England are ready for the European Championship final.
But afterwards it was all about the refereeing effort.
Now Virgil van Dijk reveals what the referee did after the final whistle, which made him even more upset.
– That says it all, says the Dutch team captain.
England’s path to the European Championship semi-finals was not exactly straight. They looked really sluggish in the group stage and at home there was huge criticism of the slow and boring football that was played. But they still finished as group teta – and ended up on the dream side of the play-off tree.
Controversial penalties
Once in the round of 16, they were seconds away from elimination before Jude Bellingham saved England with a late equaliser, and in the quarter-final against Switzerland, penalties were called for. In the semi-final against the Netherlands, it was instead the referee who came into focus, and after England won 2-1, everyone involved agreed that an incorrect decision was the basis for the turn of the match.
Shortly after the Netherlands’ 1-0 goal, Denzel Dumfries hit Harry Kane with a stretched sole, but many believed that it was Kane who actually kicked Dumfries, and that he also managed to finish. In SVT’s studio, the expert during this summer’s EC John Guidetti was very critical.
– I don’t think it’s a punishment. In a semi-final of the EC, it is a natural position of Dumfries. Both kick into each other. If Kane ends the swing immediately after he hits the ball, he misses Dumfries. He continues too. I think it is very harshly judged, says Guidetti.
Points out the judge’s choice
But there were actually more factors to consider. Replay images showed that, just before landing at Kane, the ball touched the arm of Englishman Bukayo Saka – twice. The former top judge Jonas Eriksson, now an expert in SVT, believes that the penalty was wrongly awarded.
– It is a clear hand and it means that no penalty should be awarded to Kane, he says, and continues:
– I’m surprised that they (VAR) don’t go in and look and remove that penalty.
England finally decided the match in extra time, after a goal from substitute Ollie Watkins. Afterward, there were, understandably, upset expressions on the part of the Netherlands.
– I have no words. It hurts so much that we conceded the goal so late in the game and stand here empty-handed now. It is difficult to accept, says team captain Virgil van Dijk according to the Football channel.
Van Dijk, like teammates and managers, were upset with referee Felix Zwayer. Afterwards, Van Dijk also revealed what the referee did, which made matters even worse.
– It says it all that the referee went into the dressing room so quickly after the final whistle. But I don’t really want to put the blame there (on the referees) either. I’m standing here, but I don’t know what to say, he says.
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