Second Round - Italy vs Australia

[ZexyZahid]

Like I said, I didn't see any video yet. I just read who played on both sides, who scored and who got sent off on BBC. But I see now a picture in the middle of the summary of Italy vs Australia that the red card was harsh. Seeing the way the referees has been in this tournament I would agree on it.

 

[Iron-Haggis]

The penalty was a load of crap and the Italians are a disgrace to the game. It wasn't just Grosso who took a dive, Del Piero and Totti took some very obvious dives aswell. Much more action needs to be taken against divers, even after game. If FIFA can threaten to give Kewell disciplinary action for dissent (Which Kewell deseved), then they should do the same to stamp out divers in the game.

How can you blame Lucas Neill? By sliding he basically stopped Grosso from having a shot and made his job much more difficult, I thought that was part of defending and if it wasn't for some very unsportsman like behaviour you would be praising him for shutting down a scoring oppurtunity.

 

[ZexyZahid]

I watched the highlights by now and Materazzi didn't deserve a red card, since there was a defender very near the Australian player, and Italy didn't deserve a penalty.

 

[Iron-Haggis]

Yeah I agree, Materazzi didn't deserve a red card. Referees have been very inconsistent when it comes to possible direct reds.

 

[aussie1st]

I don't believe it makes it square though, that red although not deserved could have been given depending on the ref. But when a penalty cost your team the game with 3s left before ET that is not fair at all. I would feel sorry for Italy if they were in our position cause we played our hearts out only to be screwed out of the World Cup.

 

[rickyp]

I don't believe it makes it square though, that red although not deserved could have been given depending on the ref. But when a penalty cost your team the game with 3s left before ET that is not fair at all. I would feel sorry for Italy if they were in our position cause we played our hearts out only to be screwed out of the World Cup.

yes true BUT you cant say it didnt stop italys attack? for all we know they could of been two goals up at that time and it would of been an irrelevant penalty

 

[sid_19840]

I thought that was unfair on the Roos,the penalty in the end was a harsh decision, anyhow the Roos should have probably finished off the game when Italy were down to 10 players.I felt that Kewell was sorely missed in this one as his innovative runs and crosses would have made a difference.

 

[aussie1st]

May have done and Aus may have defended like they did in the 1st half. Ref stuffed that up as well. Basically he ruined a good match.

 

[Iron-Haggis]

Or Materazzi could have made two huge blunders in defence and Australia could of got up 2-0, you can't speculate on what could of happened had he only got a yellow.

In the end an unfair penalty decided the game. Australia still may have lost, who knows, but it was a very unfair way to lose a game.

 

[sachin]

Well talking about Penalties,did anyone thinl Zembrotta's handball in the box(just before Italy's penalty)was a penalty.Vidula tried an overhead kick,missed and he ball looked like it hit Zembrotta's hip and wrist.Soul breaking penalty,i just couldn't believe that we could get so many bad decisions.But i'm proud of the boys who showed the world we can play.

 

[Bala]

The ref should be shot!

 

[Mr. Kurns]

i do sachin i think it hit his arm and so did the aussies. that penalty was a disgrace. as my father said maybe we should become cheating bloddy soccer players because thats what all the other teams are.

 

[genghis_khan]

argh!...now i may know jack all about soccer but what i do know is that we were robbed!

disgraceful.

 

[Iron-Haggis]

One team was playing football and the other team at times was auditioning for the next Hollywood blockbuster.

 

[IloveGilly]

There's no way to ever stop bad calls from the ref.

But seriously, we have made it this far and we should be very happy as Australia. Although it was not the greatest way to send off some of our players, it's the beginning of a new era in Australia and we have now walked out of the shadows.