VAR

STOCKLEY PARK has gone on tour for the summer and brought Premier League chaos to the Euros.After everybody had praised officials at this tournament for their use of VAR – the English arrived.Antoine Griezmann missed a brilliant chance in the first halfCredit: ReutersXavi Simons thought he scored a brilliant opener in the second halfCredit: ReutersDenzel Dumfries was caught in an offside positionCredit: BBCKylian Mbappe missed the match due to his broken noseCredit: AFPYou can argue the toss on whether the duo of ref Anthony Taylor and VAR, Stuart Atwell, were right to rule out what would have been a winner for Xavi Simons.But the clear fact is it should not take nearly three agonising minutes to work out if an offside player is getting in the way of a ball or not – well done lads, good process.The dithering sucked the life out of a game that, while goalless, had bubbled nicely with chances at either end – and been well officiated, allowed to breathe, to that point.Chances that, had they been taken, would have seen France win by a mile.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut that was their problem – the masked man, Kylian Mbappe, never came close to getting on.France had feared Mbappe would be able to play no role in their biggest game of the group stages. But the Real Madrid-bound superstar recovered in time to be named on the bench – although his inclusion appeared to be simply mind games from boss Didier Decschamps.Mbappe took his seat on the bench and did not move from it once – not even to warm up.Aurelien Tchouameni, who has recovered from a foot injury, came into the side with Antoine Griezmann pushed into a more advanced role.Most read in Euro 2024CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe France end of the Red Bull Arena was dotted with supporters wearing homemade versions of Mbappe’s mask, bearing the tricolore flag, his initials and number 10.Ronald Koeman had demanded his Netherlands side show more bravery on the ball and brought in Jeremie Frimpong to add some more firepower to his forward line – Wout Weghorst remained on the bench despite his winner last time out.Kylian Mbappe’s new mask revealed as France training mask is bannedThe Bayer Leverkusen winger made an instant impact, driving beyond the French defence in the opening minute and forcing Mike Maignan to tip around the post.There were fears that, having both got an opening day win in Group D, this could be a tame contest between two former winners.But just minutes after Frimpong’s early effort, Bart Verbruggen was scrambling to push Griezmann’s dipping effort over his bar.The Dutch had the greater backing in Leipzig and made a more threatening start, but France should have been ahead after 12 minutes.Griezmann said ahead of the game that he wanted more touches of the ball – something he may have been regretting after dropping an absolute clanger.Marcus Thuram played Adrien Rabiot clean through with a delightful backheel. Instead of slotting home the midfielder surprisingly prodded the ball left to Griezmann, who appeared surprised by the decision and instead of tapping into an empty net collapsed in a heap.The Atletico Madrid man had the chance to make amends moments later when N’Golo Kante, superb once more, squared to him in the box but the shot was wide.Both sides were at the same time wonderful and wasteful – some superb breaks were sparked by sloppy play on the ball from those in orange and in white.It was making for a fine encounter.Griezmann, captain for the night in Mbappe’s absence, was at fault on both sides. Wasting chances and gifting possession, but at the heart of most France openings – heading into Verbruggen’s hands from Adrien Rabiot’s cross just before the interval.For all the chances created, France appeared to be lacking the efficient cutting edge Mbappe always carries.They may have won the opener with an own-goal, but it was their captain’s work which forced it.The profligacy continued after the restart, Rabiot scooping an effort into the sky from Dembele’s whipped cross before Thuram dragged one wide.At least the French chances were still flowing – the Dutch struggled to get out of their own half for most of the second half.France were getting closer. Tchoumeni headed narrowly over from Dembele’s corner – Griezmann should have scored again, fluffing his lines from yards out once more having been teed up by Kante.Dembele then sent one whistling over the bar.It looked as if the Netherlands had punished all those wasted chances when Simons smashed home, though after an interminably long VAR break the goal was ruled out for offside against Denzel Dumfries, who had been blocked Maignan from diving to stop the ball.Just to rub it in for Simons, who had a disappointing first game, he was withdrawn once the decision had been confirmed.READ MORE SUN STORIESDeschamps made his changes – but still Mbappe stayed fixed to his seat as Olivier Giroud and Kingsley Coman were sent on.But the game never really got going after the disallowed goal. It is a result which really harms neither nation in their pursuit of qualification to the knockouts. The only real dent is on English officiating.EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANY More

BELGIUM were denied a late equaliser against Slovakia courtesy of a piece of technology never before seen in football.The Red Devils suffered a shock 1-0 defeat in their opening game of Euro 2024 after Ivan Schranz pounced on an early Jeremy Doku error.Romelu Lukaku was denied a late equaliser by some new technologyCredit: GettyA new Snicko feature showed the impact the handball had on the flight of the ballCredit: ITVBelgium thought they had an equaliser on 56 minutes when Romelu Lukaku slid in to convert from close range from Amadou Onana’s knock down, only for a VAR check to rule him as being offside.But with just four minutes of normal time remaining, the ex-Chelsea and Manchester United forward finally thought he had his goal.Substitute Lois Openda did superbly down the left to race away and find his team-mate in the middle to slot home.However, a new piece of technology intervened to deny Lukaku once again.READ MORE EURO 2024 NEWSAnd it reminded most of the snickometer, commonly known as Snicko.That is the system used in cricket to determine whether the ball touched the edge of the bat for a potential dismissal such as a catch or leg before wicket.Referee Umut Meler went over to the pitchside screen following a VAR check where he judged that Openda had handled the ball as he got away from his man down the wing.But while the official made his decision, a new feature popped up on screen that showed how much the touch by his hand affected the flight of the ball to help him make up his mind.Most read in Euro 2024BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSEx-Premier League forward Chris Sutton called the decision “scandalous” on BBC’s website, saying: “It is ridiculous, it really is. Openda doesn’t intentionally push the ball into his path.“That is harsh. In the Premier League that goal would stand.”England fans drink 2 MONTHS worth of beer in one Euros weekend at German pizzeria that became unlikely ‘Little Wembley’But Christina Unkel, ITV’s referee analyst, explained: “The deliberation interpretation has recently changed.“However, this is going to be considered a deliberate offence as the arm is near the shoulder level because the arm is extended and the touch helps control the ball.”We reported previously how fans at home watching Euro 2024 will benefit from an equivalent of cricket’s “snickometer” this summer.For the first time ever, broadcasters will be sent a “touch detection” graphic that is used by tournament referees to make key decisions.The technology can offer greater clarity around offside and handball decisions made by officials.Images will be available to viewers whenever they are used to make a significant judgement during any European Championship game.Match balls at Euro 2024 are fitted with a motion-sensing microchip that can track every touch at a rate of 500 times a second.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe high-tech “Connected ball” was effectively used at the World Cup in Qatar two years ago.It is capable of determining whether the ball makes contact with a hand en route to goal or whether a player strayed beyond the last defender at the exact moment the ball was played. More

THE glitter has gone from Belgium’s Golden Generation.Now it is about faded memories of what might have been.Slovakia pulled off a shock 1-0 win over BelgiumCredit: AFPBelgium were shocked by the SlovakiansCredit: RexThose near misses. Those chances wasted. Those horror moments at the back that hurt them so badly. The marginal calls.And if ever a match summed up that descent from the summit of hope to the valleys of despair, it was played out in the Waldstadion.Against a game but limited Slovakia, gifted an early goal for Ivan Schranz, Belgium in their pomp would have romped home.But that pomp has gone, faded, disappeared. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWe saw that as they went home from Qatar after the group stage.The same fate could face them in Germany after a catalogue of blunders by a host of familiar Prem faces.Romelu Lukaku, still nominally a Chelsea player, missed five and had TWO ruled out by VAR.The second would never have been discussed in the past, Uefa’s new “snicko”-style technology ruling that substitute Lois Openda had nudged the ball with his hand before crossing for Lukaku to sweep home. Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSBut while Kevin de Bruyne pulled the strings, he couldn’t get the kite flying.And for all Belgium bewailed the video booth decisions from Leipzig, Jeremy Doku was left the guilty man, selling Wout Faes horribly short before Schranz cashed in for the key moment of the match.England fans drink 2 MONTHS worth of beer in one Euros weekend at German pizzeria that became unlikely ‘Little Wembley’In truth, Belgium did NOT deserve to lose.Yet if you do not take your opportunities, you are made to pay.And boy, did they miss their chances. Lukaku should have scored twice in the first few minutes, scuffing one shot at Martin Dubravka and then failing to round the keeper.At this stage, Doku was killing the Slovakian left flank, seemingly certain to create the breakthrough.So he did. But at the other end.Dropping back near his own corner flag, Doku passed the ball into no-man’s land, Faes with no chance.Schranz backheeled cleverly and while Juraj Kucka’s shot was parried by Koen Casteels, it fell perfectly for the Slavia Prague man to volley into the far corner.Doku’s determination to make amends was evident as he teased and tormented left back David Hancko but Slovakia had something to hold on to.Dubravka so nearly gave it away, panicked by De Bruyne’s intensity and passing straight to Leandro Trossard, only for the Arsenal man to send his 25-yarder sailing over the bar.De Bruyne was always drifting into space, seeking to prompt and provide, but Slovak skipper Milan Skriniar was seemingly everywhere for his side, plugging the gaps superbly.And Slovakia’s belief they could hurt Belgium behind both full-backs was so close to bringing them a second.No Belgian was in the same postcode as Kucka as he barged down the right flank, picking out the unmarked Lukas Haraslin who thundered a volley that was destined for the top corner only for Casteels to make a fabulous one-handed save to his left.Romelu Lukaku prodded home from point blank rangeCredit: EPAThe goal was ruled out by VARCredit: APThe striker had a second goal disallowed by VARCredit: ReutersYet Lukaku then should have levelled, missing for the third time when Yannick Carrasco played him in through the middle.Lukaku’s first touch was bad, his second even worse, booting the ball out for a goal kick as he attempted to round Dubravka. Shocking.Tedesco’s only initial change was to swap his wingers, Doku moving to the left for the second half and making an early impact once again.Now Belgium were pushing. Lukaku, denied by Dubravka at his near post, thought he had levelled from the resulting corner, played short by De Bruyne to Trossard.Amadou Onana rose at the far post to nod back and Lukaku stabbed home from a yard. The VAR check, though, was a clear one. Offside.Dubravka then plunged to thwart Trossard, Lukaku thrashed into the side netting from a tight angle, before Hancko somehow got back to clear off the line from substitute Johan Bakayoko – taking a knee in the face from his team-mate Denis Vavro – after Doku’s cross was punched slapped out by the keeper.Slovakia, forced ever backwards, were holding on by their fingernails, desperation growing in the Belgian ranks.READ MORE SUN STORIESWhen Openda out-muscled Vavro down the left, Lukaku’s instant finish looked to have earned him salvation and Belgium a point.But Turkish referee Umut Meier agreed with his directive from the East German bunker. Dubravka’s save from De Bruyne ensured the win. Belgium on the brink, already. More