Michael Oliver, UEFA’s choice for the match between Germany and Denmark, got off on the wrong foot at Euro2024 in Spain-Croatia, with a couple of questionable decisions. For six years for almost everyone, despite the great esteem that he has always enjoyed and that he still enjoys, he is “the referee with a garbage can instead of a heart”, as Gigi Buffon called him in 2018 for the penalty awarded to Real Madrid in the 90th minute in the Champions League that cost Juventus elimination. An international for twelve years, he has already refereed in World Cups and European Championships. His last refereeing before the European Championships was the first leg of the Conference League semi-final between Fiorentina and Brugge, but how did the English referee fare yesterday?
Oliver’s history with Germany and Denmark
There are sensational precedents with Germany, led three times by Oliver and defeated on all three occasions. Two crossings with Denmark with a record of one win and one draw.
The referee cautioned two players
Assisted by assistants Burt and Cook with the Bosnian Peljto IV man and Attwell al Varthe referee cautioned two players: Andersen, Maehle. Recovery time: 1′ pt and 5′ st.
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These are the dubious episodes. At 4′, following a corner kicked by Toni Kroos, Schlotterbeck scores: Joshua Kimmich, however, makes an irregular block on Vestergaard, the referee whistles for a foul in attack and disallows the goal. At 19′, Christensen pushes Sané on his back, who, feeling touched from behind, accentuates the fall a bit: Oliver lets it slide. At 35′ bad weather forces the referee to suspend the match for 25′. In the 50th minute another goal was disallowed, Andersen scored it but the former Sampdoria player was beyond the German defensive line following Højlund’s touch. In the 53rd minute Andersen himself hits Raum’s cross with his hand. Called back toon field reviewOliver can do nothing but award the penalty.
At 57′ first yellow card of the match for Joachim Andersen due to repeated protests towards the referee. At 60′ yellow card also for Mæhle. After the foul on Leroy Sané, the former Atalanta player protests visibly and Oliver cautions him. At 92′ another goal taken away from Germany. Wirtz enters the penalty area, leaps past Schmeichel and pushes it into the net but the assistant raises his flag. After a minute of silent check Oliver confirms the pitch’s decision and Germany-Denmark ends 2-0.
Source: Ansa
