WORLD CUP 2006: was it a DEFENSIVE and VIOLENT tournament?

Question

( http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aqg90l2rhmsrSC00IkjDfObty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080725054542AAZeP3U

poll on 2006 world cup)

Germany 2006 had the second lowest number of goals in history

147 goals in 64 games

--> 2.3 goals/game

The only World Cup to 'surpass' this was Italia 1990 when only 115 goals were scored in 52 games, working out to 2.21 goals/game

THUS

Is it fair to say that Germany 2006 was a defensive tournament?

Please state your reasons

(and try the poll on the top)

THANKS

Answer 1

yeah u could say that.

but i don't think it was too defensive,

because u maynot score too many goals but still u may play a good attacking game.

i think that was exactly the thing that happened.

the teams were playing fairly sort of attacking game but the defense was too good for them.

Answer 2

I think if we look at defensive as making more controversial plays, then definitely this world cup was pretty defensive.

Looking at sites, 2006 FIFA broke the record in 1998 with 345 yellow cards. If you watch soccer a bunch, then you know that some referees have different views of what defense is, so one hard tackle could be a yellow, or just a warning.

28 red cards were also handed out, 6 more than the previous record of 22. When reflecting on how rare one red card is, this is pretty substantial.

The Battle of Nuremburg. It was the first knockout round game, with Portugal and the Netherlands. FOUR red cards and SIXTEEN yellows. It had headbutts, arguments, and the whole schaboozle.

In conclusion, I think this was easily the most violent FIFA event ever, hands down.