A defense of referees, through the lens of the game with the most cards in World Cup history: Portugal - Netherlands in 2006.

This episode will convince you of two things you absolutely do not want to believe. The first: Referees are good, actually. Secondly, red cards are more exciting than goals. To persuade you, let’s look at the game with the most red cards in World Cup history: Portugal versus the Netherlands in the 2006 World Cup. 16 yellows, 4 reds, 2 melees, uncounted crates of champagne, a Guinness World Record, a PhD in pedagogy, an almighty brouhaha, and a partridge in a pear tree. 

The Best Soccer Podcast In The World is a bilingual podcast that tells your soon-to-be favorite soccer stories. The host, Nando Vila, will crack open some of the most iconic World Cup moments, putting them in cultural and geopolitical contexts. From legendary players to silly hairdos to heart-wrenching losses.