Clear directing by Plautz

control

For any referee it's great to lead a match in England. Great atmosphere and always tough competing teams. No boring players wasting time, but players giving all they've got. For a referee this makes a match less difficult to control, though it's still possible to ruin it by timid calls or efforts for to strict control. Tonight Plautz didn't use strict Austrian control but let the game flow as well as he could. That's not easy. Liverpool have diving expert Torres, but tonight Plautz saw it all, was sure about his decisions and always near the action.

elbowing

In the second half there were five elbow slaps. Plautz let them pass. Luckily it didn't had a major effect on the game. Except for this elbowing both teams played quite sportsmanlike. Near the end of the match Plautz missed a couple of minor fouls. In stoppage time Thierry was correctly booked.