Maybe this post is only interesting for Mark, but who knows. I'm going to post about two completely different approaches to the games of two top referees of this world cup.

The one is Urs Meier (Switzerland) and the other Pierluigi Collina (Italy). Meier was the referee in the semi-final between Germany and Korea, Collina will do the final.

Meier is careful not to read (or watch) anything about the teams for he thinks that he is less influencable if he knows less. So for instance when he showed Ballack the yellow card he really didn't know that this meant Ballack was not to play in the final. Meier later said in an interview he is very sorry about the yellow card but he made clear that he is sorry for the young player who is denied the chance to play in the final and not for his decision which he still thinks was correct. BTW, though it is a pity that the only creative player of Germany will be missing (Brazil has about 8 of at least his class among the 11 playing) everybody in the German team agrees that the yellow card was correct without any doubt.

Collina is known to watch videos of the teams over and over in order to be informed about every possible detail. He wants to know who only falls when unavoidable and who likes play acting. He wants to know what players use to do when they think the referee is not watching. He thinks he is a better referee when is is preinformed. Two completely different approaches can both lead to brilliant preformances. I guess the rare erros of both will be in slightly different directions, however.

And look at them both when they are in action. Meier is much less visible than Collina. His idea of a perfect job is when one player says to the other after the game "Did we actually have a referee and if yes who was it?". Collina makes sure no one forgets who the referee was and what a domineering role he had.

Watch Collina on Sunday when the game has a dull moment. There once was a 90 min film only showing a close-up of George Best during a game. I'd love to see such a film only about Collina.

Wolfgang