We had rarely seen Roberto Martinez so angry at his players after a meeting. Not on his players, who lacked intensity after scoring, but of course on the refereeing. The federal coach did not understand that the Welsh goal, scored by Johnson, on an assist (great, in heel) from Ramsey in the 86th minute, could be validated.
“We knew that this game would require energy, we created few chances then we grew during the game and we scored at the right time. But it is incredible that this goal is granted”said the Spaniard, annoyed, at the microphone of RTL Sport once the match was over.
He developed the substance of his thought. “There is no valid explanation from FIFA or UEFA. The correct decision is that of the assistant referee, who signaled the offside. The VAR checked… and he changed the decision when the line is not correct. We see that the lines drawn by the technology are not parallel to the line of the large rectangle. Here we have a perfect example of the fact that the VAR does not It doesn’t work. Either we change the technology or we don’t use it at all. Because it’s a disaster.”
What especially annoys the Red Devils coach is that this Welsh goal considerably complicates the Devils’ task in the quest for the Final Four. Belgium had the opportunity to make the right operation following the division of the Netherlands against Poland but it did not do so. “Instead of three points, we have one”finished Martinez. “The reality is that we made a big effort, that we gave everything and that in the end, we lost two points inexplicably. My players did not deserve to concede a split.”