There were 17 red cards in 2010 Mondial, in which most of them, was a clear factor for the team defeat.
It was not long ago, when a red card meant a bless to the team, as the remaining 10 players will sweat more, and perform 120% instead of 100% of their energy to win the game.
- Cameroon beat Argentina in 1990 with 9 players
- Cameroon beat Brazil ten years later in Syedny 2000 Olympics with 9 players too.
- Do you remember Italy beating Norway 1-0 after Palioca got a red card? (1994)
- Or beating Nigeria in the same mondial 2-1 after getting a red card too.
it is very easy to find dozen of more examples of critical games, where red cards only meant a test of the stamina of the team.
This mondial it was different, a red card was a decisive factor and loss of balance that lead to a certain defeat.
Here is the story of the 17 red cards, and i will highlight clear examples in yellow:
First Round:
1- The first was for Uruguay vs. France. Game ended 0-0. Later if we look back into both teams, I think it was obvious that Uruguay should win at normal conditions.
2- Second was Algeria vs. Slovania. Algeria played better and was closer to victory, when Ghazal got a red card. Keeper did his fatal mistake, but the team was not able to come back at all.
3- Serbia got their red card vs. Ghana at 75th minute. It made things more complex, and they 11 minutes later they conceived a goal.
4- Australia got the red at 56th minute vs. Germany. They were already 0-2 down. So, I will skip this example.
5- South Africa got a red vs. Uruguay at 76th minute, they were down 0-1. Team collapsed and soon, it became 0-3.
6- Greece got a red at 33rd minute vs. South Korea. They lost 1-2
7- Klose got the red vs. Serbia. Immediately Serbia scored and the game ended 1-0 for Serbia. This is the best example, where the red made very clear gaps in German team, and it marked inability to come back.
8- Australia got another red vs. Ghana. They were 1-0 ahead. They tied 1-1.
9- Kaka red vs. Ivory Coast was useless as it was at the end of the game, and they were already winning 3-0.
10- Switzerland got a red vs. Chile at 33rd minute. Chile dominated after that, and the full second half, till they won 1-0.
11- France got a red at 25th minute vs. South Africa. SA was leading 1-0 already. Things went from bad to worse and France lost 1-2.
12- Algeria red vs. USA was at last minute, so, we won't count it.
13- Chile did a great game vs. Spain. They got a goal. When they got the second and the red, it was clear that the game was totally gone.
Second Round:
14- Only one red card for Portugal at 89th minute, so it didn't mean a lot.
Quarter Final:
(here are the examples are more exciting)
15- MELO: this is the best example. When he got the red, you can almost see it, that Brazil chances to come back dropped from likely to very very very very unlikely. It was in the 73rd minute. Dutch were winning 2-1. The red was like a bullet of mercy for the Samba.
16- Suarez red vs. Ghana was the best red may be in the history of the game. Obviously, it is irrelevant to this post.
The Final:
17- It was clear, that gap that HEITINGA has left to the orange. The goal came exactly from the depth of the Orange. If he didn't get the red, there would be very big chance that both teams would play PKs.
There were not a single example out of the 17, where the team was able to collect itself and fight back better after the red card.
So, why is that?
Honestly, I don't know the answer for sure. But let me think loudly:
- The football became much more tactical, where defending and filling gaps is key to win. Discipline became important more than ever. This requires physical fitness and a lot of running more than ever. A red card is almost a bullet to the team.
- The World Cup was after a long exhausting season. Most teams were not in their top fitness. Some cities were at high altitude. So, a red card meant more in this tournament than previous ones.
- They were coincidents. To be more accurate: the red card always got into the weaker team that day. A red card was a sign of desperation. So, in those cases, always the weaker side get the red, and this why they lose. (well, this might explain many games, but not at alllll Germany defeat vs. Serbia)
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