Unconvincing

Balanced

In this hard climate, the Nigerians looked better prepared for the physical battle . But Argentinians are technically better than they, so it was a balanced final, with few goal situations. Argentina won because they could take advantage of a Nigerian defensive distraction that was very well exploited by Messi and Di María. The first one gave a perfect ball to the second, and this one made a beautiful goal by defining over the goalie´s body.

Booking

Kassai's style doesn´t convince me. I didn't like his job during this final at all, because he wasn´t consistent. He looks as a referee who doesn´t like to show cards, that could be OK. But if he isn´t strict with hard fouls and kickings, he can´t be severe when the players delay or protest. There were 2 or 3 hard fouls where Kassai decided just to whistle and to book anybody. Ok. But later, he showed yellows to Di María and Riquelme because he understood they were delaying, and he booked them without any previous warning. After that Nigerian Apam committed a very violent foul which could have deserved a red, but Kassai only showed him a yellow. Does a violent kick deserve the same punishment as delaying a few seconds?

Ok

Well, players couldn´t use all their energies so there weren't many controversial actions. During the 1st half Argentinians claimed two penalties, against Agüero and Messi... The first one wasn´t a penalty, and the second one was a doubtful action, so Kassai was OK. Assistants were also good, I guess.

So???

When they had played half an hour in the 1st half, 4th official Damir Skomina suggested Kassai to stop the actions in order to let the players drink some water. It took 2 or 3 minutes, and Kassai added only 1 at the end of the half. During the 2nd, the same hapened. But the Hungarian added 6 minutes... another referee decision that I couldn´t understand at all.