Severe test for Rocchi

Ronaldo Penalty

I personally don't like CR7 due to his overexcessive personal display of his abilities but in this match he was Portugal's man of the match to keep them up against Spain. He ran and acted like a beast but scored three goals. The penalty is a courageous call: Ronaldo enters the box with swift pace pushing the ball forward, the defender misjudges his movement and he falls. Rocchi immediately pointed to the spot without the slightest hesitation (5''). Yes, it is a soft call, but in my mind a correct but debatable decision.

Pepe

Spain pulled a goal back when Diego Costa received the ball, turned by hitting Pepe with his arm and hitting home after several turns against the Portugese defence. This is a very difficult judgement call concerning the contact on Pepe - at first I thought it was a clear foul despite the dramatic show by the victim. With hindsight and replay, I follow Rocchi to let play continue as I believe the contact was certainly borderline, but I rather support the decision to validate the goal than to whistle for a foul.

Discipline control

Here we are at the problem level: Only two yellow cards in this game is a statement of weakness of its own. Ronaldo was yelling for a booking when he showed dissent after being fouled in half two, Pepe (42'') needed to go in the book but nothing happened and Rocchi was pointing and shouting but doing absolutely nothing to impose himself when the talk shop came to no avail.

Cakir

It was the second game I watched after the second half of Iran against Marocco which was really awful. Cakir also didn't want to book as far as I could see but talked and pointed himself. He did in the end when he couldn't avoid it, but FIFA seem to rate refs higher who rely solely on "man management". This is a dangerous game and weakens the official's range of action. The VAR was used inobtrusive which was positive for me in comparison to the long delays in the Bundesliga where the system had not worked consistently. We'll see more of it.