After doing some research, I have just found out that UEFA has changed the ‘yellow card rule’ for Euro 2008. In previous years, if players had one yellow card in group play it was wiped away going into the knockout phase. Well that has all been changed for this summer’s competition and now should be looked at under a microscope for the Croatian team who will be playing a meaningless game versus Poland on Monday as Croatia has already won Group B. They will play the winners of the Czech Republic/Turkey match June 20th in the quarterfinal round.
The New Yellow Card Rule states that yellow cards from the group stage will now be cancelled after the quarterfinal round. It was changed so that players receiving 2 cards in the quarters and semis cannot miss the Final. This means that if any of our players who currently have a yellow card (Robert Kovač, Luka Modrić, Darijo Srna, Josip Šimunić, and Jerko Leko) get a yellow card versus Poland; they would not be able to play in the quarterfinal game. Should any of these players get a yellow in the quarterfinal game, they would not be eligible to play in the semifinal game should Croatia progress.
This is why I would only let these four starters (excluded: Jerko Leko) play the first half against Poland. We can’t let one spurt of agressive play or a bad call by a referee cause suspension for our team. And we all know how Šimunić plays anyways.
Now knowing this, what would be your lineup vs. Poland knowing that none of these players can afford a yellow in the next two matches?
Do you like this new rule and does it change anything for you?
i dont quite understand what youre trying to say….yellow cards are just part of the game….they are just warnings….i could see a suspension reasonable for a yellow card in two consecutive games….but 2 in 4 games…c’mon UEFA…let them play some ball!
As much as i disagree with the whole yellow card rule because its a warning not a suspension of any sort. I could see it being 3 or 4 cards but 2 equals a red therefore its completely ridiculous. However, i am happy to see that any team that makes it to the finals will have all their players.