Soccer: Big guns in charge of semifinals

All six officials for the semifinals are from Europe following widespread criticism of inexperienced linesman and referees at the tournament.

Italy's Pierluigi Collina, generally accepted as the best referee in the world, will most likely run the final in Yokohama on Sunday night.

The vastly experienced Urs Meier of Switzerland will referee the Germany v South Korea match in Seoul and Kim Milton Nielsen of Denmark takes charge for Brazil against Turkey in Saitama.

Their appointments show Fifa has heeded complaints that poor decisions by inexperienced officials who came from outside the traditional soccer hotbeds of Europe and South America cost the likes of Spain and Italy dearly at the finals.

nzherald.co.nz/fifaworldcup

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