5 key players who will miss game 3 of group stage due to suspension

Before we start with the list of players, here is a reminder of FIFA disciplinary regulations:- If a player is ejected for a red card or two yellow cards in one match, he will be suspended for the next match of his team. But the disciplinary committee may add, if necessary, additional sanctions (suspension for more than one match or a fine, etc.).- If a player accumulates two cards in two different matches, he will be suspended for the next match.- Players who have only a single yellow card will have it wiped off after the quarter-final, i.e., in the semi-finals.As we are nearing the endof the group stage, here are the key players who will miss the deciding last group stage fixture due to suspensions (a red card or 2 yellow cards).

#6 Notable mentions

Other players who will miss their last group fixture are:

Kostas Katsouranis (Greece)

Alex Song (Cameroon)

#5 Tim Cahill (Australia)

The Australian top scorer will miss theSpain clash,which would be his sides last match of the tournament.

In the first match against Chile,Tim Cahill got himself booked after a reckless tackle. Again in the second match, soon after equalising with an incredible volley,Cahill was cautioned by the referee for his late challenge on Bruno Martins Indi.

Hence, the Socceroos will have to face Spain without their prolific striker in a name-sake match as both the sides have crashed out of thetournament.

#4 Yohan Cabaye (France)

France’s Yohan Cabaye received two back-to-back yellow cards against Honduras and Switzerland and will miss the third and last group match against Ecuador.

After being booked in the match against Honduras, Cabaye again earned himself a yellow card after his rash challenge on Switzerland’s Blerim Dzemaili which rules him out of the Ecuador clash.

Though Cabaye has been sensational in the midfield, Les Bleus will have little to worry about regarding his absence as they have already secured their berth in the last 16.

#3 Didier Zakora (Ivory Coast)

The Ivory Coast defender will miss his sides last group game against Greece on Tuesday after accumulating two yellow cards in his first two games.

Zakorareceived his firstyellow card against Japan as hevigorously protestedreferees decision for not awarding a penalty kick to Ivory Coast after Yaya Toure was challenged inside the box by Yoshida. In the second game against Colombia, Zakora went into referees books for the second time in the tournament for his clumsy challenge on Cuadardo.

Ivory Coast will surely miss this man at the back in their must-winmatch against Greece.

#2 Sulley Muntari (Ghana)

Perhaps this may bebe the worst blow for Ghana as their veteran midfielder Sulley Muntari is suspended for their penultimate decider against Portugal.

After losing and drawing their first two matches, the last group game will beof utmost importance as the Black stars will have to win this fixture to have any decent chances of going through to the Round of 16.

Muntari earned his first yellow against USA in the dyeing minutes for his rash challenge on Clint Dempsey. In the last match against Germany, Muntari again got himself booked in the last minute after bringing down Toni Kroos at the edge of the box.

#1 Robin van Persie (Netherlands)

Robin vanPersie is one of the key players to miss the game 3 of group stage due to suspension.

Having alreay received a yellow card against Spain for his foul on Pedro, the Dutch captain went into the referees book once again against Australiafor catching Matthew Spiranovic in the face with his arm.

With two yellow cards, the flying Dutchman will miss the final group game against Chile on Monday. Though the match is of little importance from theperspective of Netherlandsqualification to the next round, the Oranjewill miss the services of theirtalismanic striker in pursuit of their top berth inGroup B.

This suspension will also be a dent in RvPs chances to win Golden boot as he has already fired 3 goals in 2 matches.