Referee Rating: Netherlands v. Japan

Hector Baldassi from Argentina is the center here. He previously refereed the match between Serbia and Ghana. I didn't see it, but it seems he got the major decisions right and no one's talking about the small ones so he seems to have had a decent game. Will he defy the odds and have a good second game or join the referees from yesterday in having a worse game the second time around?

1' Good call on the jump over the back and calling the free kick back for having it moving while it was kicked and being 10 yards away from the spot of the foul. Though the former was more likely the reason it was retaken.

2' Good call on the foul by van Bommel on Honda. Pretty easy, but Baldassi was well placed

7' Good call on the foul by Matsui and Nakazawa on van Persie. Komano was unlucky to take a high boot, but there was nothing in it, just van Persie tumbling after having been taken down.

Just saw a replay of Kuyt's overhead kick and the assistant did well. Kuyt was clearly on, but it was somewhat close.

13' Another easy foul by Japan to call.

14' Well spotted high boot on Tanaka. Not a difficult decision, but credit where it's due.

20' Good spot by the far side assistant on the foul by van Persie. Baldassi has been in good positions so far. He gets close to play when it looks like the game needs it and seems to be reading the game pretty well so far.

23' Sneijder needs to watch his arms.

25' So does van Persie. Not sure how much there was in that. A foul certainly, but Nakazawa certainly made the most of it...the cynic in me says he was trying to get van Persie sent off or at least booked. Baldassi was close to play and right to ignore the theatrics.

28' Good tackle by de Jong and again Baldassi is right there to make the right (non) call.

29' A foul definitely, but Nakazawa seems to have a little theater in him. Baldassi again in a good position and right to do nothing other than call the foul. van der Vaart's challenge was careless, but not terribly timed nor was it particularly hard or from behind. It was controlled, but slightly off in timing.

31' Easy call on the block by Kamano.

32' Not sure there was too much in that foul on Honda. The defender's arm did come out in a little push. I don't think it would've been called if he'd kept that arm in close.

35' Honda's foul on van Bommel was easily spotted.

36' van der Wiel's yellow was deserved. He just checked Matsui with no attempt at the ball after Matsui pushed it past him.

39' Sneijder flop there or was it a push? No advantage call so Baldassi didn't see anything in it and he was right there. The right (non) call I think.

40' Easy call on the sandwiching of Okubu.

44' Baldassi put the whistle to his lips for the push by Sneijder, but then didn't signal advantage when Japan kept possession.

44' Deliberate handball was easy to spot. As was Okubo's high arm.

First half rating: Good. 7/10. Baldassi was in good position throughout the half. He got the only booking correct and let the game flow. I hope he keeps it up in the second half.

48' That was a bit of overreaction from Tanaka, but Sneijder really didn't need to have his hands up.

50' Robbie Mustoe (commentator) was correct, Tanaka made no attempt to play the ball. He was more interested in stopping the attacker.

52' Baldassi is again getting close to play and was well placed for the corner call and in a good position had anything happened in that crucial position.

53' Great shot by Sneijder. That's the kind of attack I expected from the Dutch in the first half.

54' Great tackle; Okubo's theatrics were rightly ignored.

55' van der Vaart went over easy there, it was almost a dive, but it did look like he was put off balance a bit by his defender. I don't blame Baldassi for ignoring his pleas.

57' Two flops in a row, one by each team. Not sure if either actually was a foul, but Baldassi looked like he had a good view of each and made no call. After his first half performance it's easy to side with him on both decisions.

60' Easy call on the foul by van der Vaart.

65' Honda was lucky he didn't make contact with anyone with that stupid two-footed lunge.

66' Dumb challenge by Okubo. A card wouldn't have been harsh, but Baldassi was right not to give it. The game didn't need it and neither did the player.

70' Best attack of the day for Japan. Really threatening. Great skill by Sneijder to trap the Dutch clearance.

80' Easy call for the foul on Honda. Baldassi has done well to keep this game under control. Neither side really looked like they just wanted to kick the other out of the game, but the fouls have been just mistimed tackles with little venom. The teams each seem to respect the other and Baldassi has done well to keep that vibe going throughout the match.

84' Honda had an elbow high on van Bommel there, but it didn't look like van Bommel jumped very high and Honda's eyes were always on the ball.

86' Not sure why Mathijsen felt the need to foul Nakamura and then push him over.

89' Didn't have a camera on it, but I guess that was a foul throw.

90' Did Honda trip himself there? Baldassi certainly thought so.

90'+2 That was never going to be a penalty. A yellow for simulation would probably have be justified. There was slight contact, but Nagatomo didn't go down because of it, he threw himself down.

Ratings:
Second half: Very good. 8/10. Baldassi stepped up and did very well in the second half. He seemed to tire a bit which is expected, but he was still in good positions.

Fitness: Above average. 6/10. His lower fitness evident in the second half didn't hurt him.

Positioning: Very good. 7.5/10. Baldassi always seemed to be just where he needed to be.

Big decisions: Good. 7/10. Didn't have much to do but wave away Nagamoto's appeals.

Overall: Very good. 7.5/10.