Bibiana Steinhaus matches

This was a very interesting final in terms of the tactical concepts applied by both teams: The USA team tried domination by possession and by pressuring the Japanese team very high. For the first 25 minutes, this worked effectively - the only things the Americans missed was a goal. So Japan recovered, and though the USA was always more active, it remained an open match. Bibiana Steinhaus was very attentive, had a very good advantage play and was lenient on cards again until the very last minute of extra time. As both teams were very disciplined, she got away with it, but this was not her doing. What a great final with Japan pulling back both US goals and finally winning on penalties. Incredible...

Invisible for 40 minutes...
The first 22 minutes the only calls to decide were throw-ins and goalkicks. Bibiana Steinhaus was close to the action, followed the match very attentively and had advantage play as her greatest virtue (e.g. the great chance in minute 29 after a foul in midfield and the ball hitting the bar of a Walmbach shot). She took no nonsense and intervened when foul play occurred. She was usually very convincing in her decisions in the first half.

She wanted to avoid cards...
Bibiana Steinhaus is good in communication, so she rather believes in control without cards. This showed in the first match between the USA and North Corea and it came up as an issue in this match as well. She could have easily carded Lloyd in minute 40 for tripping where at least a quiet word would have been necessary. The second occasion came just after the break in minute 47 where again a ruthless pushing went unpunished in terms of cards. Nothing bad happened afterwards, so her strategy paid off, but in my mind she was asking for trouble there which would have become a problem with two more aggressive teams (e.g. Brasil). This was again an issue in extra time (O'Reilly action in minute 94). The first yellow for obstruction by a Japanese player (Myanmar) was a bit selective in these terms.

Physically and mentally fit, but mistake on offside
Bibiana Steinhaus was in a great physical shape and seemed to be always in connection with the game. There was a wrong offside decision against Japan (minute 63) which could have turned the match, but this was the only big mistake in a brilliant match. Her assistants were sharp, she had a mostly friendly-relaxed attitude towards the players which worked in this encounter. She was firm when necessary, but seemed to smile alongside as well.

The finish...
She gave a clear red for a foul just outside the Japanese box where yellow would have been too little. This was correct and a good climax just before the penalty shoot out. I wasn't quite sure if a 9 was justified, but then decided myself in favour of it. Everything else would have been very knit-picking in my opinion.