Report: Cristian Romero records a reassuring statistic at Copa America

Tottenham vice-captain, Romero, is often brandished as a rash defender who picks up regular bookings. However, the 26-year-old’s disciplinary record at the Copa America provides a cause for optimism.

Romero was cautioned seven times last season

A long-term concern with Cristian Romero’s game wasn’t his defensive abilities but instead was his over-aggressivity, picking up eight bookings in twenty-two games within his first season at Tottenham.

Conte’s hot-headedness only seemed to further ignite Romero’s on-field temper as the Argentine was booked thirteen times in thirty-four appearances in 2022/23, with Romero being dismissed on two occasions for second yellows. (TransferMarkt)

The most notable red card offence was against AC Milan when Romero went careering into Theo Hernandez, hurtling himself and the Frenchman into the advertising board.

It was perhaps a signal of the defender’s frustration at the time, with Romero later stating that there ‘was a divide between the players and the coach’. (Mirror)

Has Cristian Romero finally matured?

Under Ange Postecoglou, it appeared as though Romero had extinguished his temper slightly, being booked twice in his opening ten games for Spurs with the mitigating factor of the yellow cards being in particularly feisty games against Arsenal and Liverpool.

All of Romero’s discipline came unravelled however, much like Tottenham’s season, against Chelsea when his high challenge on Enzo Fernandez gave the visitors a penalty and awarded Romero a straight red card.

Romero picked up another five bookings before the season’s conclusion, but at the Copa America, he made a mere three fouls in his five games for Argentina, with not a single yellow card shown to the centre-back. (TBR Football and WhoScored)

The 26-year-old defender was booked twice at the 2022 World Cup and the lack of bookings is a welcome addition to the centre-backs game from both Argentina and Spurs fans, as well as the directors who continually fork out for his fines. (TransferMarkt)

Spurs Web opinion

It’s a fine balance that needs to be struck with Romero as you don’t want him to lose that bite that makes him such a strong defender and fan favourite, but in the same breath, you also don’t want your centre-back to be unavailable due to suspension.

Romero has been regarded as one of the best defenders this Copa America and has added a third international to his cabinet in three years. It appears as though Romero may have finally found a balance.

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