Don't watch much soccer (whoops, football)

I'm from the U.S. and don't know a lot about the game. I only watch when it's World Cup or Olympics time, especially the women's game when I'm rooting for the great U.S. Women's team. Generally, I enjoyed this show, though I don't know the rules of football that well. I did notice there were no yellow cards or penalties, at least that I saw. A lot of rough play, holding and kicking and shoving down. Also no penalty kicks. Just stoppage of play, sometimes. Would any English fans like to enlighten me?

I especially liked the character of Arthur Kinnaird, who was an ass at the beginning (no extra time after regulation time expired, strictly an amateur sport, no professionals allowed), but who slowly came around to the viewpoint of the northern players who worked six long days a week, with little time for practice, while the privileged class amateurs had the advantages of lots of practice time. He fought for the rights of the working class players against his upper class friends, even alienating some, but won out in the end.

The only flaw I saw was the rushed ending. When extra time started in the final game, it was all over in a flash, it seemed. There could have been more drama to that part.