VAR a workable system that’s here to stay
Jay-Jay Okocha is a legend of African and Nigerian football, who played for the Super Eagles in the 1994 and 1998 Fifa World Cup finals. Here, in the second of his exclusive interviews with The Citizen during the 2018 Fifa World Cup, he gives his views on, among other matters, VAR and the chances of Senegal making the last 16. On the World Cup 2018 so far, which up to the end of Monday’s games, had not seen a single goalless draw.
It has been an excellent World Cup for all of us. If you are a football lover, this is what you want to see – you want to see goals and you want to be entertained. On the controversial issue of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR)
I think it is a workable system, and it is here to stay. I think the advantages are more than the disadvantages. Even though sometimes teams might feel hard done by, it is better to regulate that right there instead of going home and realising you were deprived of a goal, or that there was a decision that might have been costly. I am in support of it, but it is something we need to get used to. We are grudging about it because we are not used to it. On Morocco, whose luck deserted them throughout the tournament, including a last-minute VAR goal given to Spain.
What a shame … but that is how cruel football is, you have to get over the line and get the job done. They were unlucky, but in general you have to evaluate the three games, and they stood a chance to do something in all three. On the chances of favourites Brazil and Germany making it to the last 16 today
It would be nice to have them in the next round, you want to see the big boys in the knockout stages. They bring a lot of excitement into the tournament, not just their players but their fans as well. But there are not free meals, you have to earn the right to qualify. On Toni Kroos’ last-gasp freekick winner against Sweden
I think we know what (Germany) are all about, their character and never-say-die attitude. But I think they also got away with it because it shows a lack of experience to commit a foul near your box at that moment, knowing who you are playing and that they are down to 10 men and likely to score from set plays. Germany got away with that one, but they deserved it, they kept on pushing and never gave in. On Senegal’s chances of progressing from Group H
I hope so, they deserve it, they have done well so far and I hope they will get rewarded. But it will be a tough one. Colombia are a good side, they reacted very well in the second game after losing the first, they showed how determined they are to stay in the competition. It will be a very difficult game for Senegal. On England and Belgium’s Group G decider tomorrow (it is said the group runners-up could get the more favourable draw).
It can go either way, if you go out and you don’t get a positive result, people might reflect on what you did in your last group game. But it would also be wise to save your players, save your legs; prepare in a different way, and give players a chance who have not had much game time. It is all about the squad, and they have the luxury to make the decision, which is a massive advantage for them. Whether you finish first or second, I don’t think it really matters, if you want to go all the way you have to beat the rest.