No-nonsense Webb eyes English path to final

After a series of high-profile refereeing errors at the World Cup, Howard Webb restored pride for his profession with an authoritative display in Brazil’s 3-0 defeat of Chile on Monday.

England had a valid goal ruled out in their 4-1 defeat by Germany in the last 16 on Sunday because the officials did not see that a Frank Lampard lob had clearly crossed the line, intensifying calls for new technologies such as video replays to be introduced to help officials.

Carlos Tevez’s opening goal for Argentina in their 3-1 win over Mexico later that day, meanwhile, was scored from an offside position.

There was no such controversy at Ellis Park on Monday though, as Webb suggested there is still reason to hope that an Englishman will reach the final.

He enjoyed a quiet first 45 minutes, playing the advantage wherever possible and asserting his authority with strong hand signals and stern facial expressions.

The one moment of controversy arrived in the 27th minute, when Brazil captain Lucio fell in the Chile box after apparently being chopped down by Pablo Contreras.

Webb, though, was unmoved and six minutes later he demonstrated that he wouldn’t be hoodwinked by any theatrical behaviour by waving play on after Maicon took a dramatic dive wide on the Brazil right.

Kaka was the first player into the Englishman’s book when he was cautioned for a trip on Arturo Vidal shortly before the half-hour.

Vidal returned the favour with a crude bodycheck two minutes into the second period and picked up a caution for his trouble.

Robinho’s fine curling strike in the 59th minute gave Brazil their third goal and ended the match as a contest.

As the game wound down, Webb brandished a yellow card to Ramires that rules him out of Brazil’s quarter-final meeting with the Netherlands on Friday.