Frings’ Recollection Doesn’t Pack Much Punch

I am Italian and proud of it, but for crying out loud leave frings alone. I’ve, and I’m sure most of you, have done more to someone when saying hello than that punch. If FIFA take action then will loose all faith in soccer.

to clean football

thank you

Rooney gave a more forceful shove than Frings did. Besides, Cruz struck him in the face first.

This is not to excuse his actions; however, it does mitigate them.

Cruz has also said that Frings did not hit him. (http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/5751406)

I know that there is video evidence suggesting something different, but how about trusting the man who was supposed to have been hit?

Good point Cajun nick: if Cruz doesn’t have a problem with it, then let it pass.

I really think the refs let this get out of hand. When you have players taunting one another during penalties (which normally happens), you can’t just blow the final whistle and let them come together.

Obviously the playeres are also to blame, but refs should’ve seen this coming a mile away.

What the hell? FIFA is deliberating action against Frings based on video evidence, but DOES NOTHING to Figo for an intentional headbutt, also caught on video?

WHAT THE HELL?

O.k., maybe I was having trouble with the video as to who’s who, but wasn’t one of those hands just brushing someone’s face, and I mean brushing?

Absolutely, if the “punch-ee” goes, “what you talkin’ about?” forget it! This ain’t no elbow, no headbutt, no cleats to the crotch. I give kudos to Cruz for not doing the equivalent of a dive and whingeing like a baby, considering the opportunity Fifa is giving him.

I know Fifa has a responsibility to maintain order, but this sounds all kinda witchy-hunty.

hey let em go

He barely brushed his knuckles across Cruz’s chin. There was no weight behind it and there were fingers on Frings face moments before, most likely from Cruz.

This is all a bunch of hangbags at dawn. It was an ugly end to a dramatic match, but it should not overshadow the game, which it currently is.

The only people who seem to give a crap are the Italians, who are playing some gamesmanship of their own. Let’s just get down to playing the game, shall we?

I hope, all the Italians are happy now: Frings is banned for the semi final.

This is really ridiculous: The Argentinian players, who initiated the whole mess, can serve their sentences during qualification matches of minor importance and Thorsten Frings, who was beaten and insulted and barely touched the Argentinian player, misses one of the most important games in his whole life, if not THE most important. ..

posted from Italy
=======================

Frings out! yeah!
we’re already going to berlin…

bye bye krauts!

What’s wrong with self defense. I love Frings. At least he did not lay down and take it. Only the aggressor should be punished. But leave it up to the Italians to have a whole team eliminated, so they can win. I got news for you, Italy cannot win… There is justice. Again, we love you, Torsten… Be proud… You are already a winner in my book. And, who are all these idiots saying FIFA is on the Germans side?? Yeah, right. May the truth come out. In the meanwhile.. my slogan to Italy.
Arivederci, Altes Aerschi!!

I can see we have a lot of FIFA officials contributing to this blog and exposing their judgements as to why a player should be suspended or not.

Not to mention those careful examiners of International Character who are discussing their opinion of Italian mores.

Italy does not make the rules on who gets disqualified, who gets the penalties, etc. Italian newspaper, like all newspapers the world over look for sensationalist crap to put on their pages, and this is “high time”, if you know what I mean.

Get mad at FIFA, which, in their defense, is responsible for organizing and regulating the most followed sporting event in the world. Not an easy task, given also all the cultures involved.

Who is Frings anyway? Why would Italy be afraid of him? I don’t get it.

I would have understood it if the Argentinians had pressed charges, but the Italians? What do they have to do with this? It was the game against Argentinia not Italy!
What happened to the Argentinian player who sprinted acrosss half the field to hit Schweinsteiger on the back of the head? He should get banned for at least 6 games, the player who kicked Mertesacker who suffered a bleeding wound for at least 10 and Cruz slapped frings in the Face should also be punished. And the best thing is that it doesn’t hurt the Argentians at all because they won’t advance to the next round…

P.S. Hey Italy, now we’re angry and we’ll blast you from the field!

“The only people who seem to give a crap are the Italians, who are playing some gamesmanship of their own. Let’s just get down to playing the game, shall we?”

actually italian football federation didn’t ask FIFA to ban Frings, they actually asked nothing.. And that’s not a shot by an italian television, it’s an international circuit of tv. Sky Italia just brought it to the attention of the audiance. Nothing to do to some gamesmanship of our own as you said.
A cheat from Italy.

We all knew the Italians would cheat before the game.

lol it wasnt the italian team but it was an italian newspaper. so doesnt newspapers belong to the sports scene anymore? :)

and it was la republica who brought it to the FIFAs attention not SKY themselves tbh…

Its just sad that all the scandal involving lots of players from italian national team is put on hold just on the day where results should be announced. But on the other hand the media from italy comes up with this video. And in other places theres shouts of joy from italian supporters that Frings is now out.

To me its just a display of sore losers even before the match started. Its desperation to do ANYTHING to win and not have a fair competition…

Why didnt the italian newspapers talk to the FIFA about the unadressed headbutt from Figo? If they want justice for all then dont be selective.

This is a whole mess, nothing more.

Italy is not afraid of Germany at all. I think the media is just taking the opportunity to make headlines and sell newspapers. There was a punch but it seemed pretty light to me. If Figo wasn’t suspended than I don’t think Frings should be. I feel they probably did it to prove that they are not favouring Germany in any way. The Italian media is only taking interest because of the De Rossi suspension. They agreed that De Rossi was rightfully suspended for his actions but also feel other so called trouble-makers should receive the same punishment whether there was intent to injure or not. Fair is fair afterall.

There you go – Italians, masters of football fixing!

Is there anything this measly country can do honestly and forthright? The Northern League has it right – split away from thos mob-infested, cheating, good-for-nothing country.

Oh yeah, noodles were invented by the CHinese and Itlaian food sucks!

I dont understand why Italy or italians should be blamed for the banning of Frings. Whatever it is, a small or big punch it doesnt matter. FIFA more than once said it doesnt tollerate violence, whether it is microscopic or macroscopic.
From the images, Frings was not defending himself, but he moved forward (intentional) to punch Cruz in the face.
Totti was banned for much less and for two matches, while spitting on a danish player during a match.
They both deserved punishment.
And I dont understand why German players should not be punsihed if they did something during the mes s after the match with Argentina.
That was not a great spectacle. Not at all. Or the poor germans were only trying to keep the things quite, without provoking.

And stop always pointing the finger to Italy. We know that our football is ill, and we are also ashamed of ourselves. But at least we come up with the s**t and there will be teams that will be punished.

If the post-match with argentina would have happened with Italy, be sure that in Italy we would have blamed the players, not the TV images. The same thing happened with Totti two years ago and with De Rossi, this year.

Who said they are afraid? They dont have a reason to be after the last match. So why do the media adress this video to the FIFA then? Just before they play germany and when Figo did the headbutt they didnt act. Will they save this for the case when italy might play portugal in the final to get him out too? :)

Fair is fair, but this was not fair. It was digging in the dirt and not even the “victim” said that he noticed being hit. Frings made a move with his hand which you can clearly see is not really a punch but more like a bruising as some ppl already said. Another thing, Frings got “hit” before by Cruz too but there did not seem to be any intention to punish him too for doing that.

Its just a sad joke guys and the FIFA got under pressure so they had to banish Frings now and calm those down that came up with their conspiracy theories…

If germany beats italy now I wont stop laughing for a few days. I can guarantee you that.

“Its just sad that all the scandal involving lots of players from italian national team is put on hold just on the day where results should be announced.”

The scandal is on some clubs managements, so your statements about a scandal involving many players is wrong. Nothing has been put on hold, since there’s a trial, with a defence and a prosecution which both require their times to develop. Lack of information? Or you are just biased? Maybe you need a comfortable view of the world in which the italians are cheat, the germans brutal and so on with all the stereotypes. Try to have an unbiased and indipendent opinion if your mind is able to.

Go Germany, they’ve been playing great football.

Well I aint biased but I go from the information I got through the media on the net and on tv. There should have been an announcement about upcoming results in this case on tv and it had alot of public interest. Then all of a sudden its all put on hold, I think the pesotto incident had to do with it too as far as I heard.

Youre measuring with different standards here. FIFA should ban violence yes, but if Frings was put on trial by the italian media representative but Cruz, who also hit Frings before that isnt facing any trial is beyond me.

And this is why I am furious. Instead of just playing the game tomorrow theres more action upfront. I am sure most of the neutral viewers will agree that this thing was a sure set up. If you have to ban players than do it with all involved and not only the one you would like to face consequences.

Well, Torsten, we will see you in the final against France. Isn’t it a nice thought to know that in the end you get to play against a real team… Love ya, Torsten. You are the man.

Doesn’t Italy have its own scandals to worry about?

Cruz clearly slaps Frings first. Did he get suspended or fined for that? And as someone else mentioned, there is footage of Maxi Rodriguez running into the melee and slamming Schweinsteiger with an elbow. That was far more dangerous and violent. Not to mention the footage of Figo’s headbutt that hasn’t gotten him suspended. Again, far more dangerous.

This is just ridiculous. FIFA is so arbitrary in its decisions that they lack any credibility after this World Cup.

Italy is bush league and always has been. Frings should be rewarded and not penalized for a melee the sore-loser-as-always Argentinians started. FIFA screwed it up again of course with their ruling. Odonkor will make most people forget Frings, but Italy will remember him.

Dave hamildav@yahoo.com

Odonkor seems like a bruiser to me, albeit a fast one.

All I can say is that the Italians be it their press media or their football team or their president are working overtime to find fault (if there’s any) that would lead to some suspensions of German players. Why? Because they are CHICKENS. But this is only human nature.

Any team would try their best under the law, on pitch or off pitch to weaken their oppenent strength. In this case, they are trying to make Frings suspended so that no one be shooting like what Frings did in the WC opening match.

As much as I will miss Torsten, I do like Odonkor. At least Germany has more than just 11 excellent players. Germany plays “fussball”. Italia, who knows what they are doing again. Go figure. But I understand the Italian media for playing unfair. They are hoping that they have more to write than: Our team put their tails between their legs, during diving and again after the game during which it lost 3:0.

Dirk, maybe Italy is reacting to all the insults you guys have been throwing around (as experts of what’s really happening in the fixing scandal in Italy, since I remember reading all kinds of foreign names on the roster of magistrates who are investigating into it) and saying, “Look at who is also not above FIFA’s laws…”

Who the hell cares anyway! I want to watch a game tomorrow.

All this fluff about who has shown the video and the fact that FIFA sanctions it is pathetic. When you go to court, you know who rules in there. If you do something wrong, you know what the consequences are. If you gamble and you don’t get caught, you are lucky. If you get caught, you pay. Period. Finished.

Next time, players, put your hands in your pockets, with your little macho attitude! There was a referee in between, let him do his job, instead of caressing each other like dreamy lovers…

Latest from Marcello Lippi:

“Even for us Frings’ suspension was a blow. We didn’t know anything, the case was closed. He is an important player, but he won’t change Germany’s exuberance: When a team like that has such qualities and organized play, it doesn’t depend on one player.”

Germany, get some wild and crazy posters going that show your support for Torsten Frings…

Ich liebe Dich, Torsten!!!

The director of the communication of the FIFA, Markus Siegler, has confirmed that to make the decision lean for the disqualification has been the television images, that is the tv test. Furthermore Siegler has denied that the Italian Federcalcio has had a role in the event: ” no solicitation by Figc to the Fifa because this took provisions “. “everything has been transmitted by a public channel in Germany”.

So (sorry for my english) shut up to all this pathetic anti-italian cry-babies

Forza Azzurri

Unbelievable.

TV images VERY CLEARLY show Figo giving another player a headbutt: No sanctions for Figo.

Julio Cruz is seen on television footage hitting Frings in the face, more forcefully than Frings “hit” him: No sanctions for Cruz.

Either they all deserved sanctions, or none did. But if FIFA wants to bring order and sportsmanship to the field, then it will have to develop some consistency.

the germans started it…they taunted the argentines after argentina lost their shootout..

germany are sore winners..they had some gall to insult the argentines.. i’m glad the argentiens reacted..

you don’t mess with argentina

end of story

Thought Number 1:
Julio Cruz was not sanctioned because the FIFA officials felt punishing him would have been absurd: He’s going to fly into Buenos Aires into a mob of pissed off Argentian fans who are going to make him regret being born, let alone a little caress from a cute long-haired German.

Thought Number 2:
With all due respect, why is FIFA using video for a sanction, and not for improving refereeing?

Thought Number 3:
Did you notice the controversial referee of Italy-Australia was almost as bad during France-Brasil?

It’s most fun to watch when best players play. FIFA should have suspensions for Frings after the world cup is over.

Who are we trying to kid? Why would the Italians be so focussed on Frings? No serious football fan can question the quality in that squad. They’re perfectly fine to win it on the pitch, thank you very much.

If you’re going to point fingers and accuse people of underhanded tactics, then what about those borderline racist remarks in the German media regarding Italians? How do you want to interpret them? Are the Germans so desperate that they’re pinning their hopes on a home crowd advantage and psychological warfare via the media?

At the end of the day, this was FIFA’s decision. They’ve denied any Italian involvement. Shut your mouths and let them play the beautiful game. After all, I thought that you Germans were “above” all of the trash-talking. You’re starting to sound like those “wonderful sportsmen” in Australia.

Vincere….e vinceremo!

“#

pao | July 3rd, 2006 at 6:28 pm

The scandal is on some clubs managements, so your statements about a scandal involving many players is wrong. Nothing has been put on hold, since there’s a trial, with a defence and a prosecution which both require their times to develop. Lack of information? Or you are just biased? Maybe you need a comfortable view of the world in which the italians are cheat, the germans brutal and so on with all the stereotypes. Try to have an unbiased and indipendent opinion if your mind is able to.

Posted from Italy Italy”

mhmm,your scandal is only a question of management, nice idea, i will try it.

two manager meet in a bistro:Say’s the first, “we will loose the next game for money.
Say the other, “ok. here are 50000 euro.”
During the game the both manager meet in the stadion again. Say the first who wanted to loose ” Sorry, my team say no to loosing the game, here i gave you your money back” the other answer “f***, next time i buy your players”

I hope you understood, nobody can change a game without the help of the players, the ref or the fifa, and the only team in this tourment what have this s*** on this shoes is italia.

But i donot belief that Italia will love the game in dortmund, i can be a really bad battle fom the audience, i hope the the normal italian will forgive us. it can be possible that your hym will be hard of hearing.

until today it was a fair tourment with emotional moment, now the tourment get a touch of the normal dirt from the national italian football league.

I hope Italy will lose, what a disgrease !!!

DEUTSCHLAND UBER ALLES !!!!

Hey guys, put your emotions aside, if you look at the tape objectively, you can see that Fring is deliberately going towards Cruz, even pushing away another Argentian player, to brush..what four fingers to Cruz’s cheek. I beleive FIFA is punishing Fring for his behavior and not the actual “punch”.

Italy is going to have a fun time in Dortmund tomorrow. A whole stadium full of Germans are going to be all over Italy’s ass tomorrow from the time they step on the field until the leave at the end of the match. My understanding is that FIFA acted on Frings first because he has an upcoming match. The Argentines will get their suspensions later this week. The Italien press just managed to fire up our team even more and got the 55,000+ at Dortmund all fired up. I’m sure that FIFA would have cuaght that footage without Italy’s help but the Italiens will bear the burden of what their press did. Deutschland Hop Hop Hop!!!. Deutschland, Deutschland ueber alles, ueber alles in der Welt.

um, is Frings right handed? In which case his ‘punch’ really is a tap.

Anyhow, seems ridiculous that Fifa allows video evidence here, and does nothing for (among many examples)
* Figo’s headbut
* Henry’s grabbing of his face against spain
* Ballack’s dive against argentina
since the referee can and did issue cards after the game, how is it any different?

also to all italian-baggers, think what it would be like if you were judged by the actions of the tabloid media in your country …

“mhmm,your scandal is only a question of management, nice idea, i will try it.

two manager meet in a bistro:Say’s the first, “we will loose the next game for money.
Say the other, “ok. here are 50000 euro.”
During the game the both manager meet in the stadion again. Say the first who wanted to loose ” Sorry, my team say no to loosing the game, here i gave you your money back” the other answer “f***, next time i buy your players”

I hope you understood, nobody can change a game without the help of the players, the ref”

infact the scandal involves some managements and some refs of course. Nothing to do with players.
BTW didn’t Germany face the same scandals a few ago?
It’s quite funny, scandals in Germany and in Italy, Italians are the same old cheats, Germans are the same old honest people.
And….I recall a Dane video about Totti spitting a Dane player, and the Dane federation pushing for Totti to get banished. Disgusting little bastard Totti! Well done the danes!…..and….hey…i remember Sweden and Denmark needed a 2-2 tie to get through and send Italy home….by fortune it was a tie..and it was 2-2. Well done! those little cheats italian deserved to be sent home. Enough?
I give up, someone just can’t use their brains as i can see.

I think that by doing this, they are showing that there is no conspiracy by germany because that is what a lot of people are thinking right now–germany has dealed that they WILL win the cup and no one must get in their way. SO by suspending one of their players, people’s attention will be drwn away from the theory that germany is involved in a conspiracy.

ok, the differece between tooti and frings.

tooti begin, frings react only, if he had, cruz say no, frings say no, the only thing what say yes is a video. and everybody know how easy it is today to change a video

by tooti the victims began the process, by frings the nation of the next opponent begin the process

and i never told that we didn’t use our brains, we do and because of this we have not this dicussion

and I thought portugal were a bunch of sore winners. Italy are GOING to be sore LOSERS tomorrow.

EVERYONE CROSS YOUR FINGERS FOR GERMANY!!!!!!!

With Frings or without him, what Germany and Italy played in this World Cup can hardly be called football. It’s a shame that Germany, after spending so many millions of Euros in magnificent installations, gets such a lousy performance from their national team. Who’s going to win? Who cares!!! From all teams, only Argentina and lately LA FRANCE, seemed to have love and passion for this game.

agree with you totally Lisa dFC. FIFA is judging intent, not weather Frings connected or not. And yes, I’m sad to admit, intent was there. The trouble is not with FIFA. Players need to know based on officiating in these past matches… you walk away. Rooney found out, didn’t he. The Italians on the other hand will take any advantage they can and are probably congratulating themselves right now. Too bad, Frings played well, the Germans will miss him.

@Angie M,

you seem to part of the problem with comments like that.

@Aqvamare first of all it’s Totti, if you’re going to bad mouth a player behind his back than at least get his name right. Second, both Totti and Frings were reacting to something someone else said or did. Both the agressor and the one retaliating should both be banned.

@endroo G – German fans have some ego, I don’t think any team is afraid of Germany to be frank so stop diluting yourselves with fantasies. Your advancement into the semi-finals was based solely on the abilities of your POLISH goal scorer. Germany wasn’t even suppose to get the World Cup, talk about scandals. What about your advancement into the semis in 2002, a clear handball against the US but magically the ref didn’t see it. Well before you talk about the shortcomings of other teams you better examine your own shady past. Believe me we can do this all night but what’s that going to accomplish. German fans are going to have to deal with a lot of abuse if they lose tomorrow especially because they are expected to win on home soil. So you might want to tone it down a bit just in case. Your record against Italy is nothing to boast about. If anything I’m sure that this is weighing heavily on the player’s minds at the moment and most of all the humiliating defeat Germany suffered to Italy in a recent friendly. Sure, everybody says it’s just a friendly but remember Germany was under the microscope at that point and wanted to prove themselves so you can’t say they weren’t trying. I really don’t care who wins tomorrow but from what I see Germany will be looking to settle the game with penalty kicks again. Germany has always had the greater strength in this area. I don’t think Klose will be any kind of a factor tomorrow.

Well good luck to both teams tomorrow I hope it’s a classic encounter. Italy and Germany better start getting along being neighbours and all.

“Next time, players, put your hands in your pockets, with your little macho attitude! There was a referee in between, let him do his job, instead of caressing each other like dreamy lovers…”
——————————-

Its a difference between the referee doing his job and outsiders doing it for the referee who werent even involved in that case. The referee did his job and showed the nuttkicker the red card. He didnt give out cards for the other brawlers and he did not give it to Frings or Cruz for touching each others like ladies. Thanks for proving my point :)

Italy, Hmmm, well, first they cheat in their own country. Then they dive to win a penelty against Australia. Now they move to have one Germany’s best players removed before the game (though to be fair FIFA also has some explaining after their decision).

Am I the only one that sees a trend here?

To all the honest Italy supporters out there I am sorry that your National team and some of your club teams are doing this to the sport.

But I hope so bad that they get their arses whipped, as they do not deserve to be there.

To Frank from Argentina:

I am not picking on you at all. I guess that Germany and Italy have been playing in a boring style (not pleasing to the eyes). But maybe they are not trying to be fancy.

A similar thing happens in the NBA (I don’t know if you watch it). Detroit and San Antonio played in a boring style few years ago, but they were successful.

My Yanks were dogs this World Cup. The other teams I support are England and Sweden (though generally I like the Nordic sides.)

I certainly have no special affection for Germany, considering our past WC experience against them. But, I’ve found them to be not only a good side this year, but an entertaining one at that.

I mention all of this to give myself a little credence as an unbiased observer in this matter. My problem is that FIFA has either 1) lost control of maintaining order; or 2) is systematically penalizing some offenses while allowing others to occur without sanction.

If Frings, and Figo, and Cruz (and others) all received suspensions for unsportsmanlike behavior, based on video evidence, then I wouldn’t have even bothered posting here.

However, because Frings was singled out and suspended (however just that might be objectively speaking), it was an unfair decison based on the subjective way the same offenses have been dealt with.

Gian Luca posted:

“Thought Number 1:
Julio Cruz was not sanctioned because the FIFA officials felt punishing him would have been absurd: He’s going to fly into Buenos Aires into a mob of pissed off Argentian fans who are going to make him regret being born, let alone a little caress from a cute long-haired German.”

BTW, The “mob” of 5000 people gave a warm welcome to the ARG returning team and if you read the newspapers everyone recognizes that they have played good football (not like the 2002 team), moreover although Pekerman did a mistake with the subs, 70% want him to continue as coach. The general opinion is that most players will be at their prime for 2010.

Regarding Frings suspension, I think no one in Buenos Aires cares too much about what happens in this Eurocup 2006 semifinal, not being any Asian, African or Southamerican team it has lost quite a lot of interest.

It is probably too late for Frings, but not too late for the rest of the German team to put the desperate Italian team in its place. Their “win” over Australia is not forgotten, there will be justice. They have just climed higher to fall harder.

prophet so damn true we will never forget our “win” over the mighty Australia, it was just a nice italian job. With diving and bribing, our national specialities, we are just proud, it was a classy job.
Cheers mate.

No precedence exists for the FIFA decision, a “Solomon judgement” which attempts to halfway appease most parties. Reviewing official post-game film can be used for appropriate action. In the video, Frings appeared to be defending himself after Cruz hit Frings’ face. Cruz should have cut Torsten’s hair instead.

To sergio:

You say the Germans started it, taunting ARG team after it was all over:

The whole world knows this is an impertinant lie.

1. Argie players had been trying to divert German scorers’ concentration while penalties were still on. One German player gestured to them to hush up. That seemed to have infuriated the gauchos, well divining the end of their presentation was just around the corner. And when it was all over, the world’s sorest losers started the whole brawl. Just look at the videos.

2. “Sore winners” ? That’s a good one: so revealing. Your logic is superb indeed.

3.”You don’t mess with Argentina.” Ooops – I feel ashamed because I am so terribly unimpressed. Your lingo is cowboy talk, or gaucho talk, for that matter. But let me depart from your wording: I should say: “As a decent civilized occidental individual, you better not
m i n g l e with Argentinians – at least not with the likes of you.”

In earlier blogs I was incensed by English bloggers’sweeping statements about
football-Argies’ mentality – or should I say: mental state – but meanwhile I have to apologize to them. They just knew your kind better and earlier than I did. Well, Let’s take things lightly: shows you once again that there is always something new to learn.

You thought you were the kings of the football world, and the cup was just yours for the taking.

MEXICO should have warned you.

GERMANY taught you.

You don’t mess with Germans – not that way. Not your calibre. Period.

P.S.

One final kick in your ass:

Your ever-superior South American rivals, glorious BRAZIL, 5 ***** , who were defeated by France, have always shown grace. They never needed your dirty tricks. You will always remain their ugly inferior little brothers. And their Pele is the greatest. A gentleman. And your Madonna – oops – Maradonna – a pitiable creature. A clown.

To Vancouver:
It’s not a matter of “playing fancy”, its a matter of showing you have guts! the ability and the art to be called CHAMPION. Not only being there because of fate, luck o whatever you want to call it. It’s what Zidane showed against Brazil, one of the greatest. Of course, you can be there, but do yo deserve it? Football its a little more than results in the scoring board. Its passion. And Germany lacks it completely!!! Probably most people will forget this in the next four years, but you can we sure we will remember. See you in South Africa.

whatever rolf.. go suck an egg..

i don’t believe argentine players went to attack german players without provocation.. why would they? think about it..

its been widely reported that bierhoff and other german coaching staff started taunting the argentine players and making faces at them after germany won

if you think thats sportsmanship..

well i guess you are german..never known for class or elegance, eh?

go on playing your crap soccer… no one will care if you win..

I would not be surprised if this plays to the favor of Germany. They will be pissed off about it, they have solid reserves that will fill in well and Frings will be fresh for the Final.

Frank, I understood. Good point.

I heard a piece of good news that Frings will be on the game tonight,No matter what I hope Germany will go further than 1/2 Semi Final.Ballack,Lehmann,Klose and Lahm,I like these guys.By the way,In this video we can see clearly Frings was hit first and then he just wanna hit back.I don’t think the man who hit him first would escape from punishment.

this 1 match ban was absolutely unnecessary and makes me puke :(

it ruined the world cup athmosphere…

[...] Yesterday, we showed you how the German and Italian media have been slugging it out over their respective roles in Torsten Frings being suspended for today’s semifinal match. The rivalry between the two countries doesn’t stop there, however. A Berlin newspaper is doing its best to upset Italians living in the German capital. [...]

again i say, i thought football was for fun, enough of the drama, play nicely, joga bonito
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGBSSgr4XA

thats crap… he didnt even hit him