Carlisle City Messageboard

Brian wrote:

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I'm fairly sure that most South American refs, and some European, would have been dishing red cards all over the place. I actually thought he booked too many early on, and was making a rod for his own back. I know Holland were getting stuck in, but some of the Tv pundits were going over the top about their tactics. I'm not quite sure what De Jong was doing- his challenge was unusual to say the least- but apart from that, there were no red-card challenges I saw.

Spain have the knack of falling over too easily, which doesn't help. Iniesta is a great player, but he was winning free-kicks with theatrical falls, and Villa is just as bad.

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Have to disagree, Brian. You're right about De Jong. If you did that to someone on the street, you'd be arrested! Clear red and I can only think that HW was badly positioned.
He did try to have a 'word' with one or two players but this clearly wasn't working and so had no choice but to start cautioning. Van Bommel should have walked for persistant fouling after picking up his yellow (which might have been red on another day). Robben should have gone for at least two cases of clear dissent. In theory, Holland could have been down to nine by half-time.
The Spanish weren't innocent either, mind. I thought HW and his team dealt with what was massive pressure and the Dutch didn't help having decided to kick their way through the game