Webb withstood the pressure of the atmosphere

The hot beginning

Brasil versus Chilli was a narrow thing and both team showed that they had come to win. Two bad tacklings after three and four minutes merited a yellow each. Howard Webb decided to warn before booking, good was that he resisted to the temptation to start with a yellow for Chili for the second bad challenge as some officials might have done. It took again ten to 15 minutes before Webb gave the first card, but from then on I felt he meant business and the seven yellows were all consistent and in line with his general policy. We may say that there was room for more cards, for a dismissal of Felipe Scholari, but given the general level of refeering at this WC he was at least a yard above average without being brillant.

No penalty, no handball goal - no risks

After the penalty in the opener and a lot of soft ones in this tournament, Brasil were looking for an easy way to the next round. At least three to four cases of falls on the fringe to simulation ocurred, so it was a courageous decision to disallow the 2-1 for Brasil for handball and to book the man accordingly. I think the host doesn't really need presents like in the match against Croatia and already had one. Webb performed well, showed his physical ability and remained cold-blooded in a turmoil with a dramatic finish. Chili could have won, but somehow I knew that Brasil were always going to win this. They are also my hottest contender for the title - not because they are the best team, but because they simply cannot afford to lose unless they are ready to be torn to pieces by their fans (see 1950).