rules

wrong

And that's what's wrong with this Slovakian referee: he sticks to the rules too much. If he would ignore FIFA's severe directives every now and then, he could become Worldreferee's favorite referee (but not the guy officiating the Final and what is more important?).

Gyam

For Instance: did he really have to book Gyam when the Ghanese fell in the Brazilian box? Was it really a clumsy dive or did he simply stumble over his own feet? The Brazilians didn't protest, Gyam didn't even ask for a penalty and this was his second yellow. His frist was for kicking away the ball, a few metres. Come on Lubos Michel, the Ghanese (and the match) needed him. A good referee would have let it pass, would have told him not to do that again.

Warning

And that's what Lubos Michel did at the start of the game, he warned players before booking them, he stoped the game and talked to them, showed them he was in control.

face to face

Mind you, most of his decisions were right, Adriano dived like a swimmer,Muntari and Juan gave nasty kicks in a strange match with a Brazilian team playing like Italians while the Ghanese managed to get through the Brazilian defence time after time but failed to score. They did this so many times that it looked like all Ghanese players must have stood face to face with Dida at least once. Shooting straight into the Brazilian goalie's arms. The Ghanese should practice a bit more.

PS 2009

Canadian journalist Declan Hill alleged in a book in 2009 that this match was fixed. Large amounts of money were placed on Brazil winning with more that 2 goals difference and they did. According to Hill Ghanese ex player and youth coach Abukari Damba had had contact with Asian gambling syndicates before the World Cup. Hill spoke to the match fixer before the match and with for instance the Goalie Richard Kingson who shocked when he heard about it. Kingson also said he now could understand why some of his mates played so badly.
Please read again the last paragraph of this report that was written in 2006 There is a lot of money to be made from betting on a sure winner. The betting offices won't notice you because you do what everybody does, so of course the odds are never good. That is until you bet on a certain goal difference.