Blown calls have spread like a rash at the World Cup, highlighted by a pair of howlers Sunday that should have erased any lingering doubts. The refs need help.

The days when FIFA, soccer's governing body, could ignore technology as a way to improve officiating are already numbered. The change won't happen at this tournament, but not too long after, FIFA boss Sepp Blatter and his henchmen will yield to pressure and reverse the organization's decades-long stance. [...]

England faced Germany in the first game — the same opponents who played a 1966 World Cup final that swung England's way in overtime after what has come to be called the "Wembley goal," and all these years later, remains the sport's most controversial tally. Working with the same tools their predecessors had at their disposal 44 years earlier, referee Jorge Larrionda and linesman Mauricio Espinosa were presented with an eerily similar decision late in the first half.

This time, a shot by England's Frank Lampard hit the crossbar, rebounded to the ground and then spun back in the direction of the field, where German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer gratefully collected it. Unlike the 1966 game, there was no consultation between ref and linesman and what was clearly a goal — replays showed the ball was well over the line — was simply waved off.

In the later match, Mexico faced an Argentina squad coached by former great Diego Maradona, whose "Hand of God" goal might have been even more controversial than the England's 1966 tally, except that it took place in a quarterfinal.

so maybe, just maybe, we'll see some instant-replay or allow coaches to throw a "challenge" card on a bad call? about fucking time... now if only they could do something about some of these pussy players falling to the ground, crying like little babies in mock pain everytime the wind blows — hasn't been too bad in most games, but it really is annoying as hell.