It's been an very open game in today's game between Denmark and Australia, with both teams having a real go at the Samara Arena. The scores are currently locked at one apiece, but the manner of Australia's equaliser was controversial with Yussuf Poulsen deemed to have deliberately handled the ball after a cross into the box.
VAR plays a part again as the referee awards a penalty for a handball from Yussuf Poulsen #rtesoccer #WorldCup #DEN #AUS pic.twitter.com/TZibNBbBjA
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 21, 2018
Denmark 1-1 Australia. The Socceroos level it up from the penalty spot through captain Mile Jedinak #rtesoccer #worldcup #DEN #AUS pic.twitter.com/VagYejiG3X
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 21, 2018
The decision to penalise Poulsen was compounded by the fact that the Dane will now miss his team's final group game against France and many punters were of the opinion that the penalty shouldn't have been awarded, given that Poulsen was challenging for the ball and the handball didn't look deliberate:
Denmark 1-0 Australia. Christian Eriksen puts the Danes in front with a rocket of a goal. Follow @ed_leahy with coverage here https://t.co/ORLtvQBCSd #DEN #AUS pic.twitter.com/VewYsBTUTP
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 21, 2018
VAR working massively in Australia’s favour there haha 1-1
— GAZ (@GazGShore) June 21, 2018
VAR no replacement for decent refs ?♂️ #den #aus #WorldCup
— Brynmor Pattison (@Brynmorbeer) June 21, 2018
That penalty decision is, for me, the fault of VAR. Watching football in slow motion changes the nature of the action. It 'looks' worse than it was. Creates a false impression of the sport.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) June 21, 2018
Big fan of VAR giving referees a second chance to make a bad decision.
— Andrew Thomas (@andi_thomas) June 21, 2018
Dear me Poulsen not even looking at the ball!!!!! Now people don’t blame VAR the referee has made the final call!!!!! No pen for me.
— Don Hutchison (@donhutch4) June 21, 2018
VAR had a Weston super never a penalty? Den 1 Aus 1
— Ray Parlour (@RealRomfordPele) June 21, 2018
Denmark had taken the lead through their talisman Christian Eriksen, the Tottenham star expertly stroking home on the half volley:
Denmark 1-0 Australia. Christian Eriksen puts the Danes in front with a rocket of a goal. Follow @ed_leahy with coverage here https://t.co/ORLtvQBCSd #DEN #AUS pic.twitter.com/VewYsBTUTP
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 21, 2018
In the RTE studio Richie Sadlier stated that it was "A very harsh penalty to concede" though he could understand why it was given.
