Brazil Defender Lucio Breaks World Cup Foul-less Record

2006-07-02 06:13:43 Xinhua

(Brazil's Lucio, left, and France's Thierry Henry challenge for the ball during the quarterfinal soccer match between Brazil and France at the World Cup stadium in Frankfurt, Germany, Saturday, July 1, 2006. Photo: AP/Ivan Sekretarev)

Brazil defender Lucio has gone the longest ever without committing a foul in a World Cup after 26 minutes into Saturday's quarterfinal matchup where the defending champions lost 1-0 to France.

The Bayern Munich player, who's the only player yet to allowing a free-kick after playing at least 360 minutes in this year's tournament, entered Saturday's game with 23 minutes from passing the mark and finally extended it to 386 minutes, beating Paraguay defender Carlos Gamarra's 383 minutes in the 1998 tournament.

(Brazil's Lucio congratulates France's captain Zinedine Zidane after the Brazil v France quarterfinal soccer match at the World Cup stadium in Frankfurt, Germany, Saturday, July 1, 2006. France won the match 1-0. Photo: AP/Jasper Juinen)

Lucio, having not been called in Brazil's first four matches, chipped Thierry Henry's heel to commit a foul after 26 minutes.

Gamarra played four matches and an additional 23 minutes of extra time without conceding a foul in 1998. He also didn't get called in four games in 2002.

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