June 26: The Daily World Cup Wrap

June 26th, 2006 | by: Daryl |

Hate to say it, but this was probably the worst day so far, football wise. Plenty of drama, with a 94th minute winner in the Italy vs Australia game, and the first penalty shootout in Ukraine vs Switzerland, but not a lot of action.

Daily Wrap Awards:

Top Man: Francesco Totti.

Top Team: Australia. Good effort.

Top Goal: Milevskiy’s penalty. Cheeky.

Bit of Skill: Rotan’s quick change of feet.

Saw That Coming: Another day, another dubious red card.

But Not That: No offsides in Ukraine vs Switzerland until the 102nd minute

Australia vs Italy | LiveBlog | Australia World Cup Gear, Italy World Cup Gear

Australia 0
Italy 1 (Totti [pen] 94+)

Mark Schwarzer made a couple of impressive saves early on, but both sides soon ran out of attacking ideas. Another questionable red card, this time for Italy’s Marco Materazzi who had combined with Gianluca Zambrotta to make Mark Bresciano the Australina filling in a clumsy Italian defender sandwich. Clumsy, but not dangerous and not worthy of a red card either.

The numerical advantage didn’t make too much difference, as Australia seemed unable to force Gianluigi Buffon into action. Just when this looked to be headed into extra time, Lucas Neill made an challenge on Fabio Grosso inside his own area. Neill’s slide tackle was so bad it wasn’t even dangerous, missing both ball and man but Grosso (either wisely or cynically, depending on who you support) tripped himself over Neill’s body to win a 94th minute penalty.

Up stepped Francesco Totti, on as a late substitute to the Italian crowds audible displeasure. He fired his penalty high into the corner beyond Mark Schwarzer with the last kick of the game.

Video highlights here.

Fan Photos: Australia and Italy fans…

Follow the links for more World Cup Blog photos and video, or submit your own to enter our photo and video contest. Thanks to Umbro and Subside Sports for providing the prizes.
Want to discuss todays action? Go to the Australia or Italy team pages.
Buy World Cup tickets to Italy’s next match.

Ukraine vs Switzerland | LiveBlog | Switzerland World Cup Gear, Ukraine World Cup Gear

Switzerland 0
Ukraine 0
aet, Ukraine won 3-0 on penalties

Oh dear. While Italy vs Australia had an underdog, a sending off and a dubious last minute winner to partially redeem it, this game had more or less nothing. No cards shown until the 60th minute, and no offsides until the 102nd minute is all anyone needs to know.

Shevchenko hit the bar with a header, Alexander Frei hit the post with a freekick, and that was pretty much it. Ukraine seemed to be playing for penalties from about the 70th minute of normal time onwards, and anyone who saw them successfully close down their game against Tunisia last week will have had a slight feeling of de ja vu. When penalties finally came, we still couldn’t get a goal out of these two teams, with Shevchenko and Streller’s initial efforts both being saved. Here’s how the penalties went down in our LiveBlog (courtesy of Bob):

Ukraine Pen #1: Shevchenko has his penalty saved by Zuberbuehler.

Swiss penalty #1: Streller steps up and has his saved too. Knocked it down the middle and Shovkovskiy saves comfortably.

Ukraine Pen #2: Milevskiy scores! Nice, cocky chip penalty.

Swiss penalty #2: Barnetta hits the crossbar! He misses.

Ukraine Pen #3: Rebrov steps up and strokes it home well.

Swiss penalty #3: Cabanas misses. Great save by the keeper but Switzerland look awful at penalties.

Ukraine Pen #4: Gusiev hits his penalty into the corner, sending the keeper the wrong way and sending Ukraine into the quarter-finals.

And that was that. Ukraine make history by reaching the quarterfinals, but they definitely didn’t make it in style. Switzerland are out without conceding a goal, but look a good bet to go further at Euro 2008.

Video highlights here.

Fan Photos: Swiss fans…

and Swedish fans supporting Ukraine, presumably so they didn’t have to buy any new stuff…

Follow the links for more World Cup Blog photos and video, or submit your own to enter our photo and video contest. Thanks to Umbro and Subside Sports for providing the prizes.
Want to discuss todays action? Go to the Switzerland or Ukraine team pages.
Buy World Cup tickets to Ukraine’s next match.

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Over it

Australia and Italy – REMATCH! PENALTY should have been OVERTURNED! Italy does not deserve this win! Australia played exceptionally – REFEREE should make amends…

This result does not make ITALY champions…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGBSSgr4XA armando

The swiss guys actually surprised me, good luck next time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGBSSgr4XA
Andy

Wow… 2 matches, 210+ minutes of football, and not a single goal that wasn’t scored from the penalty spot.

Hard to believe this is the same World Cup that gave us 3 goals in the first 20 minutes.

Let’s hope tomorrow will bring us something better…
Femi Laiyemo

The penalty kick awarded to Italy is the worst call I have ever seen a referee make at this level of soccer competition. The Australians should petition for an investigation of the referee, especially with all of the talk of match fixing and corruption that surrounds Italians and their football.
marco

Stop this crap, Italians are meant to be the world champions, Forza Italia! The Socceroos are babies so suck thumbs for now, then watch and learn how its done. You might learn something.
SES

Marco,

What insight would we learn from you and your great mind about soccer? I wouldn’t be so harsh against a team that played a great WC. Italy may have advanced but they haven’t been the best team in the tournament.
patrick

marco, you must be no older than 13, because no person of an older age would be capable of saying the most childish comments that come from you.
John

Just change the rules so that a penalty in the box does not result in a (virtually) automatic goal. Move the spot to where it’s a 50/50 proposition, not an 80% probability. That will mitigate the consequences of dubious calls.

Right now the penalty kick is essentially like a penalty shot in ice hockey without the goalie being in net. It’s ridiculously punitive and virtually gives the ref the power to determine the outcome of the game.
Mary

Italy and Australia both played well, Australia lacked some power going for goal and should have made something of the extra man advantage, no one can deny that Italys defence was outstanding, however that last minute penalty shot was a joke and everyone knows it. Congrats to Italy but I cried my eyes out last night to see our socceroos work so hard for a year to get there and then a ref decides the match in the last minute..we are not bad sports, just incredibly sorry for the Aussie boys to lose in such a way, the pain they feel must be overwhelming. But when it comes down to it, Italy kicked a goal and we didnt. We will be right behind our socceroos again in 4 years time!
Saren

GO CANADA!!!!!!!