FIFA‘s director of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has defended Salvadoran official Ivan Barton following criticism from outgoing France coach Didier Deschamps. Deschamps publicly questioned the referee’s capability after France’s 2-0 defeat to Spain in a World Cup semifinal match held in Arlington, Texas.
Deschamps’ post-match comments were careful, stating, “If I say anything, I’ll look like a sore loser because we lost.” However, he directly asked whether the referee was suitable for officiating a semifinal, mentioning a penalty decision and other aspects of the game. Collina, a former World Cup final referee, responded directly to Deschamps’ query, asserting, “Yes, absolutely. Our referees are world class.”
Controversy and Official Defense
The primary point of contention revolved around a penalty awarded to Spain in the first half. Referee Barton judged Lucas Digne‘s challenge on Lamine Yamal to be a foul inside the box. Mikel Oyarzabal converted the penalty, giving Spain the lead. Pedro Porro later secured Spain’s win in the second half.
This is not the first instance where Collina has needed to defend officials during the tournament. He previously supported a referee following a controversial match where Egypt lost to Argentina in the Round of 16. In that instance, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan had accused FIFA of favoring the defending champions.
France’s defeat ended their aspirations for a third consecutive World Cup final appearance. They will now compete in the third-place play-off on Saturday in Miami. This outcome is particularly disappointing for France, who were considered one of the pre-tournament favorites upon their arrival in North America.
Deschamps confirmed his departure as France manager after 14 years following the Spain defeat. He leaves with his questions regarding the officiating unanswered and his team heading into the bronze medal match.
Mbappe’s Assessment of the Defeat
France captain Kylian Mbappe openly criticized his team’s tactical and technical shortcomings after their 2-0 FIFA World Cup semi-final loss to Spain. This defeat marked the end of their bid for a third consecutive final. Mbappe stated that his team “fell well short” of the required standards for a World Cup semi-final.
Mbappe highlighted specific tactical and technical failures, including a lack of communication in the press and being outnumbered in midfield. He noted that Spain secured their place in the final with goals from Mikel Oyarzabal (penalty) and Pedro Porro, with Spain dominating possession and tempo throughout the match.
Reflecting on the defeat, Mbappe observed that France failed both tactically and technically against a Spanish side that controlled the midfield through Rodri and Fabian Ruiz. He pointed out the numerical disadvantage in midfield, stating, “We were three against two in midfield, and against Spain, that’s hard.” Mbappe suggested that France should have implemented a man-to-man press to force Spain to run.
France had entered the contest on the back of six consecutive wins and 16 goals in the tournament but struggled to impose themselves. Mbappe revealed that their plan to press high and disrupt Spain’s build-up did not materialize. He emphasized, “We didn’t play the game we wanted, technically, tactically. When you don’t do what you have to do in a World Cup semifinal, you don’t win.”
The captain also criticized his team’s execution in possession, noting that careless play prevented France from capitalizing on their few opportunities. He stated, “We were too sloppy technically. We could not hurt them when we could have.” Spain took the lead in the 22nd minute after Lamine Yamal earned a penalty, which Mikel Oyarzabal calmly converted. France’s challenges increased when defender William Saliba was forced off due to injury before halftime.
Deschamps introduced Manu Kone, Desire Doue, and Rayan Cherki in the second half in an attempt to spark a comeback. However, Spain doubled their advantage just after the hour mark when Pedro Porro exchanged passes with Dani Olmo before scoring against Mike Maignan. France briefly threatened through Aurelien Tchouameni and Mbappe, but Spain’s defense remained solid, achieving its sixth clean sheet in seven matches at the tournament. Mbappe, who had eight goals entering the semi-final, was unable to add to his tally and remains level with Argentina captain Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
Accepting responsibility as captain, Mbappe concluded that the defeat was a collective disappointment. He stated, “As the captain, I have to take all the responsibility, and I have no problem with that. We wanted to go to the final. We didn’t go.” France will now face the loser of the second semi-final between Argentina and England in Saturday’s third-place playoff, while Spain awaits the winner as they pursue their second FIFA World Cup title.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
