Splendid

Free flowing

The match was quick and fluent, thanks partly to Felix Brych who played a number of good advantages and did not stop play for every minor bit of contact. The low number of free kicks in this game is, in part, a reflection of how well he controlled the match.

A lovely goal (and a good bit of refereeing)

The first goal, which was taken very well by Jovetic, combined two very good pieces of officiation. Firstly Zanetti was tripped but did not fall, so Brych played a good advantage allowing Fiorentina to break up field. Then the ball was passed, a Fiorentina man was offside, surely the flag would go up? But no, the assistant recognised that Jovetic was onside, the other man was not interfering with play, correct decision and Jovetic was on the scorecard.

Deserving

Felix Brych gave a good account of himself in this match. I remain unconvinced by Wolfgang Stark, but this man has the potential to follow in the footsteps of the invariably excellent Markus Merk and Herbert Fandel to be Germany's best ref. On this performance he certainly merits a really big match, and he seems like he would cope with a tough test.