Kelly Smith: Don't blame VAR; learn the new rules

Betfair Ambassador Kelly Smith discusses the controversial penalty call in the France best soccer tips, the size of goals and the big England v Japan match....

Clearer understanding on new rules needed

In both the Jamaica v Italy and Nigeria v France matches, the penalties had lớn be re-taken as the goalkeeper came off their line. In terms of the law, which changed on June 1, only 17 days that this new ruling has come into play, it makes me question if some of the footballers are actually aware of it. It seems very harsh on goalies because the penalty taker has an advantage; they can stop and start in their run up, but the keeper is penalised because they have lớn have at soccer vip tip on the line.

Both of Chiamaka Nnadozie's feet were off the line, so it was the correct call by the letter of the law and you can see why the referee along with VAR called it to be retaken. As much as it's a pressurised situation for them all, it was still the right decision.

After the first penalty is saved/missed, it's more stressful on the penalty taker because do you go the same way the goalkeeper saved or do you change it up? Both Wendie Renard and Cristiana Girelli changed it up which I would have done in that situation.

There needs lớn be more understanding on how VAR works too, there has been some inconsistencies. For example in the Japan-Scotland match when Risa Shimizu looked lớn have handballed in the area from Erin Cuthbert's effort, the referee decided to opt against using VAR for that incident. There seems lớn be confusion around it at the moment.

I said in my last column that the time it takes for VAR to make a decision needs lớn be addressed, and after the six minutes it took from France's penalty awarded lớn being scored on Monday night, it's just far too long for anything lớn happen.

It needs lớn be quicker because as a player it's frustrating, especially if you're the goalkeeper or the penalty taker. It's extra pressure on everyone, with the added fact that the fans don't know what's going on.

Obviously the other side of it, is referees, officials and VAR want to get the decision correct, but if they could cut down the time, it would ease some of those frustrations and make the game run smoother.

Grassroots for goalkeeping

Goals shouldn't be made smaller, I think it's fine the way it is. If you see some of the goalkeepers in this tournament, they're absolutely fantastic. Christiane Endler for Chile against the US the other day, she made six saves and that 3-0 defeat could have been a cricket score; she was outstanding and goalkeeper of the tournament on that performance for me.

For that lower-end of goalkeeping, it's about development at a grassroots stage, especially getting better coaches involved in the women's game. It's very difficult lớn find high-level goalkeeping coaches as the pay as not as good, even at the elite level, so they're hard lớn come by.