Battle of Nuremberg

The Battle of Nuremberg is the name [http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,423521,00.html sometimes given] to a football (soccer) match, a first knockout round game at the FIFA World Cup 2006 between Portugal and the Netherlands at the Frankenstadion in Nuremberg on June 25, 2006. Referee Valentin Ivanov of Russia issued 4 dismissals and 16 cautions, setting a new record for cards shown at an international tournamentcite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/sport/columns/200607/s1681791.htm |title=Fair play takes a dive |accessdate=2008-01-16 |work=ABC Sport Online ] .

The match ended 1-0 to Portugal, with Maniche scoring in the 23rd minute. Before the goal, Mark van Bommel had been shown a yellow card and in the eighth minute, Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz injured Cristiano Ronaldo, forcing a substitution of Portugal's star player before the half hour, receiving a caution. Ronaldo left in tears, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/5103886.stm BBC SPORT | Football | World Cup 2006 | Portugal v Holland statistics ] ] and proceeded to characterise Boulahrouz's tackle as "clearly an intentional foul to get me injured". [ [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-392550/Ronaldo-cries-foul.html Ronaldo cries foul | Mail Online ] ] In the meantime Maniche was punished for taking revenge on van Bommel, at 19 minutes.

Shortly after the goal, Costinha slid into Philip Cocu, receiving a yellow card. He was then the first to be sent off just before half time for intentionally handling the ball. After Petit had been cautioned at 50 minutes, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Luis Figo received yellow cards. As Portugal manager Scolari commented after the match, "Jesus Christ may be able to turn the other cheek but Luis Figo isn't Jesus Christ". [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2006/jun/26/worldcup2006.match3 World Cup 2006: Holland exit in acrimony | Football | The Guardian ] ]

Boulahrouz was expelled in the 63rd minute with a second caution after allegedly elbowing Figo. Then, Deco fouled John Heitinga and was cautioned, after Heitinga failed to abide by the unwritten code of sportsmanship after a deadball situation, where Holland should've sportingly given Portugal a deadball via goal-kick or throw-in but proceded to attack Portugal's net. In the ensuing brawl, Wesley Sneijder pushed Deco and was also cautioned. Then, Rafael van der Vaart received a yellow card, apparently for verbal misconduct. After Ricardo and Nuno Valente were punished, Deco was sent off in the 78th minute for interfering with the flow of play by not handing the ball after a free-kick was issued. In injury time, van Bronckhorst was sent off by a second yellow card for a foul. [cite web |url=http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/results/matches/match=97410052/report.html |title=Match report |accessdate=2008-01-16 |work=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany |publisher=FIFA ]

In the aftermath of the match, Referee Ivanov was criticised for showing too many yellow cards for minor fouls or even no fouls at all while on the other hand not punishing major assaults at all. It was the last match he ever refereed officially. Both the Netherlands and Portugal had never met before, and have never after been involved in a game with excessive aggression and many cautions.

See also

*Battle of Berne
*Battle of Santiago

References