Meet the men more likely to get booked for Brazil than score
Published:Romance dictates that a World Cup hosted by Brazil should be won by the Selecao in a blaze of attacking, samba-style football.
Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men are, as he says, now just two steps from heaven but have failed to deliver on the traditional style of football associated with his nation.
Brazil’s brutal encounter with Colombia in the quarter final contained a tournament-high 54 fouls, but only had its first yellow card in the 64th minute as referee Carlos Carballo took an extraordinarily lenient stance.
Without Neymar, Scolari’s side could go bone-seeking again in the semi final with Germany. With the officials sure to be more stringent this time around, here’s three Brazilians most likely to enter the book:
How the Man City man escaped punishment against James Rodriguez and co last time out is a mystery even Jonathan Creek would struggle with.
Fernandinho is averaging four fouls per game during the World Cup but is yet to be booked, meaning he has no lingering suspension worries and is free to go mad on the Germans in Belo Horizonte.
The Wolfsburg defence-screener has been less immune to yellow cards than his midfield teammate, but returns from suspension in time to collect his third of the tournament against Germany.
It’s quite possible that the great commentary cliché: “that was a centre-forward’s challenge” has been offered a few times when the Brazilian striker’s been on the field.
The former Lyon man has made just one successful tackle over the course of the tournament, yet has committed six fouls.
If his bull-in-a-china-shop behaviour continues, Fred is a prime candidate to get more bookings than goals against Germany, especially after his allergic reactions to the back of the net of late.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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