Quarterfinals (Matches 45-48)
 |
| Hosts Italy were heavy pre-match favourites for their quarterfinal match against the Republic of Ireland |
The quarterfinal matches at World Cup 1990. Of the four games, three were to be handled by European refs (Röthlisberger, Silva Valente, Kohl), while the final tie was with a CONCACAF official (Codesal).
FIFA released these appointments on Thursday 28th June (all times local, CEST).
45 Argentina vs. Yugoslavia (Sat 30June 1700, Florence) ||
Kurt Röthlisberger – Neji Jouini, Mohamed Hansal
Reserve: Shizuo Takada (JPN)
(SUI, TUN, ALG)
46 Republic of Ireland vs. Italy (Sat 30June 2100, Rome) ||
46 Republic of Ireland vs. Italy (Sat 30June 2100, Rome) ||
Carlos Silva Valente – Berny Ulloa Morera, Armando Pérez Hoyos
Reserve: José Ramiz Wright (BRA)
(POR, CRC, COL)
47 Czechoslovakia vs. West Germany (Sun 1July 1700, Milan) ||
47 Czechoslovakia vs. West Germany (Sun 1July 1700, Milan) ||
Helmut Kohl – Michał Listkiewicz, Peter Mikkelsen
Reserve: Joël Quiniou (FRA)
(AUT, POL, DEN)
48 Cameroon vs. England (Sun 1July 2100, Naples) ||
48 Cameroon vs. England (Sun 1July 2100, Naples) ||
Edgardo Codesal – Vincent Mauro, Jassim Mandi
Reserve: Michel Vautrot (FRA)
(MEX, USA, BHR)
Concurrently, FIFA also determined which referees they would cut from the final stages of the competition. Twenty referees (+ support squad) were out, including all of those representing associations who had reached the quarterfinals. As ordered by confederation, the retained officials:
AFC (Asia)
Jassim Mandi (BHR)
Shizuo Takada (JPN)
CAF (Africa)
Mohamed Hansal (ALG)
Neji Jouini (TUN)
CONCACAF (North America)
Edgardo Codesal (MEX)
Vincent Mauro (USA)
Berny Ulloa Morera (CRC)
CONMEBOL (South America)
Armando Pérez Hoyos (COL)
José Ramiz Wright (BRA)
OFC (Oceania)
-
UEFA (Europe)
Helmut Kohl (AUT)
Michał Listkiewicz (POL)
Peter Mikkelsen (DEN)
Joël Quiniou (FRA)
Kurt Röthlisberger (SUI)
Carlos Silva Valente (POR)
Michel Vautrot (FRA)
Match 45 - Argentina vs. Yugoslavia, Kurt Röthlisberger
ReplyDelete(https://vk.com/video400374426_456239321)
(1/5)
Delete-- Videos (right click links to open in new tab) --
Clip: Refik Šabanadžović is sent off in the first half, with a Second Yellow Card given (SPA/Tackle)
Clip: With two minutes to go of Extra Time, Jorge Burruchaga’s potential winner is disallowed (handling)
-- ends --
(2/5)
DeleteAppointment
While three of the four quarterfinal appointments fitted quite easily into place,
(> FIGC got the Italian on the refs committee (Campanati) to lobby hard for SILVA VALENTE to referee their game with Ireland, accepted by FIFA, and as Portuguese, the Latin American specialist linesmen could accompany him
> Having done some of their 'dirty work' in the group stage, KOHL from Austria had earned a crack at the sonorous FRG vs. TCH game, the promising youngster of 1990 and UEFA's dedicated linesman at his sides, the all-Euro official team of the round
> Cameroon against England was perfect for the Mexican law-enforcer CODESAL, one his style was perfect to deal with the combative African side, two he wasn't from UEFA/CONMEBOL, and Mauro/Mandi would complete the 'exotic' trio)
Argentina vs. Yugoslavia in Florence proved much trickier for the committee. Actually, it was a real juggling act - AFA were very powerful inside FIFA, Yugoslav association were only to a certain extent - so presenting an option that was satisfactory for both was tricky. A certain compromise appointment at the last World Cup, for a quarterfinal involving Argentina no less, cannot have been far from their view either.
Ultimately, this time FIFA did well in my opinion. With Kohl and Vautrot on more sonorous tasks, they bet on the last remaining European, Röthlisberger, to referee. In order to keep everyone happy, all of his teammates would be confederationally-neutral (Tunisia, Algeria, Japan). Röthlisberger himself was a bit risky after his slightly lacking performance in England vs. Egypt, but the Swiss probably deserved the benefit of the doubt.
Though, neccessity probably made it immaterial anyway. The big gamble however was on the African linesmen, Jouini and Hansal. I expect that FIFA would have slated them both basically for reserve work from the R16 onwards, but circumstances dictated otherwise. Tunisian Neji Jouini had earned his stripes and deserved his place - his linesmen appearances were never bad, though they were decreasing in quality as the tournament got older.
Hansal’s whole treatment at the tournament was quite bizarre. He was essentially ‘the designated Italian reserve referee’ (the other game in Italy’s group, then vs. USA, TCH and URU all consecutively), and ran the line on two Group F games in Palermo. I really don’t know what FIFA wanted to do with him, to be honest. I suspect he was down for more reserve work having been retained - or maybe they just wanted to keep his slate clean for later - but in any case, he was in as second linesman at Argentina vs. Yugoslavia.
(3/5)
DeleteMatch
Managing the Game: Having spun the wheel, FIFA’s gambles - on Kurt Röthlisberger (and on his two CAF linesmen) - basically all payed off. Full marks to Röthlisberger especially, the Swiss referee was very good in a quite tense and sometimes-controversial match. The potential problems of his style in controlling an explosive South American vs. Balkan clash never really materialised. He utilised his assets (game-reading), and simultaneously compensated for his weaknesses (leadership-type), really well.
After halftime, the game wasn’t as challenging, but in the first half, Röthlisberger showed his mettle for sure. Both sets of players started edgily, and were keen to test what they could get away with. Despite riding his luck a little a couple of times, I was quite convinced by how the Swiss referee managed it: clear warnings for the more egregious offences, closely paying attention to not losing control, and the perfect opening card for a flagrant tactical foul.
Šabanadžović was cautioned five minutes later; a fateful decision (09:00). Not retreating meant not clemency at Italia ’90, and after the Yugoslav player didn’t listen to the referee who told him to back away, Röthlisberger didn’t have much choice but to take his name. Less than ten minutes later, Šabanadžović was to be sent off (analysed below).
His ejection proved a casesura for the game. Henry Kissinger, watching with the FIFA executives in the stands, concluded that the red card “ruined the game”. This time I’d have to agree with him. Yugoslavia just sat back after the halftime break and played for the penalty competition. The result was a relatively sterile spectacle until then. Röthlisberger reffed it well though, always in control, some nice player interactions. I liked his performance!
That penalty ‘shoot-out’ was a dramatic one however and contained some interesting reffing incidents too. There was some drama over the Argentina list, as per the laws pre-16/17, to be presented to the officials (they had used both subs, I can’t think what about?), and moreso about the Yugoslavia list. Hadžibegić was noted fifth, stepped out fourth, and had to then switch with Brnović, he having walked all the way to the spot. Goycochea denied them both, and Yugoslavia were eliminated.
Key Match Incidents: Kissinger was quite right about the effects of this red card on the match. But unlike the other two archetypal examples of an ejection “ruining” a World Cup match, Šabanadžović’s red was neither completely uncalled for, nor a result of refereeing mismanagement. The incident split opinion at the time, but I’d quite firmly stand behind this call myself through the 1990 lens.
At Mexico ’86, he would have gotten away with it, but having deliberately kicked Maradona out of the game in a rather promising position, he didn’t really offer Röthlisberger much chance to not send him off here. I chose that lexis carefully, and I’m sure that the Swiss ref saw it like that himself, as opposed to instantly deciding “that is a crystal clear SYC”. That revealed itself in the card showing procedure.
I actually recalled this incident quite wrongly. No, Röthlisberger wasn’t influenced by Argentina mobbing (was he mobbed by them at all?). He reached for his pocket after about a second, and the delay in getting the cards out was partly fumbling with the notebook, and partly because of Yugoslavia mobbing. It was a shame that the game then became 11 vs. 10, but on this occasion, the culprit for the regretable result was not the referee, but Šabanadžović himself!
As a final note about 32’. Srečko Katanec, not listed as a substutute for this game, was ordered from the bench on the order of Neji Jouini in the aftermath. Katanec was supposed to started the game, but renounced his place in the team having received a death threat hours before kick-off, and was hence replaced as at his request.
(4/5)
DeleteKey Match Incidents (Cntd): The other big call came at the end of extra time, clip is below. I searched extensively for an interview with Jorge Burruchaga discussing the incident. Only he, besides a hypothetical 2008-11 UEFA AAR, would be able to really know whether he handled the ball before scoring what would have been a dramatic one-hundred and eighteenth minute winner. Media at the time agreed that the television footage was inconclusive.
Burruchaga stated that the decision was wrong: he controlled the ball with his hip, never his arm, if VAR was in operation, the goal would have been awarded. I mean, I guess he has no reason to lie thirty years later, but his live reaction suggested quite differently. As soon as the ball crosses the line, he looks out very clearly at linesman Jouini, and then to Röthlisberger, arms in the air, appealing for the decision, as if he knows he has transgressed. Maybe he feared he was offside (he is clearly on, so was Caniggia it seems)?
Having studied the 1990 tape-recording from Dutch television all day, more and more, I think Burruchaga is probably right. If indeed he didn’t use his arm, then it was a simply remarkable piece of control, with the goalkeeper having deflected the ball just a split-second before! Burruchaga also stated something else which I quite agree with re. this scene - it was surprisingly uncontroversial. Obviously that has a lot to do with Argentina’s victory in the penalty series, but regardless, it does somehow feel like the ‘default’ decision was to disallow the goal.
Perhaps Röthlisberger - for it was completely his decision, Jouini’s flag stayed down - was fortunate that what might have been a decisive angle happened to be obscured by the crossbar. In any case, his decision should be supported. There is no CLEAR evidence to disprove it.
Actually, this is one of my favourite scenes from the whole World Cup. It was a simply nightmare incident to face at 118’ after a tense game - I wouldn’t wish it on any referee(!) - but it was fascinating to observe how Röthlisberger, a referee with a fascinating style, dealt with it. I don’t think he was sure at all about the call itself. His first reaction was to look out to Jouini, only after that he blows up for hands, and most tellingly, after the furious mobbing Argentina players point towards Jouini, the referee does take a nervous look towards him himself!
Even more interesting was the personality dimension of how he dealt with the mobbing of Argentina players. Running around rather than through the Argentina players to ‘reach’ the destination of the offence, how he initially ‘defends’ his call, the actually clear(!) VC on him by Caniggia, how he then slightly changes his gestures and finally manages to succeed, also by pushing a player. There was also trouble between the benches (a very rare 1990 occurrence), but Röthlisberger and co. managed to bring everything back under control.
Wow, what a deeply intense moment, touching on leadership ability, charisma, and personal determination in the hardest moments, going much deeper than football refereeing! Despite his limitations, by sheer force of will, Röthlisberger saved himself from sinking here. A most memorable scene for those deeply passionate!
(5/5)
DeleteLinesmen
Both Neji Jouini and Mohamed Hansal passed the test with the flag here, though one had a more satisfying performance than the other. Algeria’s Hansal had more to do than his compatriot, and one relatively poor offside in the first half, he did well. Jouini also did well besides one scene, but that was a rather important one during the second period of extra time. The Tunisian was ahead of the second last defender, guessed a bit, and got it wrong (39:58).
If I had to bet my house on either of these two linesmen, then it would have been Jouini without much doubt (and that’s not even being prejudiced by what woul follow in Bari). However, according to the performance principle, it was Mohamed Hansal who more deserved his consequent place in the third place playoff as linesman. Jouini featured also, but only as reserve referee.
Shizuo Takada, in both key match incidents, had quite a high body of work for the 1990 reserve referee, in what was his final World Cup finals appearance of all time.
Balance
Kurt Röthlisberger cemented himself as one of World Cup 1990’s refereeing winners in this game. After one ambivalent and two (very) good performances, the Swiss official and his interesting style had affirmed himself at the top. Justified in ejecting Šabanadžović and not clearly wrong in denying Burruchaga, Röthlisberger pulled this quarterfinal off quite impressively, given he was there in a pretty tight context.
Without any doubt, the crazily intense thirty seconds at 118’ after the disallowed goal will always stay with me as a remarkable refereeing moment. On a more personal note, Röthlisberger is typical of why the refereeing of past World Cups are so fascinating in my opinion - he has such a unique way of handling his games! The Swiss’s place in the third place playoff was nice conclusion to what was a successful tournament for him.
Match 46 - Republic of Ireland vs. Italy, Carlos Silva Valente
ReplyDelete(https://vk.com/video400374426_456239322)
Italy got through their potential banana-skin quarterfinal, defeating a competitive Ireland side by a first half Schillaci goal to nothing. All things considered, it was a pretty stress-free event for the hosts, who progressed to the last four. Hence, a normal difficulty encounter (certainly on a WC QF level) for the referee, Carlos Silva Valente of Portugal. His performance though earned the serious ire of the Irish side, who believed that they did not have 'the rub of the green' from the officials in Rome.
DeleteIreland weren't robbed, and they deserved to lose on the night. But frustration at Silva Valente would be justified: there are certainly positive points about his refereeing, but ultimately (just like Argentina vs. Romania), this was in the end a pretty weak piece of officiating. The Portuguese had a decent enough first half, but tailed off pretty badly in the second. Ireland were obviously annoyed because they felt that their physical style was unfairly penalised, but actually, the very random thesis for judging body contacts afflicted both sides.
Besides this foul recognition element, Silva Valente’s performance wasn’t excessively bad, and still passed the test. However, it was still quite far from satisfying. “Weak” is the perfect word to describe his refereeing (04:10, 22:25 - two clips which display this very well). Certainly one of the most interesting characters amongst the refs at Italia ’90, any further assignments after this one would have been very exaggerated, and duly FIFA agreed, ending the Portuguese’s tournament here.
Neither were the performances of the two linesmen really satisfying. Both Berny Ulloa Morera and Armando Pérez Hoyos of Costa Rica, Colombia respectively wrongly disallowed goals for Italy for alledged offside offences (09:00, 25:30), amidst other mistakes made by the Americas duo. Both ruled out scores were poor calls, but especially Pérez Hoyos’s was bad, a clear match error. To be honest, the only possible conclusion should have really been the Colombian’s rejection; alas, FIFA decided rather differently.
Match 47 - Czechoslovakia vs. West Germany, Helmut Kohl
ReplyDelete(https://vk.com/video400374426_456239323)
(1/2)
DeleteTough match to referee. Especially in the first half, the sort of game where only survival is really possible - very intensely played, an almost extreme high number of duels to assess, many potential caution incidents, with ‘bloody-minded’ and impossible-to-manage players. In other words, the sort of game where one has to fly by the seat of his pants a bit, and it is not really possible to take control of the players actions. For the referee who was the master of assuring control in his games by doing exactly that - taking control of the players actions - this blindsided Helmut Kohl quite significantly.
I think the key to succeeding in these games is resisting the temptation to shoot too much munition too early, as a reaction to not ‘feeling’ in control of the game. The Austrian fell a bit victim to that. His opening caution for a crafty SPA blocking was quite credible, but was probably better saved for later on. Firm gestures would have been enough IMO. The (very) reckless foul on Matthäus a few minutes later would have been the perfect opening caution. Kohl then really had to hope that the players would heed the message now (this at 15’), but invariably, they didn’t.
The result was the continuing of hard sliding tackle fouls, and the arbitrary decisions of which ones to caution and which not (we finished the 1H on four cautions). As with foul recognition, this disciplinary approach was very reactive. The second half was significantly easier, but contained a fair number of mistakes in technical accuracy, the first forty-five minutes having drained Kohl (athletic profile isn’t everything, but Kohl was one of those whose passing of the fitness tests was ‘tight’, too). In the end, Helmut Kohl refereed decently/okay, but not more than that.
His linesmen were both quite quiet, Listkiewicz and Mikkelsen both impressive though in how diligently they carried out their duties (the Pole ascertained his impression as flag-bearer no.1 at Italia ’90 for me). Good marks for both of them. But ultimately, how you finally assess this officiating performance comes down to how you assess Kohl’s decisions in three very key scenes. Analysis of them is below.
Finally, we should end on more poignant note. In covering past World Cups, one watches matches officiated by referees who sadly are no longer with us. Helmut Kohl’s passing though, little over a year after Italia ’90, is just incredibly tragic. Kohl was diagnosed with cancer in December/1990, and he passed away in September of the next year. A terribly premature passing of a very good referee, and more importantly (as said by colleagues), a very kind man. A great loss not only for the world of refereeing. Rest in peace, Mr Kohl.
(2/2)
Delete-- KMI Analysis --
24mins: https://vk.com/video400374426_456239323?t=6m47s
62mins: https://vk.com/video400374426_456239323?t=17m27s
70mins: https://vk.com/video400374426_456239323?t=20m2s
The match was decided by a first half penalty scored by Lotthar Matthäus, and won by Jürgen Klinsmann. Won being the operative term, but Helmut Kohl’s penalty decision (by his gestures you could see that he assessed the scene very closely/clearly) was the right one in my opinion. Klinsmann was simply too clever for František Straka, who dangled a leg and didn’t play the ball. He definitely clipped the German as he tried to run past him. For sure, Klinsmann then did everything to win the spot kick after that, but he was definitely fouled in my opinion. The key incident of the game was well seen by Kohl - correct, and decisive, decision.
West Germany were then very unlucky not to be awarded a second penalty, in the second half. Really, they should have done - Uwe Bein was (surely) clearly caught by goalkeeper Jan Stejskal in the box. Kohl was close on hand, though not with the best viewing angle, and waved play on. The two times the sequence was shown on the television aren’t 100% conclusive, but I’d be 99% sure this is what happened: Stejskal catches Bein glancingly, with an SFP-type contact. Bein was not ‘tripped’, per se, by this contact, but quite obviously was fouled by the keeper! That Bein (understandably!!) decided to fall of his own accord after this contact is what Kohl surely picked up on, and played on. Probably, the Austrian ref wasn’t dead keen to award FRG a second penalty in not-completely-clear circumstances, and decided that going on was the best option.
I would argue against assigning a clear match error though. While I believe it should definitely have been awarded as a penalty in 1990, I don’t think it is as clear a pk compared to how it would be seen nowadays. Furthermore, the context probably helps Kohl as well. Still, quite a significant mistake notwithstanding, in my opinion.
Finally, Ľubomír Moravčík (yes I copy-pasted it :D) was shown a second yellow card in quite bizarre circumstances with twenty minutes remaining. The origin of the scene comes from a Czechoslovakia penalty appeal, so we can start by analysing whether Kohl missed a TCH penalty. In my opinion, not really. I guess that penalising Littbarski wouldn’t have been wrong, but given that Moravčík tried to deliberately place his foot where he knew Littbarski would be running, play on is the better call for me. In a modern context, I guess the intense nature of the ankle contact would be too much to ignore, but personally I’d still be quite okay with play on.
Anyway, Moravčík was quite irritated by being trodden on (you can understand it), and in reaction, he kicks his boot high in the air, and shouts very clearly in Kohl’s direction. The Austrian referee really had absolutely no idea how to react to this (I wouldn’t have done either!). It would have been better - IMO - for ‘football’, if Moravčík wasn’t sent off for this, but he didn’t give the referee that much wiggle room. The aggressive boot kick plus clearly shouting in the ref’s direction actually created a clear dissenting behaviour. Kohl thought about it for a while, and then decided to reach for his notebook. Moravčík accepted the decision without any complaint, too. A kind of ‘sad’ situation in my opinion, but as referee, Kohl did what he had to do. Czechoslovakia were down to ten, and missing a one-on-one a few minutes later (after nice Listkiewicz onside), were down and out, having lost by a goal to nothing.
-- ends --
Kohl deserved another match in wc 1990 after his performance in quarter finals
ReplyDeleteInteresting take. I actually disagree - Kohl was unlucky, but he struggled a bit in my opinion. Bearing in mind the only matches left were semifinals, playoff for third and the final itself, I'd say the Austrian's World Cup ended at a fair time. Röthlisberger's QF performance was better, and unlike the Swiss, Kohl had proved in ENGBEL that he was no option as a linesman.
DeletePlease Mikael my best friend i need your telephone number necessary
ReplyDeleteI don't share my telephone number online. Feel free to drop me an email though!
Deletemikaelthereferee[at]gmail.com
Match 48 - Cameroon vs. England, Edgardo Codesal
ReplyDelete(https://vk.com/video400374426_456239324)
Africa's first ever World Cup quarterfinal was a dramatic one - and five goals later, Cameroon were unfortunate to have been edged out by England for a place in the last four. It was a dramatic evening for the referee too. Edgardo Codesal awarded no less than three penalties, and staked his claim at just the right time to take the whistle for the ultimate match in 1990.
Detailed report can be accessed in the link below:
https://wc90ref.blogspot.com/p/in-focus-match-48-cameroon-vs-england.html
Mikael who were your favourite referee choice for wc 1990 final after excellent refereeing from codesal in Qf why not codesal your favourite choice?
ReplyDeleteAs some of the final candidates are working on semifinal matches, I'll 'reveal' the two quartets I'd have selected for both final matches in FIFA's position upon the completion of the SFs. :)
DeleteJoel Quiniou France you meant Mikael
ReplyDelete