Webb could be top man in Brazil

It is now over a fortnight since England’s hopes at the World Cup were ended after defeat in their opening two games.

But for one Englishman, the dream of appearing at next Sunday’s Final at the Maracana lives on.

Referee Howard Webb is still in Brazil, and he could yet become the first man to officiate in two World Cup Finals.

His cause was certainly boosted by a strong display in the awkward last-16 clash between the host nation and Chile.

The Chileans had been worried about the referee succumbing to the pressure of the home crowd in Belo Horizonte.

But two big decisions showed he would not be swayed, unlike Japanese referee Yuichi Nichimura in the opening game, or the Spaniard, Carlos Velasco Carballo, on Friday night.

All the big decisions in the curtain-raiser between Brazil and Croatia went in favour of the hosts, much to the dismay of the watching world.

And it was a similar story in the quarter-final where Brazil got away with their attempts to kick James Rodriguez off the park.

But when Brazil played Chile, Webb refused Hulk a penalty and he later disallowed a goal by the Brazilian forward for handball.

Brazilians may not have agreed, but replays suggested the English referee had got the decisions right.

It was redemption on the world stage for Webb after the events of the Final four years ago between Holland and Spain.

The Rotherham referee did show 13 yellows and one red card to Dutch defender John Heitinga.

But it was the refusal to send off Nigel De Jong for his kung-fu kick on Xabi Alonso that stuck in the memory.

Webb’s performances in Brazil come on the back of a domestic season in which many believe he slipped below his previous standards.

There were suggestions that Webb was doing too much away from football, but he got the nod for the World Cup as England’s top official.

And he’ll find out today or tomorrow if he will be in charge of semi-final or even the Final.