VAR and refereeing were unlikely highlights of this summer’s European Championships, with new research revealing the technology’s use to be 14.39% less controversial than the English Premier League.
Research onVAR at the Euros from bookmaker William Hill has combined reactionary metrics such as Tweet volume, text sentiment analysis, articles generated and associated levels of engagement, culminating in a bespoke, first-of-its-kind controversy rating being assigned to each of the 18 overturns.
And this summer’s pan-European football tournament, which comprised 24 teams, 51 matches and 11 host cities, returned an average controversy rating of 4.40, going some way toward resurrecting its ailing reputation at what many believed was a seminal moment for the technology.
In all, there were just 18 overturns by the 22-strong VAR team based in Nyon, who shaved 17.84% off a pre-tournament average of a change every 3.25 matches, since February 2019.
Five of those 18 overturns led to goals, six led to the awarding of penalties (four of those missed), three goals were allowed after offside and six disallowed, there was one disallowed for handball, and two red cards brandished, as a result of the technology’s unobtrusive patrol.
In all there were 276 incidents checked in 51 matches (5.4 a match) with 93.5% of on-field calls correct. Of 30 tight offside calls, nine required review, but the VAR team ensured a 100% accuracy on these.
“I believe that Europe has the best VARs in the world,” said chairman of UEFA’s Referees Committee, Roberto Rosetti. “We feel that VAR is an incredible tool for football, because it helps prevent clear and obvious refereeing mistakes.
“The 18 VAR corrections at the EURO were all 100% right, which shows the quality of the work that the VAR teams did. We can accept referees’ mistakes on the field – these can happen – but it’s very difficult to accept mistakes by VARs in front of a video screen.
“Consequently, we were pleased that the EURO VARs’ decisions were so reliable.”
Mario Gavranovic’s ruled-out winner (6.63) in a 1-1 group-stage draw with Wales claimed the unenviable accolade of ‘most controversial VAR call of the tournament’, the Swiss forward adjudged to have been inches offside (correctly). That was one of 21 tight offside calls in the first 36 games of the tournament, and one of six warranting review.
Karim Benzema’s strike (6.0) for France in their 1-0 group-stage win over Germany too, was one of those clinically accurate offside calls by the VAR team. On this occasion Kylian Mbappe strayed just offside as part of a free-flowing counter.
Elsewhere, Matthijs de Ligt’s card upgrade to red, for deliberate handball, in the Netherlands’ last 16 clash with Czech Republic was rated at 5.92.
But with all three proven to be technically correct, we have seen fewer controversies, less outrage, no game-defining errors and most importantly no lengthy VAR interruptions over the past four weeks.
Europa League Final VAR Françoi Letexier (6.63) was the most controversial VAR official, 10.5% more controversial than Juan Martínez Munuera, Amsterdam ArenA (5.305) pipped Football Arena Munich and Olimpico in Rome to be the most controversial stadium, and the final five minutes of the 90 were comfortably most controversial too.
England v Denmark responsible for one of the biggest electricity pick-ups in modern times.
The Euro 2020 semi-final match saw a surge of 1400MW at half-time and 1300MW at full-time.
Pick-up for England-Germany round of 16 match was on a par with the 2011 Royal Wedding of William and Kate (1600MW)
England v West Germany 1990 (2,800MW) required just 200MW less than the 1999 Solar Eclipse.
OLBG reveals the top TV moments for electricity pick-up.
While football is on the brink of coming home (we’ll see! – Ed.), it is also producing record-breaking surges in electricity demand.
As the nation collectively sat down to watch England’s Euro 2020 semi-final match-up with Denmark on Wednesday night, demand for power skyrocketed by 1400MW at half-time and 1300MW at the end of 90 minutes, making it one of the biggest TV moments in terms of electricity pick-up in modern times.
Forecasts prior to the match suggested pick-up in the region of 1200MW, with millions of litres of water (via pumped storage) standing ready at Dinorwig, ready to be deployed in order for people to make their half-time cup of tea. And according to the grid’s control centre, ITV ad breaks only served to fuel movement at half-time.
Wednesday night’s pick-up was the same as the 2018 World Cup semi-final against Croatia (also 1400MW), but on this occasion Gareth Southgate’s side went one step further.
Research by OLBG shows the England-West Germany match-up at the 1990 World Cup still accounts for the biggest sports-related pick-up, falling just 200MW short of the 1999 Solar Eclipse.
Rank
TV Moment
Date
Pick-up in MW
1
Solar Eclipse 1999
11/08/1999
3,000
2
England v West Germany – World Cup Semi-Final
04/07/1990
2,800
3
The Thorn Birds
22/01/1984
2,600
4
England v Brazil – World Cup quarter-final
21/06/2002
2,570
5
Nigeria v England – group match
12/06/2002
2,340
6
Eastenders: Lisa admits shooting Phil
05/04/2001
2,290
7
The Darling Buds Of May
12/05/1991
2,200
8
England v Australia – Rugby World Cup Final
22/11/2003
2,110
9
Argentina v England – FIFA World Cup round of 16
30/06/1998
2,100
10
Italy v Argentina – World Cup semi-final
03/07/1990
2,000
11
England v Portugal – World Cup quarter-final
01/07/2006
1,960
12
Sweden v England – World Cup group stage
20/06/2006
1,830
13
Juventus v Man Utd – UCL semi-final
21/04/1999
1,820
14
Wedding of Charles and Diana
29/07/1981
1,800
15
England v Ecuador – World Cup round of 16
25/06/2006
1,700
16
England v Germany – Euro 2020
29/06/2021
1,600
17
Royal Wedding – William & Kate
29/04/2011
1,600
18
England v Croatia – World Cup semi-final
11/07/2018
1,400
19
England v Sweden – World Cup quarter-final
07/07/2018
1,400
20
Rugby World Cup Final – England v South Africa
02/11/2019
1,300
21
England v Colombia – World Cup round of 16
03/07/2018
1,200
22
England v Ukraine – Euro 2020 quarter-final
03/07/2021
960
23
Clap for Carers
Various
800
24
England v West Germany – World Cup 1966
30/07/2021
600
The Three Lions’ quarter-final thrashing of Ukraine registered a 960MW pick-up at half-time, which was good enough for 22nd in our rankings – the equivalent of 190 million light bulbs, or 530,000 kettles. Demand waned as the result became clear, with 450MW required at full-time with fans drifting off.
Prior to that, a 55-year wait for a win over Germany at a major tournament ended with a 2-0 win for England in their round of 16 tie, with the national control room confirming a 1GW pick-up at half-time and 1.6GW at full-time, surpassing the grid operator’s best guess of 900MW beforehand. That is the equivalent of 320 million light bulbs, or 888,000 simultaneously boiling kettles.
Demand for electricity during England’s last 16 tie against Germany at Euro 2020
Geoff Hurst’s infamous hat-trick goal and the famous words “They think it’s all over … It is now!” in England’s last major tournament win in 1966 – a 4-2 victory over West Germany at Wembley – accounted for a modest 600MW spike, while the regular Thursday night ‘Clap for Carers’ last year saw peak pick-up of 800MW.
Graph plotting demand during the infamous 1996 World Cup final
Britain’s electricity system operator – National Grid ESO – is tasked with matching the country’s supply and demand, second-by-second, making sure the lights – and televisions – stay on!
In fact record viewing figures for the four-hours-and-five-minutes broadcast on ITV were recorded, and those, along with the electricity pick-up are set to be surpassed for Sunday’s showpiece final when England take on Italy at Wembley.
England is about to play in its first major football final since lifting the World Cup trophy in 1966 (Really? I hadn’t heard!- Ed.) Some may even remember those who took to the field for the legendary match, but who can remember the automotive stars of that year?
Newspress runs down the perfect starting 11 that cornered the market 55 years ago:
Goalkeeper – Ford Cortina Mk2
Did defending jobs get any bigger? Tasked with protecting the fastest-selling legacy of the original Mk1 Cortina, the Mk2 debuted in 1966 with a sharper, wider exterior and an all-new 1,300cc engine.
It did indeed prove to be a perfect match for car buyers, becoming Britain’s most popular car in 1967 and offering everything from a spartan four-door version right up to the later 1600E and Lotus-powered version.
Strictly speaking, the Renault 16 first hit the roads in 1965, but it made its biggest impact in 1966 when it lifted the European Car of the Year trophy.
It outgunned its competition with its forward-thinking design that, most notably, included the addition of a practicality-enhancing hatchback. Under its new-fangled sheet-metal there was a 1,500cc engine and a front-wheel drive layout, the latter also contributing to its spacious interior.
Stirling Moss was said to be a fan and almost 16 million were made during its 15-year production run.
Okay, it didn’t have the girth of the full-fat 420G, but Jaguar’s 1966-launched 420 would not have been a bad shout as an automotive goalie.
Being based on the S-Type, it was still a decent size and, perhaps more importantly, was a pretty nimble mover thanks to the 4.2-litre straight-six, twin-carburettor XK motor under its new forward-hinged bonnet.
Road tests at the time reported it to be good for 0-60mph in under 10 seconds and a top speed in the region of 125mph. Production ceased in 1968 so owning a survivor means you’re certainly winning in the rarity stakes.
Centre back – Volvo 140 (Surely ‘Centre-Half’, chaps? – Ed.)
The 140 series gave birth to the concept of the boxy Volvo. Although mechanically it borrowed much from its predecessor, the Amazon, its styling was a radical departure.
Named Car of the Year in Sweden, it was available in both two- and four-door saloon variants (named 142 and 144 respectively), while the incredibly practical 5-door estate, the 145, arrived soon after.
Not surprisingly, it won many fans, and by the time it was replaced by the 240 series in 1974, Volvo had found homes for more than a million of them.
Launched in 1966, the Corolla would go on to become the world’s best-selling car, even eclipsing the venerable Volkswagen Beetle.
It had distinctly humble beginnings, having been influenced by the company’s experience with the Toyota Publica, an air-cooled, two-cylinder car itself inspired by the 2CV.
But with rising competition from the Datsun 1000, Toyota upped the stakes with an 1,100c engine. Exciting it might not have been, but it was dependable, a winning formula the company continues today.
The last project founder Battista Pininfarina was involved with, the Spider was based on the mechanicals from the Giulia, including its suspension and twin-cam four-cylinder engines.
From the moment it launched at the Geneva Motor Show, the Spider looked like a film star, and only a year later it found itself a starring role in The Graduate alongside Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft.
Based on the DKW F102, the Audi 80 took the Auto Union-derived underpinnings and updated the concept with a range of four-stroke, four-cylinder engines developed in conjunction with Daimler-Benz. With the thirsty and troublesome two-strokes abandoned, the 80 began to prove not just itself, but also the idea of front-wheel-drive to a previously sceptical Volkswagen. Want to score your own? https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1358491
Right half – BMW 02
When originally wheeled out at Geneva, this entry-level BMW wore a 1600-2 badge depicting, in typically Germanic logical fashion, a 1,600cc car with two doors.
A souped-up version, the 1600 TI, followed a year later, but the model is perhaps most recognisable when wearing a 2002 badge and sporting a 2.0-litre powerplant. Want to score your own? 1968 BMW 1600-2 FOR SALE | Car and Classic
Left wing – Jensen Interceptor
Italian styling, a torque-laden 6.3-litre V8 engine, and a name to die for meant this Birmingham-built grand tourer is forever etched into this country’s conscience.
The Interceptor’s FF stablemate can arguably claim the crown as the first production car equipped with both all-wheel-drive and anti-lock braking. As a testament to the impact the Jensen had on car buyers in the Sixties, it also inspired one parent to name their famous son after it. Want to score your own? 1969 Jensen Interceptor 7.2lt Auto – stunning restoration For Sale | Car and Classic
Striker – Lamborghini Miura
Variously described as the prettiest car ever designed or, more simply, ‘the one with the eyelashes’, the Miura could also be branded the original skunkworks car.
Largely the product of Lamborghini’s engineering team working in their spare time, legend has it that company founder Ferruccio Lamborghini was against the idea of a rear mid-engined, two-seat sports car.
All doubts would have quickly faded away, however, when the first concepts were shown to a breathless public in 1965. One year later, the car made its debut wearing the name of a Spanish fighting bull, a new badge to match, and a 3.9-litre transverse V12 and transaxle. Football fans might be more likely to remember it as the car that sets the scene for The Italian Job. Want to score your own? Lamborghini Miura for sale – Pistonheads
Right wing – Lotus Europa
A cutting-edge slice of high-tech engineering, when the Lotus Europa arrived in 1966 it combined Grand Prix engineering principles with sports car sensibilities.
Taking the mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive concept that Colin Chapman and his team had championed through F1, it was designed to bring racing tech to production cars, but had the Lotus mantra of ‘added lightness’ written all over it.
Strictly a two-seater, despite its size, the Europa used a boxed-steel backbone chassis with a fibreglass moulded body, à la the Lotus Elan, but was powered by a choice of Renault engines as well as Hethel’s famous Twin Cam unit. These were not that powerful but, with kerbweights from just 660kg, every little helped.
Like many Lotus models of that era, it enjoyed a long life in production, yet was never a big seller. It finally disappearing in 1975 with just over 9,200 examples built. Want to score your own? 1971 Lotus Europa S2 For Sale | Car And Classic
Some Information for our younger readers:
The formation in those good old days was 2-3-5
1 Goalkeeper
2 Right Back
3 Left Back
4 Right Half
5 Centre Half
6 Left Half
7 Right winger
8 Inside right
9 Centre Forward
10 Inside Left
11 Outside Left
England played West Germany in the final of the 1966 World Cup, which was held in England. I won’t spoil things by telling you who won … !
Morrisons has launched a limited-edition ‘Best of Europe Pizza’ so customers can grab a slice of the action during Euro 2020.
The 14” pizza combines flavour favourites from four footballing giants, with Germany, Spain, Portugal and Italy all coming together to make one pizza perfect to watch the group stages with.
Divided into quarters, Morrisons ‘Best of Europe Pizza’ is topped with frankfurters and red onion, chorizo and chargrilled peppers, mozzarella and pesto, and spicy peri peri chicken.
So, no matter if you’re rooting for Ronaldo, supporting Sane or cheering for Jorginho there’s no worrying about your loyalties as the Morrisons pizza combines the best bits from every country.
With the British weather warming up and restrictions around group gatherings relaxed, the new pizza is landing in-store at the perfect time for Euro 2020 parties and is being released ahead of England, Wales and Scotland’s first games in the tournament.
Priced at just £3.89, Morrisons ‘Best of Europe Pizza’ is a fraction of the price of limited-edition pizzas at high street pizza restaurants. It will be hand-made by Morrisons Market Street experts in counters nationwide from Thursday 10 June.
Leanne Cory, Pizza Buyer at Morrisons,said: “With so much excitement for the Euros, we wanted to give customers the ultimate opportunity to tuck into the best flavours of Europe, whilst enjoying the match.”
Morrisons ‘Best of Europe Pizza’ has the following countries’ flavours:
Germany – Frankfurter sausage, red onion and mustard
Spain – Chorizo and chargrilled peppers
Italy – Mozzarella, pesto and tomato
Portugal – Spicy piri piri chicken
It is available from Morrisons Pizza Counters until Sunday 11 July and costs £3.89.
