History has been made at the World Cup! Yes, yes, Cristiano Ronaldo’s hattrick against Spain last night was spectacular, but that’s not what’s been referred to here. After all, we are a geek website, so unless there was something freakishly superhumanly different about Ronaldo’s performance, there’s no need to bring him up here (although the freekick is worth seeing again, so check it out below!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcSZmemWxkA
No, what we are really talking about is Video Assistant Referee, or VAR, in the France-Australia game. And what a moment it was for world football, as we witnessed two controversial techs go hand-in-hand to give Les Bleus the advantage in their Group C clash.
A penalty and a goal
Just a quick one, in case you missed it, GLT and VAR are camera-based review systems that help improve the accuracy of referee decision-making. Essentially, in the case of the former, when the ball crosses the line, the referee’s watch will inform him, while for VAR, if the referee missed a ‘clear and obvious’ potentially game-changing decision, the crew in an offsite media control room will communicate this to him, allowing the ref to go back on a decision. To read more on this, check out our VAR and GLT articles.
And were it not for VAR and GLT, France may have been staring at the bottom of the barrel, while Australia would have claimed 3 points to go top. This is precisely how the action unfolded:
VAR at 54
At 0 – 0 just after halftime, the Socceroos were looking comfortable and organised at the back. They managed to keep France’s superior attacking force quiet, and even had a chance or two of their own.
But then in the 54thminute, Antoine Griezmann was put through on goal, and was about to pull the trigger when what seemed like an absolutely brilliant challenge by Josh Risdon brought him tumbling down in the box. Arms raised, the referee didn’t go upstairs right away, and it looked as though Risdon was off the hook.
A minute later, however, the ref stopped play and went to the sidelines, returning a moment later with that not-so-familiar big screen gesture, and pointed to the penalty spot. Griezmann, surely thanking the VAR team, stepped up from 12 yards, and planted it into the bottom corner well past keeper Ryan who barely moved. 1 – 0 France, and VAR makes history at the World Cup.
GLT for the win
The boys in yellow managed to pull one back, after a blatant Umtiti handball that didn’t need VAR to confirm that it was indeed a penalty. Two spot-kicks, two goals, game on.
But then it was time for a little sprinkle of Pogba magic. With Blaise Matuidi taking the field, Pogba broke free of his shackles and forayed forward for the first time in the game, linking up well with Olivier Giroud in the final third, and after a couple of deft touches, he flicks the ball onto Aziz Behich, and the ball soars over Matt Ryan, onto the underside of the crossbar, and (was it) over the line (yes it was!). Beep went the watch, goal France, GLT wins.
Although it already made its debut in the 2014 World Cup, it was great to see GLT being used alongside its cousin VAR, and between the two of them, and the two well-taken goals, this year’s biggest sporting event (arguably) may just be decided by cameras and computers.
