World Cup numbers

After Valerin Ivanov's 16 yellows and 4 reds, the referees have put their foot on the brakes. In the Switzerland v Ukraine second round clash, Mexican man in black Armando Archundia overcompensated by underofficiating. Only 1 yellow card was given in a game where tackles flew in and one-on-one vandettas boiled up.

*

We have already exceeded the previous red card record of 22, with the Portugal v Holland game pipping the scales into 23. And the quarterfinals aren't even here yet!

*

Many of the number 7s in this tournament are strikers... think about it.

*

Switzerland may have the dignity of being the only team to be knocked out of the world cup without conceding a goal. But they also have the indignity of being the only team in the world cup to convert 0 of their penalties in a shootout.

*

The Italians can strap on two layers of shinpads, because the Ukrainians are the top tacklers of this world cup. Midfield hardman Anatoliy Tymoschuk leads the individual charts with 24 tackles while Ukraine lead the other teams with 143. But with all that ball-winning, why are they still so boring?

[get this widget]