PORTO • Portugal coach Fernando Santos hailed Cristiano Ronaldo as a "football genius" after his 53rd career hat-trick sent Portugal into the final of the Nations League on home soil with a 3-1 win over Switzerland.
The hosts had to withstand a moment of VAR (video assistant referee) controversy. After Ronaldo's free kick opened the scoring, Portugal thought they had the chance to double their lead from the penalty spot when Fabian Schar upended Bernardo Silva inside the six-yard area.
Instead, in a bizarre turnaround of events, German referee Felix Brych reversed his initial decision and awarded a spot kick at the other end for an earlier incident, when Swiss midfielder Steven Zuber went down under a challenge from Nelson Semedo.
Brych, after consulting the VAR, decided to review the Swiss incident on the pitchside monitor and awarded them the penalty, which Ricardo Rodriguez converted to seemingly send the game to extra time.
However, Ronaldo predictably took centre stage as he struck twice in the final two minutes to set up a final clash with either England or the Netherlands on Sunday.
"I was his coach in 2003 and I could see where he'd go," said Santos. "He's a genius. There's genius paintings and sculptures and he's a football genius.
"Simply a genius. When a player scores three goals in a game, of course he makes the difference."
English Premier League clubs will hope that there will be less VAR drama when the system is implemented next season, after they voted on Wednesday to allow replays of incidents reviewed by VAR to be shown on big screens in stadiums.
"If the VAR believes there is a definitive video clip which helps explain an overturned decision to fans, it will be broadcast on giant screens," the Premier League said in a statement.
VAR was used at last year's World Cup in Russia, this season's Champions League knockout stages and has already been in use in other top European leagues such as Germany's Bundesliga and Spain's La Liga. But replays have never been shown to the fans inside the stadium, leaving them in the dark while referees take a closer look.
The Premier League confirmed it was also looking at ways for supporters to view the clips on handheld devices via an app.
For clubs that do not have giant screens in their stadiums, VAR communications will be made through a combination of announcements and messages on scoreboards.
The Premier League has also created graphics that will be displayed on giant screens to explain any VAR-related delay to a match, and any overturned decision.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS, THE GUARDIAN
Fantasy Football: Manchester City and Liverpool dominate our Goal Premier League Team of the Season Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City ; while surely devastated to have fallen just
Man City are champions LIVE: Latest reaction as Liverpool
The Sterling by Music Man Ray35 StingRay Electric Bass design stays true to the Modern StingRay 5 body-style. The Music Man designed humbucker, equipped with Alnico magnets, is paired with an award winning 3-Band active preamp, and onboard controls for volume, bass, mid and treble and 3-position
Sterling Bass | Guitar Center
Apr 06, 2019 · Teenage sensation Moise Kean scored the winner to put Juventus one step away from an eighth consecutive Serie A title on Saturday as a 2-1 comeback win over AC Milan pushed the champions 21 points
Kean winner puts Juventus on brink of Serie A title
Maurizio Sarri insists Chelsea can still finish in the Premier League's top four after Eden Hazard's late strike rescued a 1-1 draw against Wolves on Sunday.
Hazard late show rescues Chelsea in Wolves draw | Aaj News
Publicly, Klopp would never assert that is team are "10 games from greatness". The Reds boss has always been keen to play down the increasing weight of expectation, blocking out the white noise of
Reds must rediscover passion: Klopp, Football News & Top
New chapter for Tottenham as stadium hosts first game
MADRID: Ghanaian forward Kevin-Prince Boateng is on the verge of joining Barcelona in a shock loan move from Italian side Sassuolo, according to media reports in Spain on Monday. Catalan daily Sport reported that the leaders of La Liga had agreed a deal to take Boateng on loan until the end of the
Boateng set for shock Barcelona move - reports - France - RFI
en.rfi.fr/wire/20190121-boateng-set-shock-barcelona-move-reports
Ghanaian forward Kevin-Prince Boateng is on the verge of joining Barcelona in a shock loan move from Italian side Sassuolo, according to media reports in Spain on Monday. Catalan daily Sport
Kevin-Prince Boateng set for shock loan move to Barcelona
When Everything Seems To Be Going Wrong Imagine you've already achieved a desired goal If you do this despite whatever fears the prospect of doing so brings, eventually others will be
11 Quotes to Remember When Everything Is Going Wrong
Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku must both take their opportunity to Injuries open way for Sanchez and Lukaku to shine for United "They've been part of our training for a long time now
Injuries open way for Sanchez and Lukaku to shine for United
China strips South Korea of football trophy for 'indecent' celebrations A South Korean player caused uproar in China after he was pictured with his foot on the Panda Cup. AFP/STR
China strips South Korea of football trophy for 'indecent
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United are not scared of playing the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against at the Camp Nou after drawing Barcelona on Friday. United were originally drawn to play at Barcelona in the first leg, which would have given them the safety net of
Manchester United vs Barcelona: Sergio Busquets should have
bigsportsnews.com/soccer/manchester-united-vs-barcelona-sergio-busquets-should-have-been-sent-off-says-ole-gunnar-solskjaer/
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was disappointed that Sergio Busquets was not sent off during Manchester United's 1-0 defeat by Barcelona on Wednesday night. United have another mountain to climb in this year's Champions League after losing the home leg of their quarter-final tie against the Catalans.
Solskjaer aims to replicate spirit of '99 at Manchester United
Alireza Jahanbakhsh of Iran (centre) in action during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup round of 16 soccer match between Iran and Oman in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Jan 20, 2019.
Jahanbakhsh on target as Iran ease past Oman into last eight
The Portuguese attacking midfielder has also been linked to City's rivals Manchester United, but it is looking increasingly like the Sky Blue is winning the race for the player. The Sporting No. 8 has racked up an immense tally of 31 goals and 17 assists in 50 appearances this season, which has made him one of the hottest players in Europe.
Chelsea news recap: Offer for midfielder increased, star to
Football News: Barcelona have one hand firmly on the La Liga title after winning 2-0 at Alaves on Tuesday, leaving them 12 points clear at the top of the table with
Barcelona on verge of Liga title after beating Alaves - Reuters
0 comments:
Post a Comment