8 The Guardian | Wednesday June 21 2006 World Cup eneath the surface of football flow. Marco Rodríguez, the The United States striker Brian McBride every World Cup lurks a mirthless, mediocre Mexican martinet needed three stitches in a cheek wound Proceed with wild beast waiting to who refereed England’s opening game, after he was elbowed in the face by pounce. So little of the got a number of things wrong but he was Italy’s Daniele De Rossi at the weekend creature has been seen in correct to caution Steven Gerrard for the Ivan Sekretarev/AP caution as recent tournaments that sliding tackle on Cristian Riveros even if Bsome may consider it an he failed to give Paraguay a free-kick. endangered species. This This World Cup will be all the better kicked out of the 1966 tournament. beast of dark is risky thinking. for players being able to turn with the Although 1970 bathed in Brazil’s A warning growl was heard at ball safe in the knowledge that brilliance they then came to West Kaiserslautern on Saturday. The match opponents trying to dispossess them Germany in 1974 seemingly bent on arts lurks between Italy and the United States was with two-legged lunges will be getting their retaliation in first, developing into a closer and more penalised. On the evidence so far Argentina’s triumph of 1978 was a absorbing contest than had been the tournament has managed finally to mixture of art and thuggery, Italy’s anticipated when Daniele De Rossi shake off the cynicism that has dogged Claudio Gentile mugged Maradona in suddenly caught Brian McBride with a so many of its predecessors. 1982 and the Hand of God cheated vicious elbow which left the American It has been a long route back since the England in 1986. striker needing three stitches in a nasty nadir of Italia ’90 which ended with a The game is getting there. Italy were gash on the cheek. shambles of a match ineptly controlled once the past masters of the strategic De Rossi was sent off by Uruguay’s by a Uruguayan-born Mexican, Edgardo foul committed 30 yards from goal but Jorge Larrionda, to be followed in due Codesal Méndez, whose father-in-law now the prospect of having players sent course by two of Italy’s opponents — was a member of Fifa’s Referees off makes this a dangerous ploy. De Pablo Mastroeni for the sort of reckless Committee. West Germany beat Rossi’s flying elbow was stupid but it lunge which Fifa has specifically Argentina with a penalty that should not was not strategic. Maybe it has taken a outlawed for this tournament and Eddie have been given having earlier been new generation of footballers to wean Pope for a second yellow card. The refused one that should. Two the game off its old dirty habits. manner in which the United States held Argentinians were sent off — Pedro Argentina’s performances in the out for a 1–1 draw playing nine against 10 Monzón for an ugly foul on Jürgen opening round, and in particular their enhanced the drama and generally the Klinsmann, Gustavo Dezotti for 6–0 rout of Serbia & Montenegro in game was played in a good spirit but grabbing Jürgen Kohler by the throat — Gelsenkirchen, have brought to this De Rossi’s assault was a stark reminder and Diego Maradona was booked for World Cup the best exhibitions of of how narrow is the divide between arguing. Argentina’s attack badly missed passing and movement since the between discipline and anarchy. Claudio Caniggia, one of four of their Hungarians of the 1950s and the “total Such a rare spate of red cards in a players suspended for the final. football” played by Holland and West single World Cup match recalled the Since 1990 Fifa has striven to purge Germany in the 1970s. Equally game in Toulouse during the opening football of the cold-eyed, calculating refreshing is Argentina’s apparent phase of the 1998 World Cup when a foul play which had continually abandonment of the dark side. Juan Colombian referee, John Jairo Toro disfigured the World Cup since Pele was Román Riquelme, Javier Saviola and Rendon, sent off two Danes and a South Lionel Messi have reminded the world African after the new Fifa president, that long before Maradona, the Sepp Blatter, had declared that the underhanded genius, Buenos Aires officials were not coming down hard Fifa has striven to purge produced Alfredo Di Stéfano. enough on fouls and time-wasting. If the Argentinians can mend their This time at least the referees have football of the calculating ways anything is possible. Certainly a been made aware from the outset where foul play that continually relapse now would be a profound shame their priorities lie and without wishing although it would be as well to wait until to tempt providence at an early stage it disfigured the World Cup the tournament really gets going before has to be said that they are striking the making a final judgment. One bad tackle David Lacey right balance between curbing any followed by an even worse retaliation physical excesses and letting the and the beast could again break loose..