Colombia made further history on Sunday at the 2014 World Cup winning the Fair Play Trophy, awarded to the team with the cleanest disciplinary record, according to FIFA.
With five yellow cards, zero expulsions (red cards) and a berth in the knockout stages of the tournament (a requirement for the award), Colombia won the Fair Play Trophy.
Colombia played a controversial match against Brazil in the quarterfinals in which a tournament-high of 54 fouls were committed (31 by Brazil, 23 by Colombia), while only four yellow cards were handed out, two for each team. The roughness of the match was largely blamed on the referees, who lost control early, and ended with Brazilian star Neymar injured after a rough challenge by Colombian defender Juan Camilo Zuñiga.
MORE: Neymar holds no grudge against Colombia’s Zuñiga over back injury
Other recognitions, awards and records for the record-breaking Colombian side include the Golden Boot, given to the top scorer of the 2014 World Cup, assists leader and having the oldest player in the history of the World Cup.
MORE: Colombia’s James Rodriguez top goalscorer of 2014 World Cup
The Golden Boot was won by James Rodriguez, who had six goals (at least one in every game) in the tournament, Juan Guillermo Cuadrado tied with German Toni Kroos for the most assists in the World Cup with four, and Faryd Mondragon Aly came on the pitch at the end of the group stage match to become the oldest player to ever set foot on a World Cup field at the age of 43.
MORE: Colombia rolls Japan 4-1, cruises into 1st World Cup elimination round in 24 years
Colombia can also relish in the accomplishment of placing fifth in the World Cup final standings. To break the tie in points between Belgium and Colombia for fifth place (both with 12), Colombia had a +8 goal difference, while Belgium had a +3 goal difference. France and Costa Rica followed as far as teams eliminated in the quarterfinals were concerned, according to FIFA statistics.
MORE: Colombia takes 5th place in the World Cup
Sources
- FIFA Official Website – Awards (FIFA)
- For Bellicose Brazil, Payback Carries Heavy Price: Loss of Neymar (New York Times)
