25 GHAAUS Rosetti
Perhaps one could observe that the referee of the last EURO final might have expected a better match to open his World Cup, especially having already made a great impression four years earlier, but that would be off the mark in my view.
Roberto Rosetti was in charge of an aggressive Australia team, they showed that in their first game, in a match that was more widely a clash of styles and cultures, and not least a crucial game in their particular section, now wide open after Germany's loss to Serbia.
If Olegário Benqurenca when faced with a very comparable task simply whistled the teams to submission, then Rosetti solved it with a simply excellent piece of officiating. Italian found the optimal leadership style to guide the players through this game, and his decisions were simply spot on - including the crucial penalty and ensuing red card to Harry Kewell.
Let's start with the most important decisions of the afternoon.
Harry Kewell surprisingly wins the ball and does everything in order to see himself fouled and win a penalty. He deliberately puts his legs across Lee Addy and in the end probably trips him, rather than the other way around.
Officials correctly played on. What I also noted here was how much Stefano Ayroldi stood out, he really refereed the situation himself, even giving a play on gesture with his left hand. He lead his teammate to the right decision.
Let's start with the most important decisions of the afternoon.
Key Match Incidents
2' - Penalty to Australia?
Officials correctly played on. What I also noted here was how much Stefano Ayroldi stood out, he really refereed the situation himself, even giving a play on gesture with his left hand. He lead his teammate to the right decision.
24' - Penalty to Ghana; Red Card to Harry Kewell
A moment before this situation, Lucas Neill actually commits a clear foul on Asamoah Gyan, which could have resulted in a penalty. Rosetti barely has enough time to put his whistle to mouth before Harry Kewell has blocked a shot on the line.
It is actually with intuition that the Italian has to determine Kewell did so with his, and he did - referee moved into the diagonal channel to perceive play on the assistant's side in the penalty area, and Kewell's block was on the far. Rosetti had to trust that the Ghana players were correct in what they appealed for, and he could also see that the shot was blocked some way away from Kewell's torso.
Referee was right, penalty, and Kewell had to go, as the shot was heading into the back of the net were it not for his handling.
Referee was right, penalty, and Kewell had to go, as the shot was heading into the back of the net were it not for his handling.
This situation was a premonition for what would infamously happen later - the replay operator at the stadium messes up and shows replays of the decision on the stadium screen! You can see the Australia players point to it and Kewell says "have a look". Rosetti, stone-faced, couldn't have looked less likely to have a look.
40' - Serious Foul Play by Lee Addy?
Addy certainly does come in with some force, but given he is back on the ground by the time he makes the tackle, which is genuinely ball-orientated, yellow card and a firm warning is definitely the optimal solution here. Rosetti's management is absolutely textbook.
Addy certainly does come in with some force, but given he is back on the ground by the time he makes the tackle, which is genuinely ball-orientated, yellow card and a firm warning is definitely the optimal solution here. Rosetti's management is absolutely textbook.
85' - Serious Foul Play by Craig Moore?
Tackles like these really should result in ejection, in my view.
Moore flies in with both legs having lost control of his body - the only reason that Sulley Muntari doesn't get hurt, is because of how high(!) the tackle is. Were it on Muntari's shin, then that could have caused serious damage to him.
That being said, a yellow card (in the 2010 environment) is probably the expected decision.
Approach
Rosetti brilliantly managed to synthesise a distant presence and co-operative management to guide the players through this game.
Australia's aggression and Ghana's combustibility would have been problem for some, but not the Italian. His management of a number of situations was just brilliant (2', 5', 16', 39') - he really managed to guide the players through this game, with perfect feeling for what each situation required.
Card selection was good, save for one criticism - Luke Wilkshire's sliding foul at 62' was reckless, even if the Ghana players didn't seem to think so.
If Rosetti was the new kid on the block in 2006 where his movement was excellent, here it was simply on the level it needed to be; of course, Italian had an injury that put him out of the whole UEFA club competition knockout stage until the April semifinal.
If Rosetti was the new kid on the block in 2006 where his movement was excellent, here it was simply on the level it needed to be; of course, Italian had an injury that put him out of the whole UEFA club competition knockout stage until the April semifinal.
Balance
Roberto Rosetti simply gave a masterclass in football officiating in this match, having gotten the decisive call spot on. Through twenty-five matches, he had to be the first name for the final.
Excellent Paolo Calcagno played a good onside at 72'; Stefano Ayroldi misperceived a handling incident at 65' - though he was closer, it was better to leave the decision to the referee on that occasion, for it was on Ayroldi's blindside. Ball had actually hit the player's chest.
Excellent Paolo Calcagno played a good onside at 72'; Stefano Ayroldi misperceived a handling incident at 65' - though he was closer, it was better to leave the decision to the referee on that occasion, for it was on Ayroldi's blindside. Ball had actually hit the player's chest.
| Roberto Rosetti - 8,7 Paolo Calcagno - 8,4 Stefano Ayroldi - 8,4 Carlos Eugênio Simon Altemir Hausmann ITA – BRA | Ghana 1-1 Australia Group Stage 19 June |
 Addy (40') - Tackle Mensah (79') - Tackle Annan (84') - SPA (Tripping) | Moore (85') - Tackle |
 Kewell (24') - DOGSO (Handling) |
I would personally argue both 40' and 85' are SFP, but if you give a YC in the first case, I can't see how you could manage it better than Rosetti did: Firm, quick action, isolating the player and making it absolutely clear something like this should not happen ever again.
ReplyDeleteThe penalty decision was spot-on. Rosetti - like in 2006 - showed that the idea of more lenient refereeing can absolutely succeed - if you are a great manager. The problem is not the style, but trying to streamline all officials to be like that. Referees are individuals and individual styles (Ruiz, Stark, Webb, Baldassi to name a few) worked at this World Cup. We won't see it again in the nearer future I fear.