Every England player sent off in a World Cup

The invention of yellow and red cards was sparked by three English individuals during the 1966 World Cup.

Bobby and Jack Charlton, two vertebrae in the spine of Alf Ramsey's tournament-winning team, only discovered that they had been booked after England's controversial quarter-final victory over Argentina.

Mulling over the confusion on his way home from Wembley Stadium, the story goes that referee chief Ken Aston was struck by inspiration at a set of traffic lights on Kensington High Street.

Since 1970, every player sent from the field of play at a World Cup has been accompanied by that iconic red rectangle.

Here are the English players that have been on the receiving end of an English invention on the global stage.

Ray Wilkins vs Morocco - 1986

When Ray Wilkins passed away aged 61, the tributes flooded in from all corners of the footballing world.

Jose Mourinho spoke for many when he said: "Ray will be remembered as a fantastic footballer but more importantly he will be remembered as a really true gentleman."

In the first half of England's second group game at the 1986 Men's World Cup, Wilkins experienced a desperately uncharacteristic slip in composure. Despite Wilkins' protestations to the contrary, Paraguayan referee Gabriel Gonzalez judged that the England midfielder had thrown the ball at the official while reacting in frustration to yet another injury for his teammate Bryan Robson.

Bizarrely, England manager Bobby Robson had jokingly shown Wilkins a red card during a media event prior to the summer tournament.

David Beckham vs Argentina - 1998

The first 45 minutes of the 1998 round of 16 tie between England and Argentina was a classic; four goals and two penalties in one throbbing rivalry.

However, two minutes into the second half, David Beckham was given his marching orders for flicking his boot at the canny Diego Simeone. Beckham wasn't incensed by Simeone's initial clattering - that was to be expected. The then-23-year-old was instead provoked by Simeone tousling his famous curtains as he lay on the turf.

Beckham trudged into the changing room and sobbed uncontrollably while England forced a penalty shootout which they predictably lost. However, it was the subsequent years, washed over by a tidal wave of toxic abuse from English fans after the red card, which Beckham cited as 'the most difficult time in my career'.

Wayne Rooney vs Portugal - 2006

Wayne Rooney always played on the edge but circumstance had created a heady cocktail of frustration going into the 2006 World Cup quarter-final. Rushed back from a metatarsal injury, Rooney's fury had bubbled throughout a lonely hour chasing shadows as England's only striker against Portugal.

After a coming-together with centre-back Ricardo Carvalho, Rooney sunk his studs into the defender's delicates. Whether Cristiano Ronaldo had rushed over to offer his opinion or otherwise, Rooney was heading for an early bath.

Rooney soon forgave Ronaldo for his wink but couldn't understand his own involvement in the incident.

"I still don't know how the referee hasn't given me a foul beforehand," he shrugged years later. "And I still don't know to this day, truthfully, if I've meant to stamp on him or not. I don't know. I couldn't tell you. My head has just completely blurred out."

If that's what happened to Rooney's head, one can only imagine what it did to Carvalho's crotch.

Millie Bright vs USA - 2019

So much happened in England's 2-1 semi-final exit against the USA in the 2019 Women's World Cup that Millie Bright's late red card can get swept up in the chaos.

Christen Press broke a run of four consecutive clean sheets for England at the tournament inside the opening ten minutes. Ellen White hauled the Lionesses level and thought she had cancelled out Alex Morgan's strike after the break only to be denied a second goal by a narrow VAR offside. Steph Houghton squandered her chances of an equaliser with a poorly struck penalty in the 84th minute.

By then, all the hope had sapped out of England. If anything, it was a minor mercy for Bright that she could escape the cauldron of disappointment four minutes before the final whistle after a second bookable offence.

Lauren James vs Nigeria - 2023

England showed off a new kit for the round of 16 tie against Nigeria in 2023; the familiar blue shorts and white shirt were accompanied by a neon green scarf draped across every player's shoulders.

Randy Waldrum had sent his Nigeria side out with a strict marking policy all over the pitch but special attention was paid to England's star player Lauren James. After 87 fruitless minutes, James' frustration boiled over. Halimatu Ayinde had shut her down for most of the contest but the unfortunate Michelle Alozie was the player that James trod on.

It took a VAR review to send James off but England, under the cosh for so much of the contest, actually improved in her absence. Sarina Wiegman's side played for penalties and triumphed in the subsequent shootout to become the first England team to ever win a World Cup match with ten players.

Former Italy international Arianna Criscione, Dulwich Hamlet's Brittany Saylor and Football for Future founder Elliot Arthur-Worsop join Katie Cross to have football's climate conversation about the Women's World Cup and tournament football's carbon footprint. Pledgeball's Heather Ashworth also gives an update on the Pledgeball's new Women's World Cup initiative.

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