Chennai: France edged out Australia 2-1 in Group C at the 2018 World Cup in Kazan, Russia, on Saturday, but the European country would have lost the match 0-1 if not for technology. While France opened the scoring through a penalty awarded with the help of Video Assistant Referee (VAR), their winning goal stood thanks to goal-line technology. In other words, technology resoundingly defeated football conservatives.
History was made by the hour mark when VAR alerted the on-field referee, Andres Cunha, about a potential penalty. Cunha first waved play on as he hadn’t seen Australian defender Josh Risdon’s foul on French forward Antoine Griezmann just inside the box. Once the ball went out of play, Cunha checked the monitor placed near the touchline himself before pointing to the spot. Griezmann converted the penalty to put France 1-0 ahead. Australia were level a few minutes later through a spot kick of their own.
A marvellous match for technology was complete when goal-line technology, which was introduced at the 2014 World Cup, confirmed that French midfielder Paul Pogba’s deflected lob had indeed crossed the goal-line. After gathering the ball, Australian goalkeeper Mat Ryan tried to carry on with play before truth dawned on him. There was a good chance that the assistant referee may also not have given goal because the ball had bounced off from inside in a flash. Goal-line technology sends a signal to the main referee’s watch right after the ball completely crosses the line.
Interestingly, France had become the first team to benefit from goal-line technology in Brazil when there had been some doubt about Karim Benzema’s goal against Honduras. Former Fifa referee K. Sankar said the result of the Australia-France match should shut the mouths of sceptics. “Technology has won. Teams, players and fans should be happy that technology has put an end to major human errors in football,” he added.
Australia coach Bert van Marwijk questioned the VAR penalty, saying Risdon got the ball first. But the video clearly showed Griezmann’s trailing leg being tripped by the Aussie. Technology is here to stay.
