Alberto Undiano: “I think I will give out eight more”
Unbeaten since the 1986 World Cup in group stages. A streak of 16 unbeaten games that ensured German passage into the later stages comes to an end.
The talking point: Alberto Undiano. In his zeal to micromanage the game, he goes out of control with the yellow cards. None as controversial as the one given to Klose. It was not a dirty, reckless challenge. Undiano could have warned him that he was treading a fine line but sending him off was just too harsh.
Nine yellow cards. One would think reading that number that this was an ugly match where players were making more contact with the opponents ankles and less with the ball. But it was not. This was a card happy referee who went out of his way to interfere with an attractive attacking game marked by some sparkling skill on both sides.
Terrible refereeing and I hope FIFA take a closer (pun fully intended) look at some of his decisions. He does love dishing out those cards.