The Misfortune of Fortune: The German National Team's Unlucky Streak with Referees
Referee Decision Proves Costly as DFB-Elf Suffers Defeat
By Ben Redelings | Facebook | Twitter | WhatsApp | Email | Print | Copy Link
For decades, the German national football team seemed to have a secret ally in the refereeing booth. Their major triumphs often rode on the support of the stripes, but times have changed, and their luck appears to have shifted away.
Remember the heated discussions about the 1974 World Cup final? Our neighbors haven't forgotten it, as Bernd Hölzenbein's fall in the Dutch penalty area was as controversial as it gets. The debate persists about the contact Willem Jansen had with Hölzenbein, and the match-changing decision by English referee Jack Taylor has cemented the term "Schwalbe" (German for "swallow") in the Dutch language. We Germans, however, generally steer clear of that topic.
Rudi Völler, one of Germany's most beloved players, later admitted that in the 1990 World Cup final against Argentina, there might have been no foul in the incident that led to Edgardo Codesal Méndez awarding a questionable penalty. Nonetheless, that decision granted the Germans a 1:0 lead, which they managed to extend to 1:2 before an Argentine comeback.
Fast forward to the 2010 World Cup, where Frank Lampard's goal against Germany was overlooked by referee Jorge Larrionda, a decision that still stirs resentment in England today. Despite Larrionda's blind spot, the German team emerged victorious, 4:1.
- Ben Redelings is a bestselling author and comedian from the Ruhr area.
- His book, "A Goal Would Do the Game Good. The Ultimate Book of Football Truths," has just been released in an updated and expanded new edition!
- He is currently on tour with his football shows. Find more info and dates on www.scudetto.de.
Völler, now a sports director for the DFB, once opposed the introduction of VAR but has since softened his stance. He acknowledges that he may not have received that penalty, even if there was contact, and believes that a second look might have changed the outcome.
The introduction of VAR was initially met with resistance, but then came another controversial moment that sealed its introduction - this time involving Germany in a round of 16 match against England at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Since then, the pendulum of fortune has swung away from the German team.
"Football doesn't need video evidence. Football is drama" - Günter Netzer, after the match against England in 2010. But as we have seen, both can coexist. The evidence of video technology is a stark reminder that while luck and drama often go hand in hand, they are not always favorable to Germany.
Controversial decisions, like the handball incident involving Marc Cucurella in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 against Spain, should not excuse a lackluster performance. However, it is fair to say that games, such as those against France in the Nations League and Spain last year, could have gone either way. If the referees had made different calls, the outcomes might have been different, repeating the patterns of controversial decisions from 1974, 1990, and 2010 - matches that were favorable to the German team.
Complaining will not change the fundamental nature of football: it is, as Günter Netzer put it, "drama." The dramatic ending may vary from game to game, but for the German team, the latest twists in their fortunes are anything but a mere plot device.
Source: ntv.de
- Football
- Controversial Decisions
- Referees
- National Football Team
- International Matches
- VAR
Insights:
- Controversial referee decisions can significantly impact the outcomes of football matches, potentially impacting the progress of a team in major competitions.
- Teams, including the German national team, often find themselves in situations where they believe they have been unfairly disadvantaged by referee calls. This can lead to frustration and potentially affect performance and morale.
- The introduction of VAR has served to address some of the criticisms of refereeing decisions in football, but it has also introduced new controversies and debate.
- The German national football team has faced numerous controversial referee decisions, such as those in the 1974 World Cup, 1990 World Cup, and 2010 World Cup, that have significantly impacted the outcomes of their international matches.
- The introduction of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) in football has been met with mixed responses, but it has also helped shed light on questionable decisions, like the handball incident involving Marc Cucurella in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals against Spain.
- Despite the ongoing dramatic nature of football, controversial decisions and their repercussions, such as those that have affected the German national team, have made the game even more intertwined with the concept of luck.
