<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(plix @ Jun 18 2006, 02:09 AM) [snapback]237411[/snapback]</div>
Quote:
The Italian red card (the first of the game) was for a flagrant elbow to the face (which resulted in a noticable amount of blood). The ejection was justified. The first red card on the US came only a few minutes later on a late slide tackle. No warning, no yellow card; a direct red. The third red card was an automatic after a second yellow on another clean tackle only two minutes into the second half. There was, again, no warning and no justification. It's rather amazing the Americans held on as well as they did playing a man down against a fantastic Italian team for nearly the entire second half.
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I think that De Rossi's red card was absolutely deserved, and not just that. He should be banned for at least two games because hit in the face was totally intentional.
On the other hand, first red card for USA (I think it was Mastroeni) wasn't justified. It shouldn't have been direct red card, but a yellow one instead. However, second red card for USA (Pope - second yellow) was OK. In my opinion, Pope deserved second yellow for that tackle.