Argentina starred in the surprise so far Qatar World Cup 2022, losing to Saudi Arabia 2-1, at the Lusail Stadium. Leo Messi’s team suffered a huge setback in their debut in the championship, with the semi-automatic offside in their sights.
Up to three goals were annulled for the South American team, with one just by a shoulder.
Messi He opened the scoring at minute 10, benefited by the VAR with a penalty on Leandro Paredes, the product of a slight grab from the Arab defense. The Asians came back with a couple of great goals, work of Saleh Al-Shehri at 48 and Salem Al-Dawsari at 53.
Without detracting from the enormous work of the Arabs and the creative frustration of the South Americans, the weight of the semi-automatic offside was relevant.
let’s remember how it works the semi-automatic offside: each stadium in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has 12 cameras, where 29 points on the body of each player are tracked.
The ball has an internal sensor that sends data to the VAR operating room 500 times per second, with the aim of allowing a very precise assessment of when the pass was made.
Goal plays annulled by the semi-automatic offside against Argentina in Qatar 2022
let’s analyze the three goal plays annulled to Lionel Scaloni’s team for the semi-automatic offside technology, including the goal scored by Lautaro Martínez that made it 2-0.
- Minute 21: Leo Messi was left out of the game when he received a pass from Alejandro “Papu” Gómez, which left him face to face with goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais.
- Minute 28: Lautaro Martínez in offside after receiving the ball from “Papu” Gómez. The Inter Milan forward beat Al Owais, but the VAR invalidated the action due to a shoulder!
- Minute 32: Again Lautaro remains in an advanced position, this time after a qualification from Leo Messi.
The big complaint is that a shoulder, a foot, even a finger, they can turn on the semi-automatic offside. Is it possible that it can be considered as an advantage? This is the concern of many experts facing new technology.
Up to seven times Argentina was left out of play against Saudi Arabia, who knew how to reduce their defense against the South American attack, avoiding being at a disadvantage. The most curious thing: the Albiceleste had been left in an anti-regulation position six times throughout the 2018 World Cup in Russia!
A job to be done by the Scaloni coach and his players.