World Cup disciplinary records: the most cards

Not every World Cup memory is a thing of beauty. Some matches are remembered for chaos.

The Battle of Nuremberg

Portugal's 2006 last-16 clash with the Netherlands produced 16 yellow cards and four red cards — a record for a single World Cup match. The referee simply couldn't keep a lid on it.

Knockout football brings out the tension, and a red card can swing a tie in an instant — one more reason the bracket is so hard to call.