World Cup 2014: Arjen Robben apologises for dive against Mexico

[jakeXT]

Arjen Robben apologised for diving as the Netherlands beat Mexico 2-1 in the last-16 of the World Cup but said it was not for the decisive penalty.

Klaas Jan Huntelaar converted the match-winning spot kick in stoppage time after Robben had been fouled.

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera accused Robben of diving three times in the game, but the forward told Dutch television: "I have to apologise. In the first half I took a dive.

"The one at the end was a penalty."


...

It left Herrera incensed, and he added: "Why did Fifa choose a referee from the same confederation as the Netherlands instead of one from South America, Asia or Africa?

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28082629

[kdmorris]

1. I feel terrible for Mexico

I know they are our biggest rivals, but since the USA has been the victim of terrible refereeing in the World Cup before, I can feel their pain. It's not just in this game, but the group play refereeing that got them.

[Ron Obvious]

2. Very misleading

He apologised for an earlier incident, not for either the not-given penalty at the end of the first half in which a Mexican defender broke his leg, and which was a stonewall (double) penalty, nor for the game-winning penalty in which he first jumps over the Mexican challenge (which would have been a penalty also), and after which Marquez then sticks his leg out.

I've seen several replays of the incident now and it's removed all doubt for me that it was the correct call.

Mexico's mistake was sitting back after their opening goal.

[jakeXT]

3. Gaal admits cooling break helped in win over Mexico

World Cup: Holland coach Louis van Gaal admits cooling break helped in win over Mexico

Holland coach Louis van Gaal admitted he used the cooling break to change tactics as his side snatched a last-gasp 2-1 victory over Mexico to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

http://www1.skysports.com/FIFA-World-Cup-2014/news/12021/9366005/world-cup-holland-coach-louis-van-gaal-admits-cooling-break-helped-in-win-over-mexico

I heard that one on the guardian podcast

http://www.theguardian.com/football/audio/2014/jun/30/world-cup-football-daily-podcast-costa-rica-greece-holland-mexico

[truebrit71]

4. There should have been at least two penalties given to the Dutch in that game..

...I thought Robben stayed surprisingly upright for a game of this magnitude...