As expected, The Netherlands and Brazil won easily in Monday’s matches. Tuesday’s games could be more interesting. Paraguay and Japan play first (10AM Eastern Time) followed by Spain and Portugal at 2:30PM.
The really hot stuff happens this weekend, when four of the strongest teams face off in the Quarter-Finals. Holland plays Brazil (gasp) and Argentina plays Germany.
Most of the Cup-Commentary since yesterday has focused on two calls (or lack thereof) by the referees, each of which influenced the goal counts –but in my opinion failed to influence the outcome of the games.
The first was a shot by England that appeared, from our God’s Eye View (i.e. ESPN) to bounce off the crossbar, land inside the goal, bounce up again against the cross bar, land outside the goal where it was caught by the German goalkeeper.
The second questionable call—rather lack of a call---was the failure to find the Argentine player off-sides, and therefore allowing this goal:
Germany beat England 4-1, and Argentina beat Mexico 3-1, so in each case the call, or lack thereof, failed to influence the outcome of the game. Let’s face it: the best team won each match.
There’s a larger debate concerning the use of video as evidence to review calls. In the war crimes courts I study, photography, video, and satellite imagery are quite often used as evidence, and just as often the ‘truths’ told are contested. Judges and expert witnesses carefully consider the interpretations prosecutors and defendants make of images presented as evidence. In a war crimes trial, it is appropriate to take the time to study the photographic images very carefully before determining what actually happened.
I agree with Fifa (shocking!) that the sport is best served by relying on the referees’ judgment on the pitch, so that the play can go on.
As in real life, sometimes we suffer a bad judgment call. It’s all part of the game.
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I agree that video would detract from the beauty and the flow of the game however I think there are measures that could be taken to reduce the number of missed calls. I think that FIFA could increase the number of refreees either on the pitch or have a referee whose primary responsibilty is to monitor the goal box area since this is where most of the dispute calls occur.
ReplyDeleteI am anti-replay. I think instant replay reduces the sport and heightens the deliver- audiences- to- advertisers aspect of "games." And although I'm sure not anti-technology, instant replay diminishes/dissolves sport into spectacle.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments!
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