Group A - South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France

[silentstriker]

Originally Posted by GeraintIsMyHero

Footballers who play through pain do gain respect as well, you know.

Good. Seeing the opposite at WC though.

[andyc]

Originally Posted by Meridio

NZ hockey goalkeeper played the last 5 minutes of the 1976 Olympic final with a shattered kneecap. According to the fount of all knowledge Wikipedia "After taking a few moments to recover from the blow, he did two full squats, which proved to the New Zealand team management that he was ready to resume playing"

Holy ****.

[Goughy]

Originally Posted by Matteh

It was never a red, unless you want players to just jumping up like salmon for the ball there's always going to be times where arms (which you use to jump, take note FIFA) are going to unintentionally hit other people.

Yeah, we are on the same page. In fact, as the law reads, if people view that as a red then so can be a clash of heads that causes injury. Simple thing, that we agree om, is that that was not a red.

[Goughy]

Originally Posted by GeraintIsMyHero

Footballers who play through pain do gain respect as well, you know.

I know it was a long time ago but suprised noone mentioned Bert Trautmann. His reputation and respect with fans who never saw him play is based on him playing with a broken neck.

Trautmann entered football folklore with his performance in the 1956 FA (Football Association) Cup Final. With 17 minutes of the match remaining Trautmann suffered a serious injury after diving at the feet of Birmingham City's Peter Murphy. Despite his injury he continued to play, making crucial saves to preserve his team's 3–1 lead. His neck was noticeably crooked as he collected his winner's medal; three days later an X-ray revealed it to be broken.

[PhoenixFire]

Originally Posted by Meridio

NZ hockey goalkeeper played the last 5 minutes of the 1976 Olympic final with a shattered kneecap. According to the fount of all knowledge Wikipedia "After taking a few moments to recover from the blow, he did two full squats, which proved to the New Zealand team management that he was ready to resume playing"

And in my own tough-guy story, I broke my hand in a game a couple of years ago and kept playing for another half hour.

Yeah, I've heard similar stories. I've played on after getting two black eyes and most people often play on after taking all of the skin of their knees, it's the done thing.

[BoyBrumby]

Ince v Italy in 98:



One wonders what one of the oppo would've done with similar bloodloss.

Credit also to Joe Worsley. Had 19 stone of Jason Leonard stamping on (and tearing) his scrotum, but played the next game. From The Guardian.

[andyc]

This one's my favourite, about All Black Wayne Shelford

Playing only his second Test for the All Blacks against a physically intimidating French side, Shelford found himself at the bottom of a rather aggressive ruck on 20 minutes.

An errant Les Bleus stud found its way to his groin, where it somehow managed to tear his scrotum, leaving one testicle hanging out.

This alone would leave most men screaming in agony and heading for the nearest hospital. But not Shelford.

He calmly instructed the physio to stitch him up.

The French public were gobsmacked as an over-eager pitchside cameraman filmed the stomach-turning surgery, and even more so when Shelford returned to the field and carried on playing.

[Perm]

Bring back Buck!