Romania : Ukraine - NYBERG (SWE) Belgium : Slovakia - MELER (TUR) Austria : France - GIL MANZANO (ESP) Definitely continuing the "anyone can fit almost anywhere" theme. I guess Belgium/Slovakia is considered potentially lopsided, so maybe Meler can feel like he's lower on the totem pole right now but, well, he probably is (though, like Scharer, I rate him highly). Perhaps the most notable thing is that Rizzoli is Meler's assessor. So seems like he'll be attending EURO and not Copa? If so, that tells you quite a bit about CONCACAF's potential influence at that tournament.
@MassachusettsRef i bright this up for the World Cup but if you could add for euros and copa that match discussions should include minute marks for the calls people are discussing in their games, that would be great.
Well, yes. There are 19 referees and 12 matches in a matchday. Seven referees were always goign to get their debut in MD2.
It is worth noticing that Marciniak, Taylor, Makkelie all had to wait until MD2 at the World Cup in Qatar as well. Vincic, Orsato, Turpin were all used early (MD1) in Qatar and now at the EURO again. Kovacs still waiting surprises me as well. I wonder whether there could be some sort of political element… Most of the referees still waiting don’t have a strong political background. I guess nobody enjoys to wait 10 days before his first game. To me, it seems a psychological advantage to start early.
Gosh, Marciniak has to wait for so long. Not sure where to expect him right now, with his VAR Kwiatkowski as main VAR in a late Wednesday game. Spain vs Italy, my mind goes Vincic or Kovacs right now. Netherlands vs France, I think one of the English.
What on earth is with this "waiting" stuff? He'll get two group stage matches, just like almost everyone else--but they will be two of the bigger matches. And he'll be set up for two big KO matches. The idea that one wants one of the earlier MD1 games, just because--I don't get it. None of these MD1 games stood out significantly. Also, remember that Marciniak cannot do Netherlands v France. Also, Taylor, Siebert, and Kovacs are "waiting," too (though, to be clear, I don't think anyone is really "waiting"). Slovenia : Serbia is thus, probably, Siebert. Denmark : England and Spain : Italy could easily be split between Kovacs and Marciniak, with Marciniak's VAR working back to back. And then Taylor would debut the following day--waiting the longest--on Netherlands : France. For the record, assignments Wednesday are: Germany : Hungary - MAKKELIE (NED) Scotland : Switzerland - KRUZLIAK (SVK) Croatia : Albania - LETEXIER (FRA)
Slovenia : Serbia - KOVACS (ROU) Denmark : England - SOARES DIAS (POR) Spain : Italy - VINCIC (ITA) Turpin is, notably, fourth to Vincic. Vincic getting the big one is, like everything, both surprising and not surprising--you could make a case that it's a massive signal or you could make a case that he's getting this now and won't get truly big KO matches later because of it. On another note, now I might agree that Marciniak is "waiting" because he can't work the following day either. Belgium-Romania has suddenly become a pretty big game, so perhaps he slots there. Or Turkiye-Portugal in Dortmund? If he is waiting until the 22nd, though, he becomes extremely limited for MD3 (Group C and then either E or F). Very interesting. Taylor is probably Netherlands-France and Siebert is then either Poland-Austria or Slovakia-Ukraine (I'd bet the latter). Kind of hard to predict Poland-Austria... could be anyone (unless that is Taylor as it is more or less an elimination game).
Yes, interesting… The game where Marciniak is the most sensible: Group F - Turkey-Portugal (22-Jun), but not sure where he could slot in for a second game. Group E games on Wednesday 26th might be possible, but in theory this could be the next opponent of the Polish national team. 2D plays 2E in the next round. Just to illustrate the complexity. I don’t say Poland will end 2nd Another option is, Marciniak will officiate 1 GS game and goes straight to R16. And finally, Marciniak in Slovakia-Ukraine (next Friday), followed by a decisive Group F MD3-game on Wednesday 26th? But then, you obviously need Orsato or Oliver in Turkey vs Portugal.
I think this is a distinct possibility. The other possibility is short rest (Cerro Grande had it in 2021) and then Denmark-Serbia, which will probably be decisive to qualification in some regard. I know all these rules are fungible and given the current political climate a moving target, but has a Polish referee done Ukraine other than friendlies since the Russian invasion? Poland has been a home location for the Ukrainian national team, so it might be a little weird.
What to make of Turpin's assignment is another question. On the one hand, everyone could work as a fourth. On the other, it doesn't seem likely or even necessary for the absolute top guys to do so. It is possible that Turpin had his opening match performance rejected giving all the missed KMIs. It's also possible he was slotted in to referee this match and, well, things changed. Watching his next assignment will be intriguing, too. Won't be Group C now. Can't be Group D. Won't be Group A again. Or seemingly B for that matter. So either he's working the same day as Marciniak in E/F on MD2 or he's waiting until at least MD3 in Group C.
Nope. Slovakia shares borders with both Ukraine and Poland, therefore I considered the small possibility that a Polish referee is fine there. But in all honesty, Ukraine vs Romania was an incredibly fair and easy game. I expect Slovakia vs Ukraine to be fair as well. Siebert is simply a better fit there. I agree that Taylor seems a lock in Netherlands vs France. His 2nd game is normally Group E-F. One of Kovacs/Makkelie in a decisive Group-B game. I also think Kovacs would be nice in Austria vs Netherlands as that game could be hyper dynamic (like Austria-France) as well and Kovacs’ fitness is excellent.
Slovakia : Ukraine - OLIVER (ENG) Poland : Austria - MELER (TUR) Netherlands : France - TAYLOR (ENG) I'll say this--at least UEFA is keeping people on their toes here. Siebert and Marciniak both debuting in Group F now? Belgium v Romania could be Zwayer based on cadence (and other conflicts) now or maybe Gil Manzano.
If it is Siebert/Marciniak/Zwayer announced tomorrow, that probably leave Gil Manzano to slot in on one of the two Group A matches. The other seems, to my eyes, like Orsato. That would then give him a bigger rest until the KO stages. Nyberg looks like the/an alternative.
Group A seems pretty much decided. The German vs Swiss game can easily be a gentleman’s agreement. Fight for 3rd place is more interesting isn’t it?
GEO-CZE: Siebert TUR-POR: Zwayer (4O Gil Manzano) BEL-ROM: Marciniak That’s a surprise. Perhaps Marciniak is considered in Group F in the final round (June 26). Zwayer will have a tough task for sure. I don’t read too much into Manzano as 4th. Actually won’t be surprised to see him and Turpin in MD3.
The Swiss will want to win that game to win the group. The runner up plays 2nd from Group B which is almost certainly going to be Spain or Italy.
Your perception of these matches is odd. Germany is not going to concede the group win and the easier path. It is a consequential match. Perhaps less consequential than the other, but also more high-profile. There’s an argument for Orsato exactly for these reasons. Gil Manzano can be on the other. But if they really want to manage Orsato, maybe Nyberg slots in to this group instead.
Just saw this Gil Manzano assignment. It does upend the possibility of him getting MD3 Group 1. So that changes my prediction above. Maybe Nyberg on the Scotland match?
Also I think there was a chance Marciniak was tipped for the Turkey game and got moved once Belgium lost. In theory, that should not have been a match that required Marciniak.
It will be quite difficult to find a referee for Croatia-Italy do you think? Bringing back Turpin vs. Makkelie seems to be choice for UEFA?