In real time, it was a penalty. But as the action was slowed down, frame by frame in the replays and the pictures and vines, one could not help but think that the Dutch genius Arjen Robben had made a mountain out of a mole hill.
It was the slightest of touches. The Mexican captain Marquez had planted his foot, Robben got a light touch but then he flopped over in the manner of an Oscar winner.
This was the Robben that the world had come to hate.
Footballers are actors and we have seen enough evidence of that during the World Cup but if there was a hierarchy of sorts in the diving stakes, Robben would probably be close to the top.
He has all the right attributes -- pace, dribbling skills and the ability to draw defenders in and earn a vital foul. But then he gives it all away by diving; faking it over and over again.
Netherlands' Arjen Robben, center, goes down to win a penalty during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between the Netherlands and Mexico. AP
The lesson one could probably take from it all was simple: Keep diving and eventually, the referee will give you what you want.
The Mexicans had gone on the defensive after taking the early lead through Giovanni dos Santos and it played into Robben's hands. He was allowed to get forward; allowed to run at the defenders and allowed to get into positions where a foul could get his side a penalty.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had said earlier this year after Arsenal's loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League: “(Arjen) Robben is very good at getting the maximum of nothing. He’s a great player as well a very good diver but it’s part of him.”
And today we saw the truth of those words.
After the match, Robben apologised. Not for the penalty but for his attempted dive in the first half.
"I must apologise.The one [at the end] was a penalty, but the other one was a dive in the first half. I shouldn't be doing that," said Robben. "It was awful and stupid."
Indeed, he must not do that. The whole point of having this kind of crazy talent is that you don't need to rely on such petty tricks but no -- just as Suarez is a biter by habit, Robben is a diver.
Mexico manager Miguel Herrera believed that it wasn't just Robben's fault: "If the referee ... invents a penalty of that size, you leave the World Cup.
He went on to say that Robben went down three times and he should have been cautioned. "Doubtful decisions were always against Mexico," added Herrera. “I hope the referees’ committee looks at the decision and that he, like us, goes home. We’re leaving [the World Cup] because of the fact that the decision to stay was not in our hands. If they have a conscience, he should not take charge of another game at the World Cup.”
Robben had looked dangerous throughout the game, should have had a penalty in first-half injury time, and was once again the man who made the difference. But does it always have to be this way?
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