VAR in the dock
Australia boss is furious after Griezmann penalty U-turn but video referee is spot on
WHEN off- field technology has just affected a game’s outcome, you can be certain one of the mangers will be complaining about it.
But Australia’s Bert van Marwijk’s objections to a decision he claimed was ‘dishonest’ cut no ice last night after the first World Cup penalty awarded by the video assistant referee ( VAR) helped France to a winning start.
Eight years after Frank Lampard’s ‘ghost goal’ which was the catalyst for goal-line technology, the video referee delivered the quality of decision expected of him.
Australia defender Josh Risdon slid in on Antoine Griezmann as the France striker advanced towards goal. But a replay showed that Risdon made only the faintest connection with the ball and then brought the forward clattering to the ground with a raised leg.
Van Marwijk accused referee Andres Cunha of a lack of honesty and implied the Uruguayan felt pressured to give the decision to the higher-ranked nation.
‘ I hoped that maybe one time there will be a referee who is very honest,’ the Dutchman said. ‘I saw him standing there. The body language was that he didn’t know. Then you have to take a decision — France or Australia? It’s difficult when the referee has 50,000 people and has to decide.’
This, frankly, was rubbish. Cunha’s initial decision was wrong, the video referee called it up and was able to see a forensic level of detail. Though there were three minutes from tackle to penalty, the video analyst’s decision- making was sharp and incisive.
‘What’s also important is that it’s not a red card because the defender has genuinely attempted to play the ball,’ said former World Cup referee Mark Clattenburg on ITV. ‘And here the law’s great because we don’t want a player sent off.’
Van Marwijk’s grievances doubtless stemmed from the fact that his side, marshalled impressively by Huddersfield Town’s Aaron Mooy, had acquitted themselves so well against Didier Deschamps’ France and looked to be heading towards a point until a late, deflected shot from Paul Pogba beat them.
France certainly made short work of dispelling the pre-match doubts about the experience of their squad. They looked incredibly connected and three shots on goal in the opening five minutes of their World Cup campaign telegraphed a serious level of intent. Kylian Mbappe destroys defenders in such an elementary way with his bursts of pace and, having forced a sharp save from keeper Mathew Ryan within two minutes, he was backheeling the ball 15 yards wide to Ousmane Dembele.
It was freewheeling stuff in those early moments, with the front three of Mbappe, Griezmann and Dembele l ooking quite t errifying. Mbappe in particular reveals the sublime self-belief of youth.
But when the Australians found their level and caught their breath, France laboured. Beyond the rapier front- line pace, they could not throttle the world’s 36th- ranked nation. They allowed them space on the ball. Their two defensive midfielders — one more than was needed — just did not race forward in the way that world champions do. There was 15 yards of space between the attacking and midfield lines at times.
Confidence coursed through Australia as they were granted space. They moved beyond their default survival mode. They were inches from finding the net when Mooy’s l ofted free- kick from the l eft deflected off the top of Mathew Leckie’s head and a confused Corentin Tolisso diverted it goalwards, forcing Hugo Lloris into a fingertip save around his left post.
The French breakthrough came, early in the second half. N’Golo Kante takes most of the acclaim for it, dispossessing Mooy, spinning off him and pressing the ball forward to Pogba, whose onward ball sent Griezmann racing in on Ryan. Risdon then made his fateful, highstakes challenge.
Griezmann stepped up to score from the ensuing spot-kick, yet the Australians were level within four minutes when SamueUmtiti unfath- omably closed his eyes and raised his arm, committing a blatant handball as a Mooy free-kick sailed over the French box. Mile Jedinak scored from the penalty spot to give Australia hope but Pogba applied the final blow.
He ghosted into the penalty area after one- twos with substitute Olivier Giroud and Mbappe and executed a shot which was deflected on to the bar and, as the goal-line camera confirmed, over the line. The technically superior team and the technology were both winners.
Though it is the stardust moment for which World Cup winners are always remembered, it takes something more prosaic to lift the greatest trophy of all: the intelligence to know where the fault lines lie and how to pick a route through them to goal. Argentina had learned that before yesterday was done. France most certainly have work to do.