FIFA has appointed Szymon Marciniak to referee the 2022 World Cup grand final between Argentina and France (Sunday, 17:00, Lusail Stadium). The 41-year-old Pole told how he prepares for matches and what happened that made him take up arbitration.

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Szymon Marciniak, similarities with Pierluigi Collina and swap match between Barcelona and Inter

For football fans in Europe, Marciniak is a familiar figure both because of his physical resemblance to Pierluigi Collina and because of the Champions League matches (and more) he has refereed in recent years.

Born on January 7, 1981 (age 41), Szymon made his debut in the Polish Premier League in 2009 and was added to the FIFA list in 2013.

The Pole has been at the center of several important matches for football fans this season, with the match that sticks out in the collective memory being the impressive 3-3 draw between Barcelona and Inter at Camp Nou, a match which is synonymous with elimination. Catalans from the Champions League group stage.

He also refereed the 2018 European Super Cup between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, and at the same year’s World Cup (in Russia) he was in the middle in two matches (one of which he knocked out Germany’s Jerome Boateng).

Why FIFA chose Szymon Marciniak to manage the 2022 World Cup final

At the final tournament in Qatar, the Pole was at the center of two games: France – Denmark (2-1, from the groups – gave three yellows) and Argentina – Australia (2-1, from the eighth – gave two yellows). cards).

He was brilliant at the task at hand and the fact that he refereed France and Argentina at this World Cup was a big factor.

In addition, FIFA was satisfied with the work done, as well as the fact that his performances did not cause a wave of comments – see the case of the Iberian Mateu Lahoz in the quarter-finals between Argentina and the Netherlands.

According to Sport Center, Pierluigi Collina (FIFA’s head of referees) believes that the Pole has what it takes to complete the grand final between Argentina and France (Sunday, December 18, 17:00).

How Shimon Marciniak prepares for matches

The Pole told how he prepares for the match, Marcinyak has an established ritual.

He listens to music in the locker room (helps to calm down and focus better) and studies the tactics of the teams he is going to referee. He also analyzes the characteristics of the football players he is going to meet on the field.

“It has become very important to know as much as possible about teams and players before going out on the field,” says Szymon Marciniak.

An event that forced him to go to arbitration

Not many people know that Szymon Marciniak was once a footballer and that helps a lot, according to the Pole, who is set to lead the center between Argentina and France.

He played for “Wisła Płock” (a team of the first Polish football league) and says that on the field he was a player who commented a lot, was unhappy with many decisions of the referees.

In conclusion, Szymon Marciniak says that judging him was difficult.

“In one match, the referee removed me. Of course I didn’t agree with that decision and after the game I went and told him what I thought.

I told him he was one of the worst referees I had seen up to that point. He replied, “If you think it is so easy, try to judge for yourself.” So we tried,” says Szymon Marciniak.

Coincidentally, after becoming an international umpire, in an under-21 qualifier he was the fourth umpire in the squad, the center fielder who removed him.

“We joked about what I was like as a player. He was a good referee and I told him he made the right decision to send me off. This is a beautiful life story,” says Szymon Marciniak.

He knows how to judge problem football players precisely because he was one of them

Continuing the conversation about how much playing football has helped him in refereeing, Szymon Marciniak says he knows how to deal with “problem” footballers precisely because he was one of them.

“It helps a lot to go on the field as a former player. I was a leader, I played in midfield and I was a fool to be honest.

If you had told me many years ago that I would become a judge, I would have said no.

I was a difficult player for the judges. This makes it much easier for me now to maintain a good relationship with troublemakers on the field, having been one myself.

It helps me know what to say or do in certain situations. Or in others just do nothing, because the frustration of some players can be very high. Sometimes you can joke, it defuses the situation”, – Shymon Marciniak.

He made his Champions League debut in 2014 in a match between Juventus and Malmo and says he still remembers the match fondly.

“When I said a few years ago that I would referee the final of the World Cup, many referees laughed at me,” concludes Szymon Marciniak.

The matches at the World Cup in football were refereed by Shymon Marciniak

WC 2018

Argentina – Iceland 1-1 (Group D)

* A penalty was awarded to the Argentines. The shot from 11 meters was scored and missed by the same player: Lionel Messi.

Germany – Sweden 2-1 (Group F)

* Removed Jerome Boateng in the 82nd minute.

World Cup 2022

France – Denmark 2-1 (Group D)

Argentina – Australia 2-1 (eighties)

WC 2022, finals schedule

• Small final: Croatia vs Morocco – December 17 / 17:00 / Khalifa International Stadium

• Grand Finale: Argentina – France – December 18 / 17:00 / Lusail Stadium.