Now, I could hark on about how unfair it is that England got knocked out by a referee's decision. Fact is, England simply where not good enough. Germany where there for the taking, as they are not as good as previous incarnations, but they where better organised, and took their chances whilst England just had no idea.
However, what gets me is the "what if?" England managed to haul themselves back, and where actually pegging the Germans back mid-way through the first half, and if the ref had got the right call, who knows where the game would have gone! As it was, England had to push up during the second half as they where 1 goal down, and that left gaps which the Germans exploited, especially since the English defence really is slow!
Now, I know the Germans would argue that justice has been served with that "goal." However, after 1966, the Germans have since knocked England out of various competitions 4 times! I think justice has well and truly been done!
Besides, the England goal in 1966:
Drops pretty much on the line, granted not on the right side (for England), and the ref gave it. But it was close.
Lampards goal on the other hand, dropped well over the line. The linesman had a pretty good angle, and so did the ref. Having said that, the linesman made plenty of mistakes, offsides that weren't, and non-offsides that where... Would love to know why they made that call, and I fully expect the English media to pounce on the ref once they leave the constraints of the extra security ordered by FIFA.
If the ref had made the right call, then who knows how the rest of the game would have gone. I know people say that football is great because of these talking points, and FIFA argue that it is right that the rules remain the same from Sunday league football all the way through to the World Cup. However, introducing technology to help the ref is not changing the rules, just bringing in help. Besides, the game is NOT the same. Pub league football games do not have such massive connotations riding on them like a game in the World Cup. Pub league games are not played by guys who are at the height of physical fitness and technical ability (If they where, the Pub league players would not be in the Pub league!)
This is not the only referee screw-up either. In the later game, Tevez bagged the opening goal for Argentina despite being a good metre and a half off-side with the initial ball being played, and when he scored. During the USA - Slovenia game, the US scored a potential game-winning goal in the 86th minute, only for the ref to disallow it, inexplicably.
Another talking point, during the Brazil - Ivory Coast game, when Keita ran into Kaka, then dropped to the floor as if shot dead. This then resulted in Kaka getting his second yellow, and getting sent off.
What was amazing was the fact that Kaka did not actually do anything! He just turned around as if to say "Who are you?" and ends up with a red! And what makes it worse, is that there is no recourse for Brazil to get the yellow/red card rescinded. Kaka had the red card, even though he did not deserve it!
There have been a lot of very odd decisions in this World Cup, and it has ruined many games. Australia had 2 red cards in 2 games. One, I can understand, kind of. The other? Well...
Anyway, what can be done?
Technology! Bring in Hawkeye which is almost instantaneous to deal with goals, and allow refs the chance to check on video after a game to make sure their calls are right. Give teams the chance to challenge ref decisions. He can call a 5th official who has the advantage of watching TV's which can show things on replay pretty much straight away. A challenge can be dealt with in under 30 seconds. However, only allow challenges to be made with regards to goals, and penalty box stuff. Anything outside that, cards, etc, can be dealt with after the game. Also, allow the ref a chance to rescind yellow cards as well. Finally, if FIFA remains unwilling to do anything, then please, for the love of GOD bring in the extra linesmen! Ice Hockey is played on a much smaller surface, but has 3 officials on the ice, and another 2 acting off the ice. Tennis uses 7 to 11!
Ah well. FIFA declined to act after the "Hand of Henry" moment, but in the same year, we had several bizarre decision during the group stages (US - Slovenia), and then a couple of glaring cockups with Englands non-goal that was, and Argentina's goal that should not have been. Maybe FIFA will move to do SOMETHING now. The status quo cannot be maintained. I know FIFA has this ambition to keep the game the same through the pyramid, but when so much rests on the game like it does in the World Cup, something must be done!
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