Germany 4-0 Australia | Özil onside in build up to Cacau goal

Description: In the build up to Cacau's goal, Germany's 4th, there was a suspicion of offside when Özil was found with a through ball down the left wing. The referee and linesman saw nothing and play was allowed to continue.

Date of Game: Sunday 13th June 2010

Home Team: Germany | Away Team: Australia

Referee: Marco Rodriguez Moreno (MEX) | Linesman: Jose Camargo (MEX) & Alberto Morin (MEX)

Decision Type: Offside | Verdict:

Decision Difficulty: 4/5 | Affect on result: 1/5 | Score: 5

Affect on Result: None. 3-0 or 4-0, Germany were on their way to a comfortable victory | Winner: Germany | Loser: Australia

Players Involved: Mesut Özil & Cacau (Germany)

Summary: Good spot by the linesman as it was a close call when watching at full speed. Özil was definitely onside.

View highlights & match summary of Germany vs Australia on BBC

Cheers,
WB

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Germany 4-0 Australia | Khedira denied penalty

Description: After missing a chance to score himself, Klose crossed into the 6 yard box for Khedira to attack. As he came in to hit the ball past the defender on the line, Moore came across to challenge. The result, no penalty and goal kick as it was adjudged to have come off Khedira last.

Date of Game: Sunday 13th June 2010

Home Team: Germany | Away Team: Australia

Referee: Marco Rodriguez Moreno (MEX) | Linesman: Jose Camargo (MEX) & Alberto Morin (MEX)

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict:

Decision Difficulty: 4/5 | Affect on result: 1/5 | Score: -3

Affect on Result: None as Germany went on to win 4-0 anyway | Winner: Australia | Loser: Germany

Players Involved: Sami Khedira (Germany) & Craig Moore (Australia)

Summary: I found this a tough one to call and had to watch a number of replays before I could even force myself into a decision. Ultimately, I thought it was a penalty as Moore got none of the ball and definitely caught Khedira. My only debate was whether or not Khedira had control of the ball or whether he actually missed the chance before the collision. My conclusion, Moore's challenge occurred as Khedira went for the ball.

View highlights & match summary of Germany vs Australia on BBC

Cheers,
WB

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Germany 4-0 Australia | Cahill wrongly sent off

Description: Tim Cahill slid in on Bastian Schweinsteiger getting none of the ball and all of the player. To the surprise of many, the referee produced a straight red for Cahill.

Date of Game: Sunday 13th June 2010

Home Team: Germany | Away Team: Australia

Referee: Marco Rodriguez Moreno (MEX) | Linesman: Jose Camargo (MEX) & Alberto Morin (MEX)

Decision Type: Red card | Verdict:

Decision Difficulty: 1/5 | Affect on result: 3/5 | Score: -8

Affect on Result: Probably little affect on the result but it completely finished Australia's chance with still a good amount of time remaining. And it had a significant affect on the scoreline as it occurred at 2-0. And who's to says what future impact it will have for Australia | Winner: Germany | Loser: Australia

Players Involved: Tim Cahill (Australia) & Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)

Summary: This was an atrocious decision by the referee Rodriguez. Yes, it was a late challenge, but it was merely worthy of a yellow as Cahill seemed to lose control as he slid, colliding knees first with Schweinsteiger's boots. Hopefully FIFA will be sensible and allow/accept an appeal from Australia otherwise this stupid decision is likely to ruin Cahill's and Australia's World Cup.

View highlights & match summary of Germany vs Australia on BBC

Cheers,
WB

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Germany 4-0 Australia | Garcia denied penalty for handball

Description: The ball was swung into the German penalty area for Garcia to head towards goal. It flicked off of Mertesacker and there were extremely loud calls for handball from a number of Australia's players. The referee had none of it.

Date of Game: Sunday 13th June 2010

Home Team: Germany | Away Team: Australia

Referee: Marco Rodriguez Moreno (MEX) | Linesman: Jose Camargo (MEX) & Alberto Morin (MEX)

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict:

Decision Difficulty: 2/5 | Affect on result: 2/5 | Score: 4

Affect on Result: It would have given Australia a glimmer of hope. But that's being kind | Winner: Germany | Loser: Australia

Players Involved: Per Mertesacker (Germany) & Richard Garcia (Australia)

Summary: I feel this was a relatively straight forward decision; Mertesacker's hand wasn't too far away from his body and the ball was deflected onto it from a yard away so I do not think you can give a penalty.

View highlights & match summary of Germany vs Australia on BBC

Cheers,
WB

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Serbia 0-1 Ghana | Ghana awarded penalty for handball by Kuzmanović

Description: The ball was swung into the Serbian penalty area and, as Prince-Boetang lined up a volley at goal, it appeared to strike Kuzmanović's arm and the referee awarded a penalty to Ghana. Gyan duly dispatched for 1-0 Ghana.

Date of Game: Sunday 13th June 2010

Home Team: Serbia | Away Team: Ghana

Referee: Hector Baldassi (ARG) | Linesman: Ricardo Casas (ARG) & Hernan Maidana (ARG)

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict:

Decision Difficulty: 1/5 | Affect on result: 5/5 | Score: 6

Affect on Result: Massive. It gave Ghana their winning goal | Winner: Ghana | Loser: Serbia

Players Involved: Zdravko Kuzmanović (Serbia) & Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)

Summary: Wow. After labelling Ghazzel of Algeria an idiot, we get an almost identical offence by Kuzmanović only this time it was in his own area and gave away a penalty (and the winning goal). I cannot offer any explanation for Kuzmanović's actions. The referee got it right and it handed Ghana a deserved victory as Serbia continued to hit the self-destruct button.

It was such an obvious handball it is a decision you'd hope referees would get right, but that doesn't mean they always will, especially when it was clear what impact it would have on the game being so late in proceedings.

View highlights & match summary of Serbia vs Ghana on BBC

Cheers,
WB

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Serbia 0-1 Ghana | Luković shown red card

Description: Luković picked up a yellow card when he and Milijas challanged Kwadwo Asamoah for the ball, sending the Ghanaian to the ground. The referee waved play on but went back to book Luković once the ball was out of play.

Later in the game Luković was shown as second yellow and then red card for apparently tugging at Gyan on the halfway line.

Date of Game: Sunday 13th June 2010

Home Team: Serbia | Away Team: Ghana

Referee: Hector Baldassi (ARG) | Linesman: Ricardo Casas (ARG) & Hernan Maidana (ARG)

Decision Type: Red card | Verdict:

Decision Difficulty: 3/5 | Affect on result: 5/5 | Score: 8

Affect on Result: Losing a man at 0-0 took away Serbia's real hopes of victory and provided Ghana with the incentive to push on for the win themselves | Winner: Ghana | Loser: Serbia

Players Involved: Aleksandar Luković (Serbia), Kwadwo Asamoah & Asamoah Gyan (Ghana)

Summary: This was a demonstration of great refereeing. The first yellow card in particular, where referee Baldassi played a good advantage to Ghana and correctly called Luković back for the yellow and not Milijas, which would have been an easy mistake to make.

The second yellow was just stupidity by Luković. Already on a yellow, he clearly tugs on Gyan's shoulder, shirt and anything else within grasp, giving the referee no option.

The reason I have scored the referee so highly on this incident is that I feel pulling play back after playing advantage doesn't happen often enough and couple that with the ref's ability to identify the true offender and it becomes a fantastic decision for me. Under other referees, Luković could have got away with the first offense, leaving us with a completely different game & result.

View highlights & match summary of Serbia vs Ghana on BBC

Cheers,
WB

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Algeria 0-1 Slovenia | Ghezzal receives red card for handball & shirt pulling

Description: Shortly after arriving as a substitute, Ghezzal was given a yellow card for an apparent tug on the shirt of a Slovenian defender. Around 10 minutes later, a long ball was launched into the penalty area for Ghezzal to chase and he appeared to pull the ball down with his arm and the referee responded with a second yellow for deliberate handball and then a red.

Date of Game: Sunday 13th June 2010

Home Team: Algeria | Away Team: Slovenia

Referee: Carlos Batres Gonzalez (GUA) | Linesman: Leonel Leal (CRC) & Carlos Pastrana (HON)

Decision Type: Red card | Verdict:

Decision Difficulty: 1/5 | Affect on result: 5/5 | Score: 6

Affect on Result: It's hard to say for sure, especially as the game barely changed after the red card however, as it occurred prior to the goal so you have to say it affected the result significantly | Winner: Slovenia | Loser: Algeria

Players Involved: Abdelkader Ghezzal (Algeria)

Summary: Ghezzal must have a screw loose. This was one of the easiest red card decisions you'll ever see a referee make. These type of red cards really make me angry because they're unnecessary and completely the players own doing.

Moments after coming on, Ghezzal - only yards from the ref - got a good fistful of Marko Suler's shirt. Easy yellow card.

Then, with the knowledge he is already on a yellow card he raises his arm high above his head, attempting to pull the ball down inside the Slovenian penalty area and create a goal scoring opportunity. Second yellow and a very well deserved red for trying to cheat.

Deliberate handball & shirt tugging are up there with kicking the ball away, diving & arguing with the ref as "the most stupid reasons for getting a yellow". Ghezzal picked up 2 in 12 minutes. He's an idiot.

View highlights & match summary of Algeria vs Slovenia on BBC

Cheers,
WB

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England 1-1 USA | First refereeing "clean sheet"

Description: With all the hype around the selection of Brazilian referee Carlos Simon, it came with equal measures of irony and predictability that the game between England and the USA passed without any major, game influencing decisions coming his way.

Date of Game: Saturday 12th June 2010

Home Team: England | Away Team: USA

Referee: Carlos Simon (BRA) | Linesman: Jaltemir Hausmann (BRA) & Roberto Braatz (BRA)

Score: 0 | +1 clean sheet

Summary: The ref applied the laws of the game to the letter, even if decisions such as making Glen Johnson leave the field due to a small amount of blood seem ridiculous, modern referees are employed to apply the law consistency across all games. This means laws are black & white. Whether or not it is possible to apply laws in this way is a much bigger discussion. The ref did his job well.

View highlights & match summary of England vs USA on BBC

Cheers,
WB

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Argentina 1-0 Nigeria | Maxi denied penalty for clash with Kaita

Description: Maxi Rodríguez turned inside the Nigerian penalty area. Kaita came in to challenge for the ball and both players went tumbling in a sea of arms & legs. The referee had none of it.

Date of Game: Saturday 12th June 2010

Home Team: Argentina | Away Team: Nigeria

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (GER) | Linesman: Jan-Hendrik Salver (GER) & Mike Pickel (GER)

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict:

Decision Difficulty: 3/5 | Affect on result: 1/5 | Score: -4

Affect on Result: None, except it would have allowed Argentina to see the game out in a more relaxed fashion | Winner: Nigeria | Loser: Argentina

Players Involved: Maxi Rodríguez (Argentina) & Sani Kaita (Nigeria)

Summary: Kaita completely missed the ball when he came in to challenge, I think it actually went between his legs and then he tumbled, raised his arm and prevent Maxi from getting around him. For me, it was a definite penalty, despite what Mick McCarthy said on the BBC commentary.

View highlights & match summary of Argentina vs Nigeria on BBC

Cheers,
WB

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South Korea 2-0 Greece | Lee Chung-Yong denied penalty for clash with Torosidis

Description of incident: Early in the game, with South Korea already 1-0 up, Lee Chung-Yong powered into the Greek penalty area where there was a tangling of legs between him and Torosidis. Despite the claims for a penalty, the ref waved play on.

Date of Game: Saturday 12th June 2010

Home Team: South Korea | Away Team: Greece

Referee: Michael Hester (NZL) | Linesman: Jan-Hendrik Hintz (NZL) & Tevita Makasini (TGA)

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict:

Decision Difficulty: 2/5 | Affect on result: 1/5 | Score: 3

Affect on Result: None really, only denying South Korea more comfort in this easy victory | Winner: Greece | Loser: South Korea

Players Involved: Lee Chung-Yong (South Korea) & Vasilios Torosidis (Greece)

Summary: There is some debate in this decision and I have seen many similar clashes result in a penalty however, I felt it was a genuine tangling of legs as Lee raised his foot to shoot. I do not feel Torosidis was stretching for the ball when the players clashed, he was simply tracking back.

View highlights & match summary of South Korea vs Greece on BBC

Cheers,
WB

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