Top Villains of the World Cup
…because not everyone is Jerome, Basti and Neuer.
this man has never done anything villainous in his life
Claudio Marchisio (ITALY)
Italy only needed a tie against Uruguay in the final game of the group stage to advance to the knockout round, instead the match took a turn when Marchisio jabbed Egidio Arevalo Rios in the calf with his cleats. That got him a straight red card, and with a man advantage Uruguay would go on to win the game 1-0, sending the Italians home after the group stage for the second World Cup in a row.
Alex Song (CAMEROON)
The midfielder Alex Song (Barcelona) was handed a three-match World Cup ban and a £13,000 fine after striking Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic in the back with his elbow in an off-the-ball incident during the match.
Maximiliano Pereira (URUGUAY)
In their first game of the tournament against Costa Rica, Maxi Pereira absolutely lost his cool and chopped Joel Campbell earning the first red card of the tournament.
Antonio Valencia (ECUADOR)
Antonio Valencia got a straight red card (2nd red card in 4 games) for going studs-up into France’s Lucas Digne, Ecuador needed a win over France to have any hope of advancing past the group stage, but this dangerous play from their captain sealed their fate.
Pepe (PORTUGAL)
When Pepe headbutted Germany’s Thomas Mueller in Portugal’s first game of the World Cup, it didn’t just affect him. After getting sent off, Germany tacked on two more goals. That meant Portugal would have to win their final two games if they wanted to advance, because their goal differential was shot. However, beating the USA proved impossible without Portugal’s second-most important player, so by the time they got around to playing Ghana the team was all but cooked.
Arjen Robben (NETHERLANDS)
I don’t need to say it but I will: DIVING.
Juan Camilo Zúñiga (COLOMBIA)
The Colombian defender who drove his knee into Neymar’s back and fractured one of a vertebra, knocking Brazil’s biggest star out of the tournament.
Luis Suarez (URUGUAY)
This time it’s only for biting but you can add it to the list of horrible things he’s done.
Sepp Blatter (FIFA)
Blatter turns a blind eye to racism (suggesting players shake hands at the end of games) and corruption (nearly half his Executive Committee has been forced to resign in disgrace) as he lines his pockets and the pockets of his associates with riches. Blatter was instrumental in rewarding the 2018 Cup to Russia then laughed when it was suggested that having a host country that punishes homosexuality was thoughtless. He also screwed over Bolivia by deciding no FIFA matches should take place more than 8,200 feet above sea level. Blatter is truly the sportocrat’s sportocrat.
source.
source.
source.
honorable mentions: GHANA, Kevin Boateng, officials for both the Ned-Mex and Bra-Col match, NIGERIA, the Algerian supporter who thinks using lasers to blind keepers is okay, the German blackfaces, security at the stadiums, ADIDAS
this man has never done anything villainous in his life
Claudio Marchisio (ITALY)
Italy only needed a tie against Uruguay in the final game of the group stage to advance to the knockout round, instead the match took a turn when Marchisio jabbed Egidio Arevalo Rios in the calf with his cleats. That got him a straight red card, and with a man advantage Uruguay would go on to win the game 1-0, sending the Italians home after the group stage for the second World Cup in a row.
Alex Song (CAMEROON)
The midfielder Alex Song (Barcelona) was handed a three-match World Cup ban and a £13,000 fine after striking Croatia forward Mario Mandzukic in the back with his elbow in an off-the-ball incident during the match.
Maximiliano Pereira (URUGUAY)
In their first game of the tournament against Costa Rica, Maxi Pereira absolutely lost his cool and chopped Joel Campbell earning the first red card of the tournament.
Antonio Valencia (ECUADOR)
Antonio Valencia got a straight red card (2nd red card in 4 games) for going studs-up into France’s Lucas Digne, Ecuador needed a win over France to have any hope of advancing past the group stage, but this dangerous play from their captain sealed their fate.
Pepe (PORTUGAL)
When Pepe headbutted Germany’s Thomas Mueller in Portugal’s first game of the World Cup, it didn’t just affect him. After getting sent off, Germany tacked on two more goals. That meant Portugal would have to win their final two games if they wanted to advance, because their goal differential was shot. However, beating the USA proved impossible without Portugal’s second-most important player, so by the time they got around to playing Ghana the team was all but cooked.
Arjen Robben (NETHERLANDS)
I don’t need to say it but I will: DIVING.
Juan Camilo Zúñiga (COLOMBIA)
The Colombian defender who drove his knee into Neymar’s back and fractured one of a vertebra, knocking Brazil’s biggest star out of the tournament.
Luis Suarez (URUGUAY)
This time it’s only for biting but you can add it to the list of horrible things he’s done.
Sepp Blatter (FIFA)
Blatter turns a blind eye to racism (suggesting players shake hands at the end of games) and corruption (nearly half his Executive Committee has been forced to resign in disgrace) as he lines his pockets and the pockets of his associates with riches. Blatter was instrumental in rewarding the 2018 Cup to Russia then laughed when it was suggested that having a host country that punishes homosexuality was thoughtless. He also screwed over Bolivia by deciding no FIFA matches should take place more than 8,200 feet above sea level. Blatter is truly the sportocrat’s sportocrat.
source.
source.
source.
honorable mentions: GHANA, Kevin Boateng, officials for both the Ned-Mex and Bra-Col match, NIGERIA, the Algerian supporter who thinks using lasers to blind keepers is okay, the German blackfaces, security at the stadiums, ADIDAS