29 JPNRUS Merk
HIGHLIGHTS
Very tight Japan game for Markus Merk. Referee from Germany had no problem taking charge of this game for the host nation, which he made look quite a lot easier than it was; but he missed a clear penalty for Russia in the first half.
Merk's tireless style in addition to his quite idiosyncratic whistle tones ensured his leadership of the match was not really under threat. Players quickly understood in what situations the referee would and would not blow up for a foul, which ensured nothing really got out of hand (Russia got a bit irritated at 60' but the tackle was a clear foul, besides then Merk was always accepted).
He gave all the necessary cards to control the match; one could argue that theoretically there were some more cautions in the game.
In important situations, Merk decided in my view sub-optimally twice in three Key Match Incidents - considering the flying-ness of the tackle, Russia no.19 should really have been cautioned for a second time at 32' (only an idiot in a WC game would show the cards and eject him, though); brilliant play on call at 89' on closer inspection. At 40' however, Russia had to be awarded a penalty for a clear holding offence, there isn't a defence for no call there; maybe Merk just missed the situation on a perception level, the tug was quite (evidently, successfully!) snidey.
One of the most challenging games for the ARs so far - Evžen Amler showed a very, very good performance (amazing onside for the only goal) but made a mistake at +46'; Heiner Müller performed on a strong expected level.
Very tight Japan game for Markus Merk. Referee from Germany had no problem taking charge of this game for the host nation, which he made look quite a lot easier than it was; but he missed a clear penalty for Russia in the first half.
Merk's tireless style in addition to his quite idiosyncratic whistle tones ensured his leadership of the match was not really under threat. Players quickly understood in what situations the referee would and would not blow up for a foul, which ensured nothing really got out of hand (Russia got a bit irritated at 60' but the tackle was a clear foul, besides then Merk was always accepted).
He gave all the necessary cards to control the match; one could argue that theoretically there were some more cautions in the game.
In important situations, Merk decided in my view sub-optimally twice in three Key Match Incidents - considering the flying-ness of the tackle, Russia no.19 should really have been cautioned for a second time at 32' (only an idiot in a WC game would show the cards and eject him, though); brilliant play on call at 89' on closer inspection. At 40' however, Russia had to be awarded a penalty for a clear holding offence, there isn't a defence for no call there; maybe Merk just missed the situation on a perception level, the tug was quite (evidently, successfully!) snidey.
One of the most challenging games for the ARs so far - Evžen Amler showed a very, very good performance (amazing onside for the only goal) but made a mistake at +46'; Heiner Müller performed on a strong expected level.
| Markus Merk - 7,9(4) Heiner Müller - 8,4 Evžen Amler - 8,5 Ubaldo Aquino (GER, GER, CZE) | Japan 1-0 Russia Group Stage |
 Miyamoto (15.) - SPA (Holding) Nakata (42.) - Tackle Nakayama (90.+1') - Tackle | Pimenov (13.) - Tackle Solomatin (38.) - Tackle Khokhlov (60.) - Dissent |
Very control-focused performance. According to the German commentator, he had the best fitness data of all referees in the tournament - seems it helped. Sometimes. Crucial mistake in 40', clear missed pk for Russia (holding). Scene in 89' showed nothing that proves there was a foul, so I'd back him here.
ReplyDeleteDisciplinary was frustrating. He started with a good verbal warning in 4' for a tackle one surely can argue fits both careless and reckless. However, for me quite a number of missed (6', 10', 40', 60') and possible YCs (25', 37', 74'), some were not even assessed as fouls. Scene in 33' looked like a follow-through SFP, but back then, probably fine - no one made a fuss about it. Also, as "unlucky" as people would say it was - 32' was another reckless offence and should have resulted in a SYC.
Big compliment to AR2 Evžen Amler, Czechia's finest! Excellent onside on the match's only goal. Merk meanwhile joins the list of highly-rated European referees who did not convince me - not only because of his still-lenient disciplinary line.