil will need to improve though.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Pletikosa certainly could have done better for all three goals, the last especially. Neither Neymar's first nor Oscar's strike had much pace in them.

[Stuttgart88]

Pletikosa certainly could have done better for all three goals, the last especially. Neither Neymar's first nor Oscar's strike had much pace in them.
It was like the "slower ball" in cricket which often leads to a mistimed shot and a catch. The keeper saw the line of the ball but not the pace, so his footwork was poor. He had time each time to take another half step before diving, especially the first one.

Brazil got lucky really. I hope Croatia proceed.

[bennocelt]

Not a great game; thought Pletikosa in goals for Croatia was poor throughout. Should have saved one of the goals I think; neither of the goals from play seemed particularly well-struck, and he'd have saved the penalty if he'd kept his lower hand strong. Didn't think Croatia offered too much, and ultimately the result was probably right. Brazil will need to improve though.

Dead on there. Croatia have to be kicking themselves this morning. There was a period from the second half to the 60th minute where Brazil were there for the taking. Croatia fluked a goal and did nothing after. They gave away very cheap possession and the goalkeeper should have saved all three goals. Brazil had more heart to go for it, albeit the ref played a nice hand with that.

[DeLorean]

I was pretty repulsed by that opening and this particular Brazilian side in general. Cheating rewarded by a weak referee. Even outside of the penalty and disallowed goal, he seemed very eager to blow for every minor or non-existent infraction by the Croats.

I don't agree that the result was probably right. Croatia were obviously pretty happy with 1-0 and 1-1 so they never really needed to force the issue at that stage, but they were in cruise control until the penalty. I know you could argue that Brazil were the team trying to win the game, but you have to do enough to win the game and they didn't... well not by themselves anyway.

[pineapple stu]

There was one stage after the penalty where Croatia made their way up the right wing from full back to the edge of the area; they shipped three heavy Brazilian tackles - a late body check, a rugby tackle and a lunge. Advantage was played each time - which was correct - but the ref didn't go back to book any of the Brazilians. I thought that really typified the referee's performance.

[osarusan]

Referee was poor at times. Penalty was a shocker.

I agree with Delorean that Croatia were comfortable up until then - they were conceding territory and possession, but doing so on their terms, and Brazil had created very little. It was one of those games where, if Brazil scored, I couldn't see Croatia coming back into it, but Brazil didn't look like scoring either.

[NeverFeltBetter]

There was one stage after the penalty where Croatia made their way up the right wing from full back to the edge of the area; they shipped three heavy Brazilian tackles - a late body check, a rugby tackle and a lunge. Advantage was played each time - which was correct - but the ref didn't go back to book any of the Brazilians. I thought that really typified the referee's performance.

Whoever is reffing Brazil's next few games is going to be under crazy international scrutiny now.

[Closed Account 2]

There was one stage after the penalty where Croatia made their way up the right wing from full back to the edge of the area; they shipped three heavy Brazilian tackles - a late body check, a rugby tackle and a lunge. Advantage was played each time - which was correct - but the ref didn't go back to book any of the Brazilians. I thought that really typified the referee's performance.

The Croatians are now calling him "Referinho"

[Crosby87]

I bet on bosnia to get to the semis. Do you chaps think it could happen?

[DeLorean]

Had a quick look at the groups and fixtures and I'd say the best they could hope for is a quarter final exit to Germany (after finishing second in their group to Argentina and beating the winners of the France/Swiss group in last 16), but who knows?!

[BonnieShels]

Hmmm...

I'd not call that offside.

[Crosby87]

Yes another f-n horrible call. Mexico looks better than them though. They will get a few. There are bad calls in every sport but some of these officials have to be getting paid by the mafia.

[pineapple stu]

It was very close. Certainly his arm was offside, but that doesn't count. I think the linesman possibly had a better view than the camera tbh

[pineapple stu]

Great defending from Mexico there; stopped a certain Mexican goal.

Decent game so far. The Cameroonerainians are big fellas.

[BonnieShels]

Ah come on to fupp!

[Stuttgart88]

The officials are way out of their depth here. That was a nailed on goal with no earthly reason to disallow it.

Stuff technology, just use competent officials.

[pineapple stu]

You can have that one alright! Linesman didn't see it came off a Cameroon head. Referee had a better view of who got last touch and should have overruled I think.

[pineapple stu]

Actually, thinking about it, I've been very soft on the ref. If he saw the Cameroon lad getting the touch - and he should have - then it was literally impossible for that to have been offside.

Understandable error from the linesman. Shocking from the ref

[Stuttgart88]

The linesman should only have given it if he was sure. I think you're being lenient on the linesman.

[pineapple stu]

I can't speak for him obviously, but I'm happy to give him the benefit of thinking that the last touch came from a Mexican, in which case he was offside.

Opposite extreme now; Peralta half a yard offside but not flagged

[pineapple stu]

Mexico ahead, thankfully. Only right given the first half events

[BonnieShels]

Cameroon are offering very little.

Delighted Mexico are winning.

[BonnieShels]

Enjoyed that Mexico performance.

Cameroon are gonna be the whipping boys here. They showed very little.

[NeverFeltBetter]

I was frothing at the mouth at half time. Thank God Mexico got the winner. Was impressed by them, but I suppose Cameroon really were terrible at times. A goal down, and keeping Eto'o as a lone striker for another ten minutes!?

[BonnieShels]

It's difficult to have a plan B when you've no plan A

[pineapple stu]

Bit of a disappointing second half compared to the first half. The rain was biblical though.

Spain v Holland next. Better be a crap game cos I'm in Thomond :-)

[BonnieShels]

Hon holland!

[osarusan]

Am I the only one who thought that was a dive? It looked a pen at first (and not many complaints either) but the slo-mo suggested that Costa manufactured the contact?

[BonnieShels]

I'd agree. He looked for the contact. His left leg had a second movement towards Vrie.

[osarusan]

World-class header.

[BonnieShels]

Incredible.

Unsurprisingly the best 45min so far of the tournament.

[Crosby87]

Yeah these are 2 fun teams.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Am I the only one who thought that was a dive? It looked a pen at first (and not many complaints either) but the slo-mo suggested that Costa manufactured the contact?

I'm still not sure, but would err towards simulation. At best its a slight little clip, not enough to justify the fall. But, I think that's a terribly hard decision for the Ref to make. I don't like it, but I can completely understand why he gave it at that exact moment.

[Closed Account 2]

Unbelievable header, you couldnt place it better if you tried to volley it. Not sure it was a penalty either, Costa's foot was in the air and it seemed to land on the Dutchman's leg, at the original speed it did look like a trip, so you can understand why he gave it. Hope it ends in a draw as that will keep things going to the wire but i think Spain might squeak it, the guy in the middleof the back five for holland, bruno martins indi looks very dodgy...

[geysir]

I'd agree. He looked for the contact. His left leg had a second movement towards Vrie.
Stonewall penalty.
A sliding tackle that makes contact with a forward's standing leg and drags that leg to a point where he's brought to ground, is a penalty 100/100.
He didn't have to look for it. he didn't have time to look for anything, he turned then the defender wallops straight into him. A sliding tackle in the box is an act of desperation.

[osarusan]

Spain falling apart!

[Closed Account 2]

Unbelievable header, you couldnt place it better if you tried to volley it. Not sure it was a penalty either, Costa's foot was in the air and it seemed to land on the Dutchman's leg, at the original speed it did look like a trip, so you can understand why he gave it. Hope it ends in a draw as that will keep things going to the wire but i think Spain might squeak it, the guy in the middleof the back five for holland, bruno martins indi looks very dodgy...

Whoops!

[Stuttgart88]

No shame in losing 5-1 :)

At least half of our back 4 were from Reading.

[Stuttgart88]

I didn't realise until the BBC commentator said it, but we were the last team to beat the Dutch in qualifying.

[Stuttgart88]

I love how football ebbs and flows. Is tika taka history?

Would it have been all different but for a super save by the Dutch keeper?

[Stuttgart88]

I hope this starts restoring credibility to 3 at the back. I've always loved it.

[osarusan]

Casillas had a big part in the 3rd and 4th, and didn't do well for the 5th either.

Tremendous performance by Robben.


It will be interesting to see how Spain respond - they'll probably end up against Brazil in the 2nd round now.

[geysir]

That was some game by Holland, though they failed to make it 6 does ask a few questions about their mettle.

[Closed Account 2]

I think pointless possession and ball rotation on its own, pressuring opponents and waiting for mistakes has had its day. They had Pedro on the bench and when he came on the looked a tiny bit more of a threat, did they have Jesus Navas too? Imagine him and Pedro with Costa as a striker, a little bit more direct and they would be better.