A confusing checkered construction made its own builder the loser in a disorderly football match. This was an important description for a lucky team that got into final game of the 2018-WC to play its best against France while many big names including Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, … were out. France became 2018 #WorldCup champion by beating Croatia 4-2 and won $44 million prize in a game that Croatia didn’t deserve to score even a goal however they did well according to their coach’s plan.

Game’s important moments:

Mandzukic headed Griezmann free kick into own goal 1-0, 18′ OG
10 minutes later Perisic equalized the game 1-1 with half-volley from edge of area, 28′
10 minutes later Griezmann scored penalty awarded after VAR review 2-1, 38′
Pogba and Mbappe scored for French to  led it 4-1, 59′, 65′
Mandzukic scored for Croatia 4-2, 65′

France topped Croatia 4-2 and became the 2018 WC champion after 20 years (1998 WC).

Tags: #WorldCupFinal2018, #FRACRO #FRA #CRO, #WorldCup

It’s a revolution like football has little known that is currently playing in the arcades of the most watched sport on the planet: the video assistance arbitration (VAR) should be used on the occasion of the next Cup of the world in Russia (June 14 – July 15). It is the International Board (IFAB), the body governing the rules of football – which brings together several members of FIFA, accompanied by the presidents of the federations of England, Scotland, Irelandand Wales – who recommended it this Saturday. “This historic meeting, led by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, opens a new era in football with video assistance that will help improve integrity and justice in this sport,” IFAB said in a statement.

The method in question
This decision should definitely change the codes and habits of the game. Since 2016, several national competitions (French League Cup, Italian Serie A…) or international (Confederations Cup, Club World Cup) have been submitted to the video arbitration with more or less success. This use of video concerns four relatively specific cases: validation or cancellation of a scored goal, situation of red card, decision support on penalty situation and finally correction of the identity of a sanctioned player. A rather exhaustive panel, but which did not prevent confused situations from multiplying during this phase of full – scale experimentation.

More than the arrival of the video itself, whose institutionalization was no longer in doubt, as Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, had made it one of his hobby horses, it is his methodology that risk of having a central importance in its acceptance by the actors, whether they are players, coaches, clubs, observers or supporters. Indeed, for several months, the debate between pro and anti – video, with fairly clear arguments: on the one hand, there are those who believe that football is destined to become a sport “game sequences”, less fluid, and who will lose the unfair dramaturgy that has sometimes been his legend. On the other, those who are looking forward to a competition that is destined to become more equitable and a willingness to support referees who are sometimes destitute,

Will the terms of use remain the same as those currently in effect? This is where the FIFA and the Board are expected at the turn. Today, the stage takes place in three phases: 1 / The referee or the video assistants present in a box office requests the use of the images. 2 / The video assistants view the images before making their verdict by headset to the main referee. 3 / The latter may, if he deems it necessary, go directly to view the images on a monitor placed at the edge of the field. One of the keys to the success of the VAR for the coming years is the ability of the authorities as well as the referees to minimize the duration of this procedure, which lasts from one to three minutes according to the experiments conducted for almost two years.

The modalities of the use, but also the solicitation of the VAR will contribute to reduce the confusion which could sometimes reign during this phase of experimentation. This is probably what prompted the European Football Authority (UEFA) to take a reverse position on the subject. The latter recently announced that the VAR would not be introduced in the continental competitions in 2018 – 2019, even as all the European competitions are about to undergo a serious facelift. Scarred by its use in the FA Cup, the Premier League should push back its introduction while conversely, some national championships like the Spanish Liga or the French Ligue 1 will have recourse from next August. The cleavage therefore remains, and FIFA does not has more than a few weeks to dissipate the areas of persistent shade. An ultimatum she might have missed.

A few days of the inevitable global rendezvous, the world of the balloon is already bursting with a thousand prognoses. The opportunity to make a small overview of the forces involved through the ten teams who get (for now) the favors of bookmakers.