BERLIN - More red cards have been shown at this World Cup than at any other, with 12 games remaining.

Sunday's match between Portugal and the Netherlands, in which 16 yellow cards and four reds were shown, brought the total of red cards in Germany 2006 to 23 in 52 matches.

The previous record was 22 red cards in all 64 matches in the 1998 World Cup in France.

A total of 291 yellow cards have been shown in Germany, more than the previous record of 272 for the entire competition in Japan and South Korea four years ago.

Portugal and the Netherlands are the worst sinners when it comes to yellow cards after Sunday's game in Nuremberg, in which the Netherlands was knocked out.

Portugal has 18 yellow cards and two red cards in four matches, while the Dutch have collected 16 yellows and two reds.

The Portuguese will be without Deco and Costinha, both starters, for their quarterfinal Saturday against England.

In the opening round, the United States fell victim to ejections, with Eddie Pope and Pablo Mastroeni missing the final game with Ghana after being red-carded against Italy.