37 NEDARG Medina Cantalejo

Netherlands never really looked like scoring, didn't score, and couldn't usurp Argentina as winners of Group C as the two nations who were already through with a match to spare drew nil-all. Having convinced in the very demanding assignment Germany - Poland, this match was mostly a piece of cake for Luis Medina Cantalejo. He did a good job but ought to have sent off Mascherano for a studs rake in the final stages of a tedious match.

Some impressions from an uneventful game:

- I doubt that Medina could really have perceived what happened, but Mascherano's unprovoked attack on Boulahrouz had to result in the Argentina player's ejection; all things considered, hard to blame the officials for not coming up with the result: red card. But they should have, hence a crucial mistake for the referee.

- Medina was quite lucky that clear trips at 6' and 83' which he did not see, took place just outside, rather than just inside the respective penalty areas.

- Do you think the tackle at 42' would be a case of Serious Foul Play nowadays?

- It would have been advantageous to have cautioned van Persie and Mascherano (pre-90') for persistent infringement, but not doing so was okay as well.

- As in his first game, Medina excelled in the areas of fitness and manner: certainly a man who can be trusted with the biggest games.

- Both assistant referees Victoriano Giráldez Carrasco and Pedro Medina Hernández were good, having being normally challenged.

Luis Medina Cantalejo - 7,9(4) Victoriano Giráldez Carrasco - 8,4 Pedro Medina Hernández - 8,4 Carlos Chandía Rodrigo González ESP – CHI	Netherlands 0-0 Argentina Group Stage
Kuyt (28.) - SPA (Impeding) Ooijer (42.) - Tackle de Cler (48.) - Striking	Cambiasso (57.) - Delaying the Restart Mascherano (90.) - Tackle