[Text/Observer Network Zhang Zhaodong] In the early morning of December 2, Beijing time, the third round of the Group E group stage of the 2022 Qatar World Cup came to an unexpected end. Japan defeated the European strong team Spain 2-1 and advanced with the top record in the gro

[Text/Observer Network Zhang Zhaodong]

In the early morning of December 2, Beijing time, the third round of the 2022 Qatar World Cup Group E group stage ushered in an unexpected ending. Japan defeated the European strong team Spain 2-1 and advanced with the top scorer in the group; the German team, who was the winner of the four-time World Cup, finally won the ball, but because of the goal difference, it was eliminated in the group stage for two consecutive times.

In addition to the dramatic results, the most controversial scene of this World Cup also appeared in the game. Japan's second goal against Spain was first judged out of bounds, and then the referee determined that the goal was valid based on VAR (video assistant referee technology). This goal allowed the Japanese team to establish the victory and also sent the German team back to their hometown. After the game, the fans were quarreling about whether the Japanese team's ball was out of bounds...

Spanish football player Gezka Mendita Twitter screenshot

In the early morning of the 2nd against Spain, the Japanese team replicated the script of defeating the German team in the first game. When they were one goal behind in the first half, they chased two goals in the second half and won the game 2-1.

controversial ball appeared in the 51st minute of the game. Japanese player Dora Anru , who just scored a goal 3 minutes ago, sent the ball to the back point. Teammate Misakura quickly followed up and rescued the ball back to the middle at the sideline. Tanaka Bee scored.

But the lineman immediately raised the flag and pointed out, believing that the ball had already gone out of bounds when Sansatsu saved the ball on the sideline. The referee on duty communicates with the video assistant referee. After a long wait, VAR finally confirmed that the goal was valid.

With this goal, the Japanese team overtook Spain and jumped to the top of the group from the brink of elimination. They then maintained the score until the final whistle and successfully qualified; while the German team next door defeated Costa Rica 4-2, but because the goal difference was lower than Spain, the group ranked third and was eliminated.

It can be said that this goal was sent to the Japanese team directly to "hell" and also led the German team to "hell". After the game, the fans quarreled around the fact that this ball appeared out of bounds.

According to the game rules formulated by FIFA, the definition of the out-of-bound ball is "the ball as a whole is across the sideline completely on the ground or in the air." Live footage of the game on TV around the world shows that when Japanese player Misaki Sakura saved the ball and returned to the middle, the ball was indeed out of bounds; but VAR determined that the goal was valid, and FIFA (FIFA) has not given any evidence to rule that the ball was not out of bounds.

Someone played back the game video in slow motion, and decided that the ball was out of bounds: "I support Japan, but VAR cannot explain this. This World Cup is really corrupt."

"Okay, who bets Japan will win the first place in the group? Who bribed the VAR referee and said the goal was valid?"

"The German team was killed unjustly."

There are also people who played the picture and played the meme, Pairing the English football player Frank Lampard (Frank Lampard ) into the video assistant referee, "The man behind Japanese VAR, get out, Germany, hahaha."

2010 World Cup quarterfinals , England played against Germany, Lampard shot from a long time, the ball hit the crossbar and bounced towards the ground, and the overall crossed the goal, but the referee ignored it. In the end, the German team eliminated England 4-1 to advance.

Former Spanish professional football player Gaizka Mendieta also posted a replay video to determine that the ball has been out of bounds: "Inside or outside the bounds? It's clear to me at a glance."

Fans who thought the ball was not out of bounds said that this was entirely a matter of camera angle.

Japanese fans who won the ball gave pictures from various angles, trying to prove that the ball is still a slight difference from out of bounds.

British sports reporter James Sharpe posted a video to remind him: "The angle of the camera is deceptive."

Domestic sports commentator Meng Fanda also posted a picture saying that this ball is indeed not out of bounds.

English football legend Gary Neville (Gary Neville ) tweeted and questioned: "There is no doubt that VAR has seen the decisive angle/evidence that we have not seen yet, but why not show it to us? In Premier League , we can see the process of the incident and see the pictures. It is meaningless and does not help improve transparency."

Domestic fans also asked: "Until the end of the game, a sure-fire vertical viewing lens was not given. There are so many high-tech, is it so difficult to give a lens that convinces me?"

It is worth mentioning that since the start of this World Cup, high-tech penalty technologies such as VAR technology and semi-automatic offside recognition technology (SAOT) have frequently caused controversy.

Opening Game Ecuador scored the first goal of this World Cup in three minutes, but was determined by SAOT to be invalid;

Saudi in the game of surprise defeat of Argentina, Argentina's three consecutive goals were blew offside and invalid, two of which were only between millimeters;

In the United States against Iran, American player Wei's goal was blew offside and invalid. The 3D animation given by SAOT shows that Wei's right knee was only slightly more than the right arm of the defensive player;

On the evening of December 1, Belgium 11 Carrasco foul on Croatia 9 Kramalic in the penalty area. After checking the VAR, the referee determined that Croatia was offside first, and their penalty kick was cancelled. Football commentator Zhan Jun calls this offside "body hair level offside".

On the evening of December 1st, the Croatian offside moment given by VAR

Fans also have different opinions about these high-tech penalty techniques.

Many people believe that VAR review time is long and nitpicking, "suffering" wonderful goals, erasing players' offensive ability, destroying the fluency and excitement of the game; some fans said that offside was shown in the past, which was obvious at a glance, while SAOT technology was used to display 3D animated characters, "This method naturally feels a bit fake."

"VAR is killing football."

Football commentator Huang Jianxiang commented: "VAR ruins football, just like special effects ruins movies. The World Cup champion has been born: VAR (including semi-automatic offside penalty system). In any field, excessive concentration of power and unsupervision are unquestionable, it is a disaster and a breeding ground for corruption and shady scenes."

He also said that VAR technology has not been able to eliminate the controversy: "After using high-tech, the third round has not been completed, the number of major controversial punishments has exceeded previous years. How can this make VAR supporters feel?"

In the interaction with netizens, Huang Jianxiang also said that VAR "gagging is powerful", "the power is handed over in a concentrated manner, and the referee has become a puppet."

However, many fans retorted: "It is undeniable that VAR eliminates a lot of violations."

"The hand of God will destroy the football."

As of now, FIFA has not given any evidence images that ruling that Japanese ball has not gone out of bounds.