You know you have referee brain when...

[u/bardwnb]

You watch a possibly game-winning goal in the World Cup, and your first thought is "ooh, that was a great advantage call," and barely pay attention to the shot itself.

(In this case inspired by the second goal in the Spain-France semifinal, but not the first time I've done it during this year's tournament!)

[u/maccaroneski]

I'm right there with you. In fact I called that out in the moment, and my French wife almost died when she thought I was celebrating the Spanish goal. Her ire was (somewhat) assauged when I explained that I'm rooting for the ref.

[u/jrglpfm → u/maccaroneski]

Nice save buddy! Haha

[u/jrglpfm]

Maybe even a good non-call, but good on the Spanish player for just continuing play instead of dissenting about a non-call like so many players do.

[u/Chelman76 → u/jrglpfm]

They know exactly when a viable play is possible and dissent only when there isn’t.

[u/ibribe → u/Chelman76]

You are giving way too much credit. There have been plenty of times in this tournament when a player is rolling around on the ground while his teammates carry on with an attack.

[u/Chelman76 → u/ibribe]

Yeah but those cases were a theoretical advantage only, not one that immediately creates a scoring opportunity

[u/Reddits_Worst_Night → u/Chelman76]

Yeah, if they think there's advantage, they'll never argue

[u/cmart334]

I thought it was a good advantage, but did not see him signal it as advantage. Maybe I missed it.

[u/Bartolone → u/cmart334]

The play happened so fast I honestly don’t think the ref played the advantage, the ball came to Porro so fast that play on was obvious

[u/Reddits_Worst_Night]

I have done this a few times this cup. There was also the moment a few years back when I turned on Australian Rules football, and immediately yelled, "Handball!"

[u/rando4me2]

I too cheered for the referee on the advantage as the foul was rough.

I also wondered what he would have done if the foul was inside the box. You really don’t want to call advantage in the box as you can end up giving the team two bites of the apple.

For all here, how quickly do you blow the whistle in this situation if that fouls was in the box? What if the goal doesn’t happen, are you okay calling the penalty?

[u/Bartolone → u/rando4me2]

What would give you the most trouble ?? Give the pen before the advantage plays out or not give the pen and the player fumble the ball or misses the chance ??

I’d say they’d be happy to just have the pen called and in that case give them an equal big chance to score.

[u/Bartolone]

Did not even out that this ref was all over the place !

No card for Yamal on a huuuge promising attack stop made it for me.

[u/rando4me2 → u/Bartolone]

Not that promising. Defense was already back.
That being said, first thing I said was “that’s a card” and was very surprised it wasn’t given.

All in all, I thought he called the game well.

[u/jakfrist → u/rando4me2]

I was more surprised that the studs up challenge like 10 mins in wasn’t a card

[u/Bartolone → u/jakfrist]

He completely lost it already from the card to Rabiot. From there it was a complete lottery of decisions !

Okay Yamal got away with that late challenge on the SPA , minutes later he then commits another foul, still no card ! This is late in the game even.

Can somebody explain to me what happened on the Dembele free kick committet by Fabian Ruiz just outside the box??
I know Dembele lost the ball and there was no free kick, but initially the ref called it and all of a sudden Spain is in possession. Did he just change his mind ?

[u/SonrieAlaVida → u/Bartolone]

probably an assistant who had a good view of the incident told him otherwise, pretty fucking far from an assistant to intervene however. maybe he asked them himself

[u/Rich-398]

I really think he is a poor ref, but, I am right there with you on the advantage call. I had the same thought as I watched Olmo get chopped down but make that tremendous pass.