World Cup 2006. USA vs. Italy. 3 players were sent off with red cards over the course of the match. Italian midfielder Daniele De Rossi received a red card for elbowing USA striker Brian McBride in the face, cutting him under the eye. Why did De Rossi do this? Perhaps this explains things:
That's Cannavaro being punched in the face by McBride, before De Rossi's elbow (there are no bandages on McBride's face). The elbow doesn't seem so unwarranted now, does it?
Photo scanned poorly from the Toronto Star.
cb@chrisbattaglia.com