Stand as a team, fall as a team

First goal

Tevez's first goal was scored after him being offside. But this was not a close or difficult call to make - Tevez was at least a yard ahead of all other players when the ball was chipped to him. The assistant referee was caught hopelessly out of position and it beggars belief that he did not spot the offence. To compound matters, the incident was replayed on the big screen at the stadium for all to see. Naturally the Mexicans then protested, Rosetti and the assistant had a conference and decided to stick with the initial, wrong decision. This incident changed the match, and while Mexico should have been able to put it behind them and continue to play as before, it was bound to have an effect and after this point Mexico were hardly contenders.

Law 5

"The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match." So ok, the referee can't really use the replay to change a decision. But what is to stop the assistant, having seen he got it wrong, saying 'I have replayed it in my mind, and have realised it was offside, so cancel the goal'. Surely it is better to do this than let the error stand. Surely it is better for the referees to put their heads on the block by making the correct decision via the wrong route than the wrong decision via the correct route. And surely the Argetinians would rather not have their performance marred by an offside goal? Surely they would rather win by entirely fair means? Come on FIFA - it's time to have a trial of technology; what harm can it do if it avoids situations like this?

Rest of the match

After this, Rosetti knew his team had messed up, that his chances of the final were gone. So his decision making became erratic, with phantom fouls given, some bad challenges missed, some clear cards missed. He tried to manage the players, but there were too many little confrontations, too many small niggles and he should have been stronger and brought out the cards.

Team game

If football is a team game, refereeing is rapidly emerging as one too. The only problem is that brilliant referees are being let down by poor assistants and vice versa; perhaps it would be better to go back to the old system when referees and assistants were independently appointed. Remember 2002 - the best ref of them all in Collina had the best assistant of the all Phil Sharp on the line in the final. Under this current system a poor error from the assistant means we will lose perhaps the best referee here...