Germany coach Joachim Low piled the pressure on World Cup semi-final referee Marco Rodriguez with an extraordinary attack on the standard of officiating at the World Cup ahead of Germany\u2019s semi-final with Brazil.<\/p>\n
Germany\u2019s controversial coach claimed Brazil\u2019s quarter-final victory over Colombia had turned into \u2018a fight\u2019 and went on to say that refereeing standards are better in Europe.<\/p>\n
Brazilian forward Neymar has been ruled out of the World Cup with a fractured vertebrae after he was kneed in the back by Colombia defender Juan Zuniga.<\/p>\n
Colombia forward James Rodriguez, the World Cup\u2019s leading scorer, was deliberately targeted in Fortaleza, and a record 54 fouls at this World Cup were committed by both teams during the stormy clash which was refereed by Spaniard Carlos Velasco Carballo.<\/p>\n
Low said: \u2018Colombia against Brazil was a real fight.<\/p>\n
\u2018I hope the referee, Mr Rodriguez from Mexico, will clamp down on things. That physical energy in the match against Colombia went beyond the limits in Europe.<\/p>\n
\u2018If that match had been played in Europe, 22 players wouldn’t have ended that match. There were brutal fouls. People blocking opponents however they could. It was really exaggerated.<\/p>\n
‘That’s what we saw on the pitch, so I hope these really brutal and crude fouls are stopped, or we won’t see players like Messi, Ozil or Neymar, and we’ll just see players who go out to destroy.<\/p>\n
\u2018This is a World Cup that’s full of dynamism and physical force, but I’ve seen matches where the limits have been surpassed.<\/p>\n
Brazil’s team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said Neymar will be out for four-to-six weeks<\/p>\n
And Rodriguez is the match official who missed Luis Suarez\u2019s bite on Giorgio Chiellini in Uruguay\u2019s final group game against Italy.<\/p>\n
He is now under massive pressure in front of a worldwide television audience after Low broke ranks to claim the standard of officiating was below that expected in European football.<\/p>\n
Germany\u2019s head coach added: \u2019It affected playing time was only 38 or 39 minutes, so there were so many breaks in play.<\/p>\n
\u2018I don’t think players and fans like the match being constantly stopped. It’s not a good match. The players were warned what would earn them a yellow or a red card.<\/p>\n
\u2018You saw in the Colombia match many fouls from behind which were really dangerous for the players. There were slide tackles from behind and from the side.<\/p>\n
\u2018You have to protect the players when you’re a referee. That’s something that’s important for everyone working in football. You have to protect the attackers.<\/p>\n
\u2018They have been aggressed in a very bad way. I don’t think it was a good thing that we saw there.\u2019<\/p>\n
Brazil\u2019s highly-physical approach has been heavily criticised following last Friday\u2019s brutal clash with Colombia in Fortaleza.<\/p>\n
Although Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari claims his team are playing within the rules, the five-time champions have attracted some unwanted attention ahead of this clash.<\/p>\n
Germany defender Jerome Boateng spoke in Belo Horizonte last night and claimed Low\u2019s observations were all accurate ahead of this mouth-watering tie.<\/p>\n
Boateng, who was sluggish in Germany\u2019s opening games at the tournament, said: \u2018 I share the coach’s opinion. We’ve never seen as many fouls like in that match, especially from behind. Quite a lot of things went beyond what is acceptable.<\/p>\n
\u2018We\u2019ll just have to impose our way of playing. I’m highly motivated and glad I’m playing here, like the whole team. We’re happy and I’m eager to play that match.\u2019<\/p>\n
Germany\u2019s head coach, who arrived for the press conference on Monday around 90 minutes ahead of schedule, claimed the absence of Neymar could be a motivating factor.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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