For any overseas people reading, Soccer is never been a big sport in Australia, but the excitement being generated at the moment is unprecendented in this country for Soccer. For Australians, getting to this stage is a victory. Losing will hurt, but tomorrow we will go back to Aussie rules footy and cricket. For the Italians,a loss is unthinkable. Are the Italians favourites. Of course. Will they win. Most likely. But there is an element of Australian culture that is dogged and loves being the under dog. And Australia has talent worthy of sn international stage. So the combination of doggedness and the best talented Australian side ever, poses a threat to the Itlaian. But the most dangerous element is the most obvious. Australia has nothing to lose, Italians have everything to lose. Overall, I hope the best team wins, and that the referee doesn’t decise. I do have much sympathy for the referees, these games are so emotionally charges.

I expect Italy will probably control the first 15 minutes or so before Australia tightens up and closes it down. The record of this Australian team suggests that if it still close at the 70th minute they have a great chance of getting a result.

Hmmm…. I think it will be a close game but Italy will prevail (that hurt). I am looking forward to the liveblog as usual and would love Australia to win just to see the 2 Australian commentators on SBS absolutely lose it like they did after Croatia! Yes, Les and Fozzie….. that means you!

Can we do it without “King Harry” (as Johnny Howard called him after the match against Croatia)? I think we can… Go Australia!!!

ITALY!!!! It will be a close game, but Italy will be the winner. I’m guessing a one goal differential, maybe a 2-1 final. Go Italy!

I watched Australia play twice, and was very impressed; they pressure for the full 90 minutes, and it actually seems like they get stronger as the match goes on, which scares me a bit. Viduka and Bresciano are excellent, and they concern me a little, especially Viduka.

A few of Italy’s players want revenge on Aussie coach Hiddink, so that may play to their advantage. We’ll have to see. Either way, should be a decent match. I just hope the fouls are kept to a minimum. The winning team (whomever that may be) doesn’t need to go into the next stage with injuries.

Sadly, I’m afraid my heart says Oz but my head says Italia.

Still….I agree with you Chu.
It WOULD be a buzz to watch Fozzie and Les go ballistic should Oz pull off the ultimate upset:-)

Go Socceroos!!!!

My fiance is over there and got a ticket for the game without clearing out our bank account (woohoo!)

We both will be cheering on the socceroos!

No predictions – just want him safe.

the aussies have played a strong tourney, and since they have made it this far, they can only get stronger! lots of luck to both…but i fear italy 2 and socceroos 1!

Italy 4:1

Australia will have a man sent off in the first 20 minutes.

I’ll stand by my prediction of 2-0 Italy. Viva Italia!

Lets hope there is not a replay of the Port.vs Holland game…

Del Piero is starting!?!?!?!?!?

This is going to be interesting.

Bresciano to score a cracker from long range.

Not sure if it’ll help, though.

C’mon Australia!!!

just under 1/2 hour to kick off and my mind hasn’t got a clue. Australia has played so well, but Italy can be so intimidating that they put so much fear in the supporters of the opponent team. But then to think rational and see some of Italy’s massive blunders in past world cup finals – who knows how the wind will blow tonight.

dietmar:

Just before 1:00 am here.

any idea what time it is downunder?

This is going to be a great game, there is so much anticipation amongst the fans.

I can only imagine the anxiety the players are feeling. I hope Italy does not fall back behind its own goal line like it did at the begining of the match against the Czechs.

Forza Italia but I still want a good show from the Australian side, let us hope for a good strong physical match without a million cards.

not sure if this has been mentioned before…catch the game live on the net (video) on http://www.espn360.com

i believe its for USA/canada users….

Go the aussies…..My heart is beating amillion miles an hour.
Advance Australia Fair. I am in France but my heart is in Oz!

dietmar:

1:00 am in the East, anyway.

10:00 pm in the West.

thanks trapper, guess that alot of folks are gonna watch!

We’re here. Ready for the game to start. Hope it is a good one.

Good luck to the Aussies as they’ll need some today. Make Italy earn it!

This should be a very physical, tough match.

I predict a low scoring affair, with Australia outfouling Italy by about 10.

Italy will probably score the opener on a setpiece.

But if its close after 70 minutes, watch out! Cahill is on fire and Viduka is so strong on the ball!

ETucker, I’m with you on the low scoring affair.

In Australi do they use the phrase “socceroos” or is that just a US thing?

Well, Socceroo fans, you’ve done well to get your team to where it is, and I wish you the best of luck. If you weren’t playing against my beloved homeland, I would be rooting for you all the way. As it is, however, my loyalties are loyal, and I’m hoping for a solid Italian victory.

Let’s just see how this game plays out. I’m excited to see how we do with Del Piero in today instead of Totti.

Let’s hope for a clean game and no controversial decisions.

Go Aussies!!! Although I have a bad feeling about this match.

:) I pray we have lesser cards than the Dutch and Portuguese had to face. That was a nightmare even for the viewers.

I really would like to see some penalties at one point or another.

I love the pressure cooker!

ETucker, it’s the teams official nickname. I guess it shows a healthy amount of light-heartedness.

I usually root for the underdog, but logic says Italy wins this match. Oh well… maybe, just maybe, this World Cup isn’t through surprising us yet! :D

“Whatever company makes inflatible kangeroos is making a killing this World Cup”

Bob, you always crack me up!!! :)

Trapper or Enzo: do they say “socceroo” in Australia? I really want to know!!

Unfortunately, half the Italians don’t even know their own national anthem.

hardly any surprises yet…been very very predictable …except perhaps for Ghana

Even as an Aussie, I have to say the Italian national anthem is my favourite.

Always gets me going.

What’s with this server? How did my last comment get above Trapper’s?

should do alot for aussie soccer if they win!

I hate aussie soooo much cmon Italy smoke them 3-0 or something

Forza Azzurri!

The anticipation is killing meeeeee!

Sam-

do they say that in Australia though? Or it is just in the states?

DOB of ESPN: “Australia plays the same style of soccer as the USA and they gave fits to the Italians”

Duh! He forgot to mentions that the Australians do it with real HEART, and for 90+ minutes.

SBS TV here in Australia has just lost the picture!!!!

well, CCTV has some technical problem, they’ve cut to vision of fans from the Portugal-Angola game. I’ve got no idea what’s going on…

Thanks Sam. I was just curious as to what other nations say “soccer”

Etucker, yeah, I’ve seen it in Aussie news articles.

Man, my ESPN feed is like 3 minutes behind

ETucker:

Yes “Socceroos” is used a lot. Pretty much interchangeable with “Australia”.

Great!
ESPN in the US missed the start of the game!

we must have the same tv feed then Trapper. bloody useless. ah. back now.

What’s with all these different TV stations having problems? Hopefully my radio stays good, unlike last time.

Pictures are back.

Phew!!!

Thought for a moment Toni had scored with that header.

the Italian anthem is a rousing one !

Near miss for the Italians. Nice start for Del Piero.

Yarr! This’ll be a good game to watch. Both teams are good.

http://clients.mediaondemand.net/theSun/?Channel=1

the TV coverage has been awful. Here they keep complaining about sunspots affecting the digital transmission.

maybe a different technology should be used!

hope this isn’t a RED CARD game like the last one !

Man that Netherland game was insane…just insane. :?

Diego-

Australians play the same style as the US of 2002. Full court press for 90 minutes!

Not to be confused with the 10 behind the ball defense of 2006 :(

Both teams look very, very sharp right now.

I expect the World Cup Blogging boys have been tempering with the TV stations, making sure as many people as possible head over here….

Bob-

how about “both teams feeling each other out like a couple of middleschoolers on their first date: slow, insecure, afraid”

Italy’s going to dominate the game, but don’t underestimate Hiddink’s guys. I’m sure though that the Azzurris are seeking revenge for the 2002 match against SK.

My prediction: 3-1, Italy.

I expect the Italians to edge this one. The Aussies would fight to the end though. They haven’t anything to lose.

this would be a very low scoring game…both sides have strong defence

Etucker, you mean at the end someone will get nailed.

Great block by Chipperfield on Gilardino’s shot.

I wonder who will be lucky enough to score first.

:)

kapcro-

for middleschoolers, probably not.

but i would be happy to see a 0-0 game and some penalties!

Zambrotta is everywhere for Italy.

Might end up that way.

Think we’ll pull for Australia

I am happy with Italy’s play thus far. They look quick.

first real chance to score…by Australia

Italy’s getting quite a few chances, although that Aussie defence is mightly strong.

Am sure Italy can play better this is! I think the Aussie still dominate the field. :-(

Sheesh. Another good save by the Aussie keeper. We’ll get through eventually though.

Looks more like football today.

Australia very solid, but Italy have seemed the better team slightly so far.

Italy needs to realize the concept of “risk-reward”

0 risk

0 reward

The US learned this lesson the hard way…

Great save by Schwarzer.

Gattuso doesn’t fall for “no reason,” Bob.

Italy should have scored!!!

that’s what i’m talking about. welcome back schwarzer

ETucker, Italy have had seven shots so far, compared to Australia’s one. I think they are risking just enough, thanks.

That Toni shot was awesome.

Italy’s pressure will be too much for the Socceroos. They are generating chances and they’ll eventually find the net.

Australia nearly scores — good save by Buffon.

Grosso’s booked.

Sam:

I am at work and can only go on what I’m told…..I’m sure they’re playing well.

does anyone know of any match trackers? ESPN doesnt work on my computer because i cant download flash…

Pressure is too much on both sides, I guess there will just one goal in this match .
of course winning team’s dunno which team , any guesses???

My heart nearly missed a beat!

BBC has a tracker, Tucker.

ETucker: Fifa’s official site has the most accurate stat tracker. http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/match/template.html?id=53

Lovely ball control by Toni!

Thanks Vin

ETucker – this is at the Yahoo\FIFA site: http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/w/match/template.html?id=53

Good lord, Luca Toni just needs to keep pressuring and he’ll find the net.

Toni is getting frustrated… but I am sure he’s frustrating the Socceroos’ defense as well. ;)

i am watching the match live on espn 360..

Ball possession 57% : 43% in favor of the Aussies! Uh oh…

Thanks Sam.

Ha, today I will get NOTHING done at work.

It really should be a month long holiday!

Hey don’t look at ESPN to give great coverage. Since we’ve found the Spanish station – Univision or is it Telefutura, anyway we gave up on ESPN a while ago.

Italy is gone win

Nice dive by Sterjovski.

Carlos, I think Italy has been behind in possession in every game so far. I expect they like to make the other team tired.

Etucker, call it research.

Carlos, that’s standard for the Italians.

Possession means nothing if it is defenders and midfielders passing back and forth in the back and middle of the pitch.

if its the last third of the pitch, then there’s problems

ETucker. Why I took two weeks off in May and not June really bugs me. I should have known better. Won’t make the same mistake in 2010!

The Italians’ passing game is beautiful though!

Damn…

Dare

Double Dare

PHYSICAL CHALLENGE! by Moore.

Hard but fair.

It is more tiring for a team to play a game without possession than it is with possession- That said Italy look the more dangerous side.

kapcro-

im used to espn, but i just started this job and for some reason i can only download certain programs.

believe me, ive been researching :)

sometimes referrals are the best kind of research :)

OW!

Any ideas on where the 2010 WC will be held?

Ali:

South Africa in 2010.

Austrailia looks way too tentative. When they have the ball they should be attacking, well other than that nice cross right there!

So far the liveblog is more interesting than the game itself …

I’m gonna go study for my exam.

Ali: It’s in South Africa

Ali, isn’t it going to be in South Africa?

Its supposed to be in South Africa, but if they dont get their act together (Like Columbia a few decades ago) its possible they could move it.

i hope not: i really want to see a World Cup in Africa!

I feel Italy is going to win 2-0

http://fifaworldcup.sporati.com/preview-2nd-stage-italy-vs-australia.page

What I have learned so far: Aussies like to throw shoulders and go flying off of Italians.

aussies holding up very good!

Italy had more chances

The Socceroos are playing good defense and the Azzurris are relentless on the attack.

I wanted to watch this game, but got tired for three consecutive games of staying from 11pm. til 5 am. specially the mexico argentina — very long. am reserving my energy for brazil ghana.

How does Italy look on the field right now? Dominant?

The English commentators on the radio think that the edge has been clearly to the Italians.

Preview (2nd Stage): Italy vs Australia

A superpower in football, Italy is the heavy favorites to crush a newcomer named Australia who advanced to the next stage despite leading their opponents no more than 5 minutes. Call it luck, I call it Hiddink.

A perennial powerhouse or a newcomer&#…

If Italy can keep the counter-attacks going at a constant pace, that will spell big trouble for the Aussie defense.

The Italian defense is holding firm!

Happy with 0-0 at the break given the chances for Gilardino and Toni (though Chipperfield had a good one as well).

Would be happy with 0-0 at 90 min, to be honest, as I think Australia would be fitter in extra-time.

time to have a few outside shots

The Italian defense was more impressive in the first half, IMHO. :D

It seems like Toni has had a handful of quality chances.

Italians: what happens if near the 70 minute mark it is still 0-0, who does Lippi sub?

after 45mins. as interesting as a bullfight without the bull. Both teams are concentrating more on defence and less on attack. A few forays into the opposing half does not mean attacking football.

Tucker:

Expect to see either Totti in for Del Piero or Inzaghi in for Toni or Gilardino.

anybody notice everytime they introduce eric wynalda its…”usa’s all-time scorer…”
why wasnt he playin

anyone have a link where I can listen in english? I’m stuck @ work…. thanks!

Did anybody see Del Piero at all in that half? Very quiet.

Angelo – I think a Toni goal would open the flood gates, and he would just go ballistic.

Australia had better not let that man through if they know what’s good for ‘em.

italy will want to stay away from pk’s…remember baggio?

Good Match so far, very intense moments in front of the Aussie net and maybe 1 or 2 up in front of Buffon.

Toni will break through and most likely have a heart attack during the celebration he is so pumped.

My prediction of 0-0 with Italy winning in PK’s might come true but I hope not.

This is reminding me of the Brazil-Japan game. Brazil was generating chance after chance until the game finally broke open in the second half. To be fair, the Socceroos are better than Japan but I still hold by my 2-0 Italy win.

Very nice

“The Socceroos are playing good defense and the Azzurris are relentless on the attack.”

Is that commentary from a different dimension than ours?

Italy needs only 15 minutes to win the game and they will do that in the first 15 minutes in the second-half. We’ll see.

I wonder if the fact that 4 police officers and 8 gunmen were killed in a shoot-out in South Africa on the weekend makes the FIFA people nervous. That and the incredibly high rate of rapes that occur in that country.

Very nive

jenn

http://clients.mediaondemand.net/theSun/?Channel=1

First goal breaks it wide open, but neither team wants that first mistake so more conservative play. Halfway to that shootout now. Legs and stamina might give an edge at the end.

Kevin,

It’s a true statement. Italy was attacking quite a bit and the Socceroos were playing good-to-great defense.

Australia can play possession football but lack any spark in attack. Hopefully something comes along.

Australia much more dominating that I thought they would be. After that 1st half, I wouldn’t be surprised to see they winning.

What’s great in this game is the really low numbers of cards and aggressive fouls. Italy had some bad vibes still on them from the US game, and some commentators were predicting that Australia can get pretty rough. I think we’ve seen some really clean football so far though.

I hope they take Toni off. He will score given the same opportunities he got in the first half! Looks like Iaquinta is coming on!

I need to see some goals in the second half!

Italy’s obviously doing better so far – they have the ball less, but do more with it when they do. Defence impenetrable as ever.

That said, it’s going to go to PKs if they don’t get up move their arses! They’ve got to convert some of their chances into actual goals!

The players on either side have hardly broken a sweat.

Australia are inhibited: it’s not the plucky game we’ve seen from them before. Come on guys, you can do better! Remember,you have nothing to lose … hopefully Guus gave you a nice pep talk in half time …

Yes, everybody is shellshocked from all the cards.

For me goals are like the equivalent of a warm cinnamon bun with a cup of Irish Cream Coffee…mmmmm. ;)

like sepp said, last nights ref should of got a yellow card!

Lol Ali… its not enough that I’m starving waiting for the game to end so I can have dinner!!

:o RED CARD!!! Materazzi!! :o

I want to see Inzaghi come on.

Is it true he’s scored a goal with every part of his body other than his foot? :)

when they say “win or go home”, is the “go home” part heavily enforced, or can they stick around and watch the rest of the games?

10 MEN FOR ITALY!!!

MATERAZZI OFF!!!

Oh Oh here we go.

Oh gee. Red card.

Italy lose a man…good chance for Australia now

Well, good to see the ref deciding another match.

Oh my god! That ain’t a red!

Oh no!

The commentators are saying this is a scandelous decision!

Red?!?

And so….it begins….:O

why the hell that was a red…it was may be a yellow

Oh no.. not again. -_-

Holy crap.

Do the refs love Hiddink or what?

Damn. I was just complementing the ref on the lack of cards… This is horrible.

Step closer to that shootout with that red.

The replay shows that RED was not warranted..Italy very unlucky there

I have to admit a straight Red for Materazzi was pretty harsh.

That was an unfair red card!! :@

This will be awful if it’s a repeat of the South Korea game four years ago

What they need is the replay function for the Refs such as used in Cricket with the “3rd Umpire”.

i am beginning to hate the world cup. There have been so many games destroyed by the refs. fifa need to change some of the policies to cut some slack to players

probaly a yellow not a red

Plus, Italy will have to play 30 minutes of extra time.

Can they last 70 minutes a man down to pray for penalties?

I have a feeling the ref will try ot even this out…

I agree with kapcro…we are on the way to the first shoot-out now !

Damn. I wish Materazzi hadn’t gotten that (really HARSH) red card.

No matter what Australia does now, they and the ref will be blasted after the game for that.

Damn. Damn. Damn.

Even if Italy go through, that red card will really hurt them with the number of players that are already out.

Italy needs a lucky corner or set piece soon. They can then shell up and do what they do best.

Where is Toti? Come on, let him play!

ETucker: Ha! Good call, although the Italian players are pretty late for their siesta as well…

Good call Tom. But I wouldn’t attribute their proficiency on set pieces to luck as much as skill….

Darn Spanish referees. Why dont we have a Brit in there who knows how footbal should be played?

This ref is probably tired and cant wait for his siesta!

I hope one of the Aussies gets unfairly red-carded just like that. Someone dispensible, preferably.

Well, I figure a bit of luck is also necessary. A slip on the GK or something…to equalize that awful call.

Lovely turn and shot by Chipperfield.

Still can’t quite understand that Red card. If I was an Italy supporter I’d be angry about it.

Referees in this WC really suck-up the games. They should all get read cards!

ETucker: Shops are closed between 1 and 4, no work either. It’s a pretty good life.

The stage is set for

no goal yet

Do they take siestas in Italy?

If so, then I must immediately move there.

Siestas and Italian food sounds like a dream come true!

the stage is set for a full display of the dark arts of cattenaccio.

Necesito una siesta. Mi mama y mi abuela nunca me dijieron sobre una siesta en Italia.

Siestas are a Spanish thing, no? :?

If the Aussies pull off a miraculous win, they’re going to be scapegoated by the Italians. That red card is going to be famous now.

Oooh!!! Saved by a lick of paint!

Ali- that’s what I thought too.

Keyser- Cattenaccio is a necessary evil given the atrocious red card.

I hear English ref’s like to give out 3 yellow cards before giving someone the boot :-)

I love Italy, but they really need to pass more in front of the goal. This egotism on scoring will be the death of them.

Del Piero could have scored that.

Ali: Siestas are definately an Italian thing too.

Who’s licking paint now? Not healthy mind you!

Take Del Piero OUT and put Toti IN if Italy wants to win this game!

Good grief. The Azzuri always dive, but this is turning my stomach… I sure hope they don’t fall to the level of Portugal…

just joined, I didn’t see the foul but every card on materazzi looks like a sign of divine justice :)
Siesta is ‘nap’ in spanish. In both italy and spain everything is closed from 13 to 16. add this to the gastronomic pleasures of both countries and this is something hard to beat.

if australia cant do anything with one man up they cant make the cut

Trav-

good point :)

however, i’d rather see three yellows than an unworthy direct red.

perhaps they should create “orange cards” for offenses like time wasting or professional fouls, that count for 1/4 of a red and 1/2 a yellow :)

An easy team awaits the winner of this game in the QF’s …an esay path to the semis !

ETucker.. hope you don’t mind me quoting you here:

“Italians: what happens if near the 70 minute mark it is still 0-0, who does Lippi sub?”

Trav.. ahan!! I never knew they did that! I think that was the first time i heard of 3 yellows before a red. Strange.

Blah-Me – it was in reference to a pretty serious reffing error in the Croatia game, where a player was shown three yellows.

They already have it “Warning” (2 x Warning = Yellow Card)!
The referees just forgot it. Might be because a yellow card worth 5k CHF and “Warning” does n’t worth any money!!!

Here comes Totti !

Carlos-

that does not take into account a 10 vs 11 situation.

plus the ref could still even things out. I think part of the problem in teh Holland-Portugal game was that the coaches reacted and subbed too quickly.

still, Italy is producing some good chances.

That was a risky substitution for the Italians.

Using up all three substitutions now, when we might be going into overtime?? We’re already ten men down. What happens if a player gets injured? We’ll be down to nine men!

I’m sensing this game will go to a shootout.

Memo to Bruce Arena: The difference between Australia and the USA? Australia is playing to win, not playing to not lose. Oh, and they don’t use gimmicky formations.

gooalllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!! by Australia…great job

goal??

Italy use their last sub. Del Piero has been invisible, so I suppose it was to be expected.

Could come back to bite them, though.

the aussies seem to not have the guts to go and grab the match by the throat. they still can lose this game in the 90 minutes, with italy down to 10.

Oooh Toti! :D

What goal? Is my radio that far behind?

And you dont get in a group of death :)

what was Buffon doing there ??

Sam.. yea I saw the use of the 3 yellow cards before a red card thingy. I just dint know that it was an option. Doesnt someone know to correct him? Or maybe remind him of what he just did. Maybe he forgot?!

in fact I’ve just remembered Brazil -US match in ‘94. Identical scenario (but in that case the red was well merited).
ah, Brazil won 1-0

“gooalllllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!! by Australia…great job”

Someone’s enthusiastic. ;)

Totti’s addition looks like it’s doing good things for the Italian team. Maybe we have a chance to score in regulation time after all

Lippi has what the Spaniards call “cojones,” Mexicans call “huevos” and folks from the states call “BALLS”

Interesting substitution to be sure!

Errr…Totti is down already on the ground… :?

:o there was a goal?! Did I miss that?! The commentators dint say goal!! :o

no false commentary please

Hiddink is waiting ’til the dying moments of the game to use his subs. I’m guessing he’ll put in another forward to increase the pressure and attempt to breach the Italian defense.

Buffon got that one.

ETucker… yeah, Totti is in. I guess that’s it, till the end. Let’s see. :D

So there wasnt a goal?

I haven’t seen a goal but I’m delayed by maybe 1 min.

i know people are nervous, but forget my middle school date analogy and do not “prematurely spurt” the word goal

Lol.. oh its a false shout! :o People!! This is a very tense situation here! Dont do that.. *heart still racing*

Darn it!!

P.S. I was hoping Totti wudnt come in this game. I dont like what his name sounds like. :(

Blah-Me, why don’t you like Totti’s name? :o

Both coaches are saving subs for the 30 hour of extra time…which happens to coincide with my lunch break!

One again proving there is a God!

No goal, Buffon got that. :D I wait for the Brazilian commentator to shout “GOOOOOL!” where i’m watching.

Aussies have 59% ball possession…thats incredible stats

No goal, just a hopeful wish.

Is Hiddink the man with the Midas touch ?

Dave O’Brien is the worst commentator of all time.

The Italian defense gets better every game they play. They swarm…too bad they can’t mount an offense down a man.

How do I get ESPNDeportes? I speak Spanish but Univision stinks on my PC. It constantly breaks up and the announcers are garbled.

Tom-

I suggest you mute the game and listen to ESPNDeportes…all the announcers are Argentine and are a) enthusiastic and b) knowledgeable.

you just have to know Spanish

Australia struggle to clear the ball.

(Gasp!)

The Sun radio commentary is also very good.

Phew

match seems destined for the shoot-out …i don’t wish it though!

Ali.. have you ever heard the word “Tatti”? :$

Hiddink would be revered as a diety if managed to place another underdog in the quarterfinals. I’m sure we’ll see Russia in the next WC if Hiddink continues to pull of miracles. :D

Tempers are rising out there.

Might be a nasty overtime

Another yellow for Italy..

Blah-Me, Tatti? Nope. What language is that in?

Blah-Me: Yeah, in reference to potatos.

“Eat your meat and tatties and you’ll grow up to be a good footballer like Totti”

the ref actually smiled when he showed the yellow card !

This could turn into another Holland-Portugal….

You know that would have been a great kick if he made it but since he was so off it just looked ummm….

Ali: I think taters is more common in North America, Tatties more common in Britan

Sam, I thought potatoes were called “Taters”? :? So many slang words for the mighty potatoe.

at least we didn’t have thai boxing like yesterday.

spectacular bicycletta attempt that..

It only took 90 mins to get really exciting

I hate bicycyle kicks: does it ever occur to players to try and trap the ball or perhaps one touch it back to an on-rushing teammate?

Italians are now attracting yellow cards by the dozen :)

unbelievable.

that was not a penalty!!!!!!!!!

this is why i love this blog…”The next twenty minutes are going to eat away at a lot of fans insides. My insides are full of beer so I am safe.” thats awesome. i wish my insides were full of beer. :)

The tempers are definitely rising…

Why do my comments always end up above the person I’m replying to? Or do other people see my taters/tatties reply below Ali’s question?

Anyone for overtime?

WHAT A DIVE

OMG…

If overtime is anything like stoppage time it should be the best soccer of the WC

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Penalty!!!!

Jeez, what a way to end a match. Shouldn’t have been a penalty.

thats it ! penalty for Italy !!!

Lol.. no its not potato.

Ali.. its in hindi/urdu!

Tatti = #2

Please tell I wont have to explain that!! :$ :$

Damn… scrappy Aussie defence huh?

Oh gee

shocking penalty !

:o PENALTY!! At this last minute?! *cries*

GOAL!!!!!!!!

What an absolutely horrible way to end ths game

Penalty for Italy. Goodbye Aussies!

total BS. made up for red card.

again the ref won the game.

OH MY HOLY!!!!!!!!!!!!

THATS IMPOSSIBLE!!!

WHAT AN END!!! WHAT A GOAL!!!

The commentators keep saying that it wasnt meant to be a penalty!!

:o ITALY MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o

I am definitely in shocked….

Totti scores and sends the Aussies out !

robbed

Terrible, terrible penalty. I’m embarassed to say the ref is Spanish too. No excuse for that – he blew the call. Bad luck Australia.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!

F- referees. That’s all I have to say.

Poor Australia, you all deserved to win. Another ref on the take.

How can anyone get mad at Italy for that? Lucas Neil went down and caused the penalty kick.

Australia should have scored a half hour ago.

No pity for wasted chances.

wow, the most undeserved victory thus far, sorry aussies, bad luck

Whoo!!

That is horrid. An absolute abomination. How cruel.

Once again unbelievable.

Oh man. That was a really tough call. I wish we hadn’t won on that.

now i have to sulk for a week

Blah-Me, hehehe my Urdu is rusty at best so Tatti makes so sense to me. ;)

That was so unfair…that didn’t look like a penalty worth. Bah! The Aussies played well.

I have no pitty for the Aussies.
That red on Materazzi was total B.S., and if they couldn’t score with that advantage, well… that’s life.

Incredible end to a game though… Not deserved penalty but what a tension and tragedy.

Controversy is always part of soccer, and this cup seems to be loaded with it (not that the other cups haven’t been like that).

It’s bit lame though that the game was won through acting, not well deserved win.

:(

Bad call, but the red card was horrible also

Oh well. What a way to lose.

We’re out, but still very proud of the Aussies.

Best of luck Italy.

You gotta be kidding!!! Sorry my austrailian friends youve been robbed blind, and Italy nice diving

Man, that was really rough on the Aussies. That said, they’ve been playing a man up for half the game after an even worse decision earlier in the game. They really ought to have scored at some point being a man up, but they just couldn’t crack through.

Even with 10 men, Italy looked like they were playing better football. I wish it hadn’t ended on such a bad call, but I believe that Italy were the better team throughout the game

Actally that call sucked.

sorry australia.

italians, hang your heads in shame.

Brilliant penalty kick.

The check from the Juventus people must have cleared.

bRAZIL, pORTUGAL AND iTALY –Dive masters

this referee is horrible

Not an ideal way to end the game, but well…

Take Materazzi’s red card and stick it in your hat, Soceroos.

I’ve seen at least half a dozen other fouls that should have resulted in penalties this tournament. This is as crooked as you can get. This time people CAN complain about the ref! They are really pushing hard to keep the European teams from being eliminated.

This ref. should go and judge diving at the Olympics, not football. Italy you didn’t deserve it.

Teams like Italy dive all over the place because FIFA continues to defend refs who reward it.

That was definitely a intentional diving. The only diffence was there an Australian Player to stumble too. Oscar winner – Italy.

This game was so totally in Australia’s pocket until the very end.

That penalty was so unexpected!! What an end!! :o I’m still in a trance!!

And to think it was by the very same Totti I was hoping wudnt come into the field.. Lol..

Aussies can’t win after like 40 minutes of being a man up after a horrible red card. A “somewhat” questionable penalty kick on an Italian dive…that’s soccer for you!

S- reffing and cheating latin players ruin another game. Unbelievable. Makes one sick.

Anyway, austrailia way to represent in the WC, sure u didnt get past the Italians, but you looked great at the world cup. Im proud of you guys! You sure did better than us americans

I should be given prize for my prediction of one goal and at the last minute

I am worth predicting these teams on MEDIA

welll italy got a bad red card..australia a penalty. i think it equals them out

This is why I hate Italy. Bunch of playactors and divers, it’s Portugal all over again.

That was a horrible way to go and Neill had been one of our best players too. Sob, sob.

I HATE Italy!!!!!!!
They are the worse thing ever to happen to soccer.
They can not win a game without cheating.

The call was questionable, but the goal was beyond words. Well, Italy is in the quarterfinals and the Aussies were just unfairly penalized.

what a load of crap!!!! another woman taking a dive to get a penalty kick?????? do they award penalty kicks for standing beside each other as they enter the field? I hope my Aussie firends kick the living crap out the WOGS in OZ tonight after that load of crap! Thank God that FOOTBALL is 67 days away!!!!

Italy will now be in Semis…so easily !

We’ll probably see that Italian technique in the next match against the Ukraine or Swiss. It’s a shame – Everyone will be talking about the penalty kick from now on.

What a brilliant technique to steal the game! – DIVING

This is all part of the drama of a World Cup, and the Aussies have gotten their first real taste of it. I don’t think you should blame Italy, and the Aussies have much to be proud of.

If you think this is bitter for Australia, imagine the frustration of teams that have endured poor refereeing in cup after cup.

Hope the Italians enjoy that cheap, dirty win – to get a penalty off a dive like that is just lousy sportsmanship.

Well, like divine retribution; Italy was knocked out of the last WC by Korea because of referee mistakes… and Korea that was coached by the same Hiddink.

The refs just enjoy ruining the game; they play too much of an active role and restrict creativity from the players.

Once again ref screws up a good
match going into extra time.
That cannot seriouly be a foul
and a penalty!

The REPLAY shows all clear and
obvious it’s just a trip-over!!!

OMG …. can’t believe this!

Dang it ref’s!!!!!!!!!!!!

what the hell. that was not a penalty. Oh my GOD what is wrong with the freakin Refs. They ruin the game .

Ironic that the penalty was given away by Neill.

Our best player in the Tournament.

Very debatable penalty, but that’s football.

It can be such a cruel game.

Univision commentators totally against the penalty call. Jokingly giving the ref a red card.

Would you all feel better had Australia won due to that terrible red card? They couldn’t score up a man for nearly half of the game.

Aussies, though the penalty call was questionable, the red card earlier was a far, far worse call. I didn’t see anyone crying or calling on the friends to beat up other people after that call…

briliant? not very good momentum going into the next match…knowing you cheated!

Listen to all this Italian hate.

Did you not see when Materazzi was red carded for an offense that was maaaaaaybe worth a yellow?

Get over it, Aussies. You had your chance to win with Italy playing a man down.

And learn not to throw shoulders every play.

F* refs…. let them play….

Ali.. now you get why I dont like his name!!

Dodgy call for the PK
Brilliant actual PK

Guess that made up for the bad red card. And then some.

Eh. Was it ever going to be any other way?

Feel a bit sorry for Lucas Neill being “responsible” for the PK … he did an awesome job throughout the game.

That wasn’t a dive. But it certainly shouldn’t have been a foul.

Australians, the line to complain about the refs is on the right. Yeah, that long one. With the Americans, Koreans, Croatians, Dutch, Tunisians…. Just keep walking until you reach the end. You might want to take some food and water. You have good walking shoes?

That sucks for the Ausies, I was hoping they would make it to the 8. Stupid Italy, you suck.

amazing!!

What a horrible, horrible end to this game

Can people in the comments stop saying that the Italian player dived in that last action? Have you seen the replays???

It wasn’t a foul, but he obviously tripped over the defender. Calling it a cheat is just poor sportsmanship. I hope not everyone in Oz is a bad loser.

Bad call, but it wasn’t cheating.

but the worst part of this for the WC is, in order to compete with the perennial winners: italy, brazil, other teams have to learn how to dive. FIFA needs to craack down so this doesnt become a major part of the game.

FIFA has a script… European teams have to go through.. its all about the moneys….

“Well, like divine retribution; Italy was knocked out of the last WC by Korea because of referee mistakes… and Korea that was coached by the same Hiddink.”

Why involve Korea? It’s over with. Italy won by a idiotic call by the ref.

Hahahaha! Oh Blah-Me! :)

My sympathies, Austrialia.

I can only hope that Italy gets humiliated in their next game; they certainly do not deserve to advance.

Someone should start a new organization to replace FIFA. They are pathetic and hopeless.

really bad ref, really bad ref, never give a penalty in the 95 min for a good actoring performance.

and than the italien, he cries of fun because he get the penalty kick, next time i hope he get a red card for this,

really bad ref, really bad ref

Zé: Good point.

Still, I have to agree with the US sports media when it brings up the diving as a “flaw” in soccer. The rules are there to prevent it, but FIFA doesn’t enforce them. The diver accepts a 2% chance of a yellow card, or a 10%-20% chance of winning the game for his team. Not a very difficult choice IMO.

lets go swizerland!

I love the hypocracy here. Italy gets screwed on a really bad call and you guys say nothing.

Aussies get screwed on a less questionable call and it’s cheating this and undeserved that.

Ultimately, before the red card Italy was outplaying Australia. After the red card they still didn’t let up and Australia couldn’t do anything in the way of scoring. Too bad, so sad.

FIFA must now inaugurate an award for spirit and sportsmanship in the name of the 2006 Australian soccer team. They were robbed, the Italian should go to Hollywood. The Australian attitude in undeserved defeat leaves one at a loss for words.
Football fans/punters in some countries in the developed and less developed world would be looking for that ref.

Australia, I am so proud of you… well done… great game…
Italy… great defence… congrats on the win…
The Ref… (just to be polite) no comment… very disappointed in your decision!!

Prophet,

That would mean FIFA admitting…. *gasp* that its ref was wrong!

I think both teams played very clean, with almost no acting from anyone. There were two awful mistakes by the ref, but it wasn’t the fault of any of the players.

Well I guess the PK goal was poetic justice after that red card to Italy. (Even though it really WAS a dive.)
Congrats Italia and I hope you can play better than you did today against the Socceroos.

Oz now has another chapter in it’s tragic pursuit of the world cup.

to win a match, team need luck, lots of referee’s assistance and very good acting. well, aussies better learn some acting next time.

I’ll stop griping as the Italians did play a clean match, but the refs should be penalized for issuing so many cards.

IT was an enjoyable game till the end…

Italy deserved the win in the end.

“Italy will now be in Semis…so easily !”

mohan, they’re in the quarters, not semis

FIFA ought to use technology and use television slow motion replays for awarding penalties

Well, I hope either Ukraine or Argentina completely and utterly stuffs Italy now.

Thank you, SES.

see ya next game!

Anthony, why aren’t you complaining about that terrible red card against Italy?

Roland says: “This is all part of the drama of a World Cup.”

True, but ridiculous. It’s all part of the game because Italians cheat, refs suck and FIFA won’t use technology to review such game-changing plays.

What would it have hurt to take a moment to review what happened?

The announcers on Univision were unanimous that the call was utterly wrong. One said that the ref was acting in the Italians’ favor. Chilavert said “this was a robbery.” Fernando Fiore said, “You may differ, but for me, the red card is for the ref.”

This is disgraceful and sickening. It puts the entire sport in disrepute.

I’ll never root for Italy again.

Oh well, so the refing has been bad the whole time. The US vs Italy match was worse in my opinion. The red card in this match wasnt as terrible as some have said on here, questionable but no more questionable than the penalty kick at the end. I wish the best of luck to Ghana and Brazil. I wish you the best of luck getting by the European teams that have 12 players unlike your 11

Here’s an Australian sports station to listen to if anyone’s interested; http://sen1116.conexim.com.au/sen1116_16.asx

Italy played well.. they defended well and the Roos had thier chances… ..Can’t Wait for Italia to get beaten badly…

“Outrun and outplayed throughout”

Did you watch the same first half that I did?

Outrun and outplayed throughout, Italians resorted, just as I had expected, to the thing that they always do. Dive in front of the goal and get the penalty kick. To them, that’s football. I am sure that’s what Italian fans in Italy think is football. The rest of the world (with the exception of perhaps Latin America and more than half of Europe) call it diving and acting. And just plain cheap trick.

That penalty was unfair! I wish the game could be played again, but fairly!

I HATE ITALY!!!!!!!

booooooooooooo italy!

Australia was hard done by the Spanish referee. Not a penalty, there are far worse incidents in the penalty box to which deserve a penalty. Playing Italy which players are not just good looking but know how to play acting also really helps.

I have to agree that the European bias of the officiating is obvious. I just hope they paid a lot of money for it.

FIFA, shame on you – you make the beautiful game most ugly.

That’s a serious case for a video-replay in refereeing….

DIVE!

This sport should not be called the “beautiful game”, not when games end like this.

Italy’s red card at the begining was a bad call as was the penalty kick. These two do not even out. Which would you prefer to play a man down or have the other team get a penalty kick in the last seconds?

JA,

Italy was outplaying Australia when it was even. Italy had more and better shots on goal. The red card was the only thing that even kept Australia alive.

While getting back home after this will get a sour taste on their mouths, its cool to see Australia will probably have some newfound love for football after this WC. I cant wait to see how they will do on the next World Cup — wont be one of the underdogs anymore, and hopefully have some new talents.

:o I cant believe all the Italian bashing!! Leave them alone… the ref having called it a penalty was what needs bashing!! Them having used their opportunity wisely is not their fault.

I oppose the red card just as much.. and any other stupid lame-ass call by any stupid biased referee!!

Its the World Cup.. it ought be played fair and square. Its outraging when its unfair. But thats life people.. face it!!

Italy Francesco Totti.
italy 1–0australia

This win will sure clear any thought of the Italian soccer scandal. The Azzurris have decent and well-performing players and I hope nothing like this happens in the next match. All it will do is taint European soccer.

Okay, Aussies we have a right to complain for a while … but let’s not take it over the top, we don’t want to be whingers about it.

Let’s face it, even if we had won fair and square, the Italians would have complained to high heaven about being one man down because of the red card and they would have had a right to.

I think it’s pretty much even. They got an unfair red card, we got a dubious penalty kick against us … but also they have to live with having won in such circumstances.

Overall, I’m happy. We maintain our underdog status with honour, instead of being hated and labelled another South Korea for the next 4 years.

Typical Italian cheat. They fall down 10 times, and the eleventh time they get the penalty. Unfair and disgusting.

Look, even on the Australian radio I’m listening to, they admit it was a bad call, but they’re not blaming the Italians. No one serious is claiming they were diving. People who claim they were are just poor sports.

DW, completely right about the line forming, it’ll probably get longer yet.

There has to be replays in football… the game is stopped all the time anyway .. so why not watch the replay and get the call right since they cant do it while it’s going on….

The refs need to be thrown out.

I think the fans should judge the games from now on.

THANK YOU, LISA AND SAM. At least some Australian fans have sense.

Sam,

I pretty much agree: It’s hard to blame Italia for doing what works. I blame FIFA for allowing it to work.

Absolutly gutted , first half was great, straight after the sending off the Italians reverted to the diving champs of Europe
tough one Auzzies ,

With all the cards dished out this world cup, there still have hardly been any given for diving. Instead it’s being rewarded as always.

The Italians are the biggest cheaters of all.

It’s the 21st century use the technology FIFA, if you want fairer games.

The Aussies were robbed. Looking forward to watching them play in 2010.

Another tight match unfortunately ends in daylight robbery. Nice kick by Totti to seal the match. Bad luck for the socceroos.

Don’t blame the Italians, blame the ref or even FIFA!

Now see how Italia win’s this game..

italia cheating.. Australian go home..

That’s the real true..

“Overall, I’m happy. We maintain our underdog status with honour, instead of being hated and labelled another South Korea for the next 4 years.”

Amen to that Lisa!

Are you kidding me Sam, Im being dead serious, they were diving! He could have just as easily went around the austrailian player and had an equally good shot but choose to dive over the Aussie instead, what a joke. Im so tired of European arrogance. Me coming from the country known for being arrogant (America) am shocked reading the comments on these blogs by the European folks. All they do is stick up for eachother even when it comes to defending diving, how sad. In this world cup I went from never being a soccer fan, to it becoming my favorite sport to watch, to being disgusted by the pitiful performace by the referees, and the incredible acting by the Italians. Screw you Europe, go GHANA, GO BRAZIL beat those cheating bastards.

The Italians are the champions of DRAMA. They should all be actors…..

Bad call…..what a shame.
Shame on the ref, shame on the Italians.

Controversy attracts viewers so I doubt we’ll ever have a “clean” match. People are going to get upset no matter what. That’s what makes soccer the game it is.

Anthony (may I call you Anthony?),

There is no mechanism to review calls during a match.

Not every call is going to be the right one. Not every witness to an event sees the same thing. I believe the call was wrong. The announcers believe the call was wrong.

Ultimately, however, Fifa has to make decisions about the referees based on their complete record. I thought the ref called a decent game, right up until the end. It is unfortunate that the penalty will overshadow everything else.

Tom:

“I love the hypocracy (sic)here. Italy gets screwed on a really bad call and you guys say nothing.”

Look above and see my posts, mate.

Look at Rob’s post at 7:00 pm.

Now we’re being labelled whingers? All through the tournament we’ve been unfairly labelled thugs as well, so I shouldn’t be surprised.

I guess people see what they want to see.

cant wait for brazil tomorrow…let’s see if the fat f*** ronaldo can score against mighty ghana

Don’t blame the Aussie fans…most of the Aussie fans that have posted here have been pretty level-headed. It’s the other countries that seemingly have no interest in anything but Italy bashing that are whining.

I have seen too many Italian games, they are like that. In their league they do it to each other as well. It is a mentality thing, what is acceptable to them is not acceptable to others and vice versa.

The Australian was on the ground and did not move towards the Italian, who just dives over him. What a joke.

what say’s beckenbauer to the refs of this tourment, “this is football and not basketball ”

but is not the terribel of all, the refs fam to much game changing situations, a penalty for nothing, two times in this tourment, yellow cards for time play, for what have a ref the right to end the game when he things it is over and as consequence of this cars the yellow red too often

I give up.
Everybody is blaming the Italians for poor refereeing.

Did the Italians blame the Aussies for Materazzi’s wrongful red card?

Hint: NO.

Folks .. Italy just got the call… Its FIFA and the refs that need to clean up .. This is why football(soccer) sucks in North america.. we know how well replays help in sports… better calls and better leagues…

“Tom:

“I love the hypocracy (sic)here. Italy gets screwed on a really bad call and you guys say nothing.”

Look above and see my posts, mate.

Look at Rob’s post at 7:00 pm.

Now we’re being labelled whingers? All through the tournament we’ve been unfairly labelled thugs as well, so I shouldn’t be surprised.

I guess people see what they want to see.
”

Nah, I agree with you. Read my follow-up post about Aussie posters. It’s the non-aussie posters that are doing the “whinging.”

Sorry about my misspelling of “hypocricy” btw. It’s the internet afterall.

Tom, who cares who had better scoring chances if they don’t score. I thought the play was close. Playing a man down is not that bad. No one wants to play a man down. But when it comes to scoring you get only get so many players in and around the penalty box.

If FIFA want football to dominate the world of sports as it should, they have to get up to date and use the technology. Cricket has its third umpire with video replay. It’s all intended to prevent players declaring war and somebody getting killed. Did you see Netherlands vs. Portugal. Come on FIFA.

Well I must say, the referee must be on Italy’s payroll. That was an fortunately timed penalty for such a minor dive by the Italians.

The referee won this one for Italy.

FIFA should be review this finale more closely.

KARMA!…that was not a red card for
the italians…maybe it was even
a dive from the aussie
that provoked the red card..the aussies didnt take
advantage of the situation…and the italians did…
plus…its not like the australians didnt dive in the penalty box through out the ENTIRE game!!….
good game…
tought luck….
the aussies should be proud…

What the f**k was that sh**…Italian match fixing at work once again..i agree it’s not the “beautiful game”…it’s the “cheaters game”….i really feel sorry for the australian team, and the nation. Italy enjoy your “win”…but i so hope you are shown where to go when the Swiss or Ukraine get a go at you next!

in my country we have a saying, ‘don’t blame it on the pig, blame it on the one who feeds it’.
When refs get serious about diving, this story is over. and some refs are afraid of certain jerseys.

JA,

“Playing a man down is not that bad.”

How do I respond to that? It’s been 22 WC matches since anyone has scored a man down.

You’re right, it’s not a disadvantage at all.

Now see how Italia win’s this game..

italia cheating.. Australian go home..

That’s the real true..

Im sorry there wasnt any diving, and when there was it wasnt called, The Aussies lost simply because the Italian defense was fantastic and the goalkeeping was even better. Australia did play quite impressive and have a lot to look forward to in the future. But here in Canada, they are calling the penalty legit, there was no diving involved in it, the aussie player blocked a potential scoring opportunity. Also, the refs red card on matterazzi was quite harsh, it should have been a yellow, but whatev, all is fair, the game is over, this world cup has been anything but boring!

well diving has been part of the game for long time, both sides are free to use it. aussies did not used it, its their fault. so what is the problem.

Following up on Zé’s point about 2002….

Interesting that in 2002, the two teams that felt like the refs favored Hiddink’s Korea were Italy and Spain.

Today Italy gets “revenge” via Luis Mendina, a Spanish ref. More fun fodder for conspiracy theorists.

Italy shouldn’t have got a red card. That penalty should not have been awarded.

It’s sad to see another game ruined by poor refereeing. FIFA really needs to seriously consider getting the 4th Ref access to Replays.

I feel sorry for Australians, but I am sure I will see you guys in South Africa!

Italy, while on the easiest bracket by far (Ukraine/Switzerland), needs to play A LOT better.

well the ref looks to me made an error at the end… although from far away without the replay it did look like a penalty..however the ref should have been closer than me watching tv and seen that it was not a pk and if he was not sure he should not have awarded it..

however, guys lets face it: australia was not going to score.. they could have kept attacking all week and would not have scored..italy created the better chances and either italy would have won in overtime OR they would have won in penalties as buffon may just be the best goalkeeper in theworld..

ultimately, if you are an australia fan i can see how you would feel very bitter (i wish the ref had not awarded the penalty) but when you are up a man an entire half and don’t score thats going to come back to haunt you and it did..

a lot of the blame has to go to the ineffectual australian attack.. when you’re up a man you have to take advantage before the ref either evens up the count by sending off one of your players (suprrised he did not do this) or makes a mistake against you…

australia did not take advantage of being a man up on a questionable call by ref and ultimately fell victim to another questionable call (maybe more questionable i will agree)

i say look at the world cup like boxing..

italy is the defending champion and australia the challenger.. the challenger always has to do MORE to win in boxing and it strikes me watching this world cup that its the same here…its not so much that its not fair but more that the burden falls on the challenger…

that is why argentina-germany is going to be a fascinating match… cause both are champions..and even if game is in germany i hope ref stays out of it and lets them duke it out fair and square

So Portuguese players are all cheaters han? what do i have to say about this penalty call over Grosso?
He simply dived… and game over! Italy goes throw

Dräcks Tschingä!!!

Its not italy bashing ( I would love to see them out). However, they are great divers along with ARGY and PORT. But its the Refs last call (rest of the game was good) that Fifa needs to address…

Australia did amazingly, and should feel proud. Other fans (i.e., all th Italy haters that have suddenly appeared on this board) shouldn’t mar it by calling “cheat” at every oportunity. It’s just embarrassing.

It’s not blaming Italians. Italians did what they normally do (that’s why Serie A is a joke), because they know they usually get rewarded by ref for what they do (read dive). They know how to play the system of biased refs and Fifa supportive of these refs and diving prima donnas. They think it is football – how to pull off a foul and create an easy set play. Some of us in the rest of the world think it is not a football, but I am afraid we are the minority.

Italy had better chances, Australia was the better team, and the ref made two mistakes
a) not awarding a penalty for hand ball when Aloisi went for the overhead kick.
b) Awarding the penaly in the dying seconds when it was clearly not a foul.
I have to say, that the Spanish ref was by far the best ref Australia has had except for the fact that he cost us the most.

In short, Australia should be proud of their efforts, and in a fair and just world, that match would have gone to extra time, at the least.

Now, I just hope that karma comes and bites these Italian’s on the ass in the next game.

“Don’t blame the Aussie fans…most of the Aussie fans that have posted here have been pretty level-headed. It’s the other countries that seemingly have no interest in anything but Italy bashing that are whining. ”

Yeah Tom, I only just noticed that … the most outraged people seem to come from other countries … I guess there’s a history with Italy there that we don’t have. Yet. =P .

How can you not blame Italy? The player dove. These guys are supposed to such great athletes but yet the guy can’t stride over someone? A five year old could have keep his balance. The ref should be able to see the difference.

Australia had played very well in this game. Yea, it has nothing to lose since they have come this far. Their defense is good, like Buffon said ,”Aus a tough nut to crack”. I think it is pretty sure. I would forsee another 30mins extra time if without the penalty kick. Well done Aussie!

Italia will either face Ukraine or Switzerland next round. They will most likely win I believe. Go Azzurri go!

ref should have at least asked his assitant first.

but yet again he makes the call without thinking

Nearly the 3 biggest things wrong with soccer in the one game, 1st a red card which lessens the game, 2nd penalty to ruin the game, if it had been a dive then it would have had all 3. I’ll continue to follow soccer, and the world cup (I’ve seen most of the games). But am I glad I’ve got Australian rules football and rugby union to watch as well. (well done our boys to go so far)

Do watch Italian League (never watch it again), one of the worse league that produces thugs like Del Rossi, Matterazzi, great play actors like Totti, Gilardino, true we can’t blame them they are just great in what they do. Just a very poor decision, judgement which really makes the World Cup a big joke! I hope Spain loose against France.

the player did not dive.. he tripped over an australian on the floor on the way to try to continue attacking..

to call that diving is really stretching it..

anyways, read my post up above..

the aussies are responsible for not winning..

Tom:

Fair enough, mate. I guess it’s back to getting up in the wee hours to be a neutral like I have since ‘86.

I just wish we’d lasted 10 more seconds. A penalty in the opening seconds of extra-time would have been a lot easier to handle.

But again, That’s Football.

Stop complaining about the call. I was rooting for Australia as well but Italy didn’t cheat. First of all, it wasn’t a dive, the guy obviously tripped if you saw the replay. Secondly, if you saw the replay from the angle the ref had, it did look like neil had tripped him with his foot. Plus its not like Australia didnt have any opputinities of their own.

Shame on the Italians and the referee, if they had some dignity the would quit and resign.
These world cup is a trasvesty, all of the referees have been terrible.

Well, when Korea won in 2002 off some bad calls, it certainly wasn’t a European bias….although, come to think of it, maybe it shifts to an anti-Europe and pro-Europe bias depending on whether the world cup is away from home or towards home.

Penalty kicks just are unfair period. In basketball or football, and hockey too (although a powerplay doe give one a significant advantage) committing a foul near the other team’s goal won’t end the game for you. Judging by how about 80-90% of penalty kicks go in, and one goal means so much, that usually means a loss or at least it drastically changes the game. Another suggestion, (and i’m just throwing out ideas, even though they might be stupid) would be move the penalty kick spot to a little farther away from the goal so the chances of making it in are more like 50%.

Maybe we should have Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban look into this

We should ALL stop watching and folowing ,FIFA would have to enforce some of their own rules…

Roland,

It’s true that FIFA isn’t using such technology, but obviously adequate technology does exist and could have been applied in this case without the slightest disruption to the flow of the game.

Andriv…what I meant was that Swiss or Ukraine will be easy meat for the Italians…they will have an easy passage to the Semis

So Portuguese players are all cheaters han? what do i have to say about this penalty call over Grosso?
He simply dived… and game over! Italy goes throw

As I predicted earlier, Italy lives to fight another day, but their performance tonight (winning on a controversial penalty) hasn’t convinced me that they can make it past the Swiss. And that’s not yet mentioning the Argentines or the Germans.

ALl of this heated debate is why I love soccer. People from all over the world getting passionate.

“the aussie player blocked a potential scoring opportunity”

hahahaha, every defender does that,
what is illegal in that????

Everyone should just relax. The game is over. Enough said. Can’t we all just enjoy the game? I agree that FIFA needs to clean up its act, but in the meantome we just have to rely on the refs’ judgment.

No one likes the Italians in Soccer because they gloat in their victories and rub it in everybodys else’s face. The are famous for manipulating the game in their favor and fortunately they will have to prove their real worth in upcoming games against well seasoned teams. Lets just hope the referees are dealt with before then and told to officiate at a more accurate level.

I’m an australian and I’ll admit that when the Italian player was sent off, I thought it was incredibly unfair but was internally hopeful because that could have been our big chance. So I’m not going to blame Italian supporters for being ecstatic about their win, because in the end, a win’s what matters, regardless of how you get it. It’s just, with the last seconds of injury time ticking down, and an attempted interception by Lucas Neill which wasn’t at all malicious, or even intentional, I don’t see how the referee would decide to award a penalty kick at that stage of the game, a tie game in a knockout round, no less! Did he just want to get out of the heat or something? Did he want to end the match that badly? Because it was just such a devastating unfair call.

But kudos to the Italians for their great playing in the game, especially the second half. It must have been hard with only 10 men, but they showed the world why they’re so reknown for their defense. And huge congrats the Australian team too! For getting this far and winning games from behind with their grit and determination. And especially to Lucas Neill who was an amazing defender. I can only imagine the guilt he must be feeling, but instead I hope that he’s proud of being one of our team’s best players.

This game’s a b!tch sometimes, I’ll just suck it up, remember there’s worse stuff happening out there and anticipate our return four years from now. Maybe we’ll have better luck then.

The Swiss or the Ukranians don’t have as solid of a defense as the Azzurris. Although the other team could pull off another upset.

Italian jinks ball to the right, he is a left footed player, don’t care to remember his name, unless someone is taking him to Court, never makes any attempt to follow the ball, cause there is an Australian lying prostrate in front of him, quick thinking, who will the ref believe, easy solution, the Italian, easy answer: take a dive. Foul play is foul play. Bashers of Italy bashers should know that sport is sport because people are sporting and don’t cheat. Leave that for the Mafia.

what an aberration!!! The match should had gone to extra time. But tho get cheated that way is awfaul.

Alright, the Euro stronghold
preservation conspiracy theory is
well and alive in yet another
episode of Euro WC ….

I was impressed by the italian defence, man they were good. Maybe they would have tired after 100+ minutes. I’m still feeling robbed. so much better to lose (or win) on your own merits.

why is FIFA opposed to technology…tennis has embraced it totally

Why was TOTTI sucking his thumb after he scored.. ??? he must have know his sucky team won….

See ya’ll later.

I’m taking a break. :)

I have a wonderful Bridge to sell to those who are claiming (and actually believe) that the Italian didn’t dive.

You know why soccer is a wanker sport? Because a penalty shot virtually guarantees a goal (and win today) making dubious calls like today’s even more dangerous. THE PENALTY KICK SPOT SHOULD BE MOVED BACK TO A POINT WHERE A GOAL IS A 50/50 PROPOSITION, NOT 80/20. Why? Because it’s sensible and will make the game better.From Canada, notwithstanding it’ll say from the U.S. below.

this game has aroused strong emotions in this blog

Anthony,

I’m not that familiar with use of video in non-US sports, but in the US it’s almost exclusively used for non-judgment calls. E.g. was the football over the goal line before the carrier’s knee was down, things like that. The closest parallel to a soccer foul in American football might be a pass interference call. Decisions like that are not subject to review because they’re considered matters of the official’s judgment, not matters of fact.

BAD REF!!!!!VERY UNFAIR!!!!!
Australia did not deserve this!AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!TERRIBLE REF!!!!!!!

Italy’s victory is well deserved following Materazzi’s undeserved red card. Italy were a better side and were the ones trying to be constructive whereas Austalia just kept defending.

Austalians should be proud they reached the last 16 and put up a good fight against a 3 time world cup winner.

You are still almost unbeatable in rugby.

Forza Italia, you can go all the way

Austrailia totally should have won that. They had to hold up 5 more seconds it was literally +2:55 when the penatly happened. It was a crap call, but that’s why Austrailia should have taken advantage of the extra man and scored earlier. I still wanted the Aussies to win so badly.

In a completely unrelated line of thought, I’m surprized at how many people are posting from Uzbekistan.

By the way, the BBC report, which is usually pretty unbiased, doesn’t fault the Italians at all. I wish armchair commentators would get over it.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4991534.stm

I live in south africa and as south africans, on principle we NEVER (at least i don’t) support an australian team, ever. but my goodness, i could not help but feel bad for the socceroos! how unlucky was that? they played so well…
That DIVE!

So Portuguese players are all cheaters han? what do i have to say about this penalty call over Grosso?
He simply dived… and game over! Italy goes throw!!!!

FORZA ITALIA !!!!!!!!

its not that Australia were the better team or deserved to win this match..its just the way the Italians won

Firstly as a through and through Aussie – thank you football for your kind support and words about our football team during the world cup.

I have been touched by everyone’s kind words about the ‘Socceroos’.

Tonight’s final outcome is a disgrace and even the Italians know it. To end a campaign like that, in that fashion is just a sham. It was NO penalty and the football world knows it.

However in saying that it’s nice to know corruption in the ‘world game’ is alive and well.

Thank you again to you bloggers for everything. Australia looks forward to South Africa in 2010.

Now that we’re out, who should our countrt cheer for? It would be normally Holland – but their out. Brazil no way. England you’ve got to be kidding.

Spain, switz and Ukraine, no way. And you think we’d even look twice at the Italians? no way. Put your hearts behind Germany, POrtuagal or Argentina to claim this one.

If pushed, thbe final will read Argentina 2- 1 Brazil.

Goood luck getting past that ref. Idiot.

…..notice how its mostly the
ppl with the little american
falg the ones complainin bout how FIFA needs
instant replys and how penaltys shouldnt
exist and bla BLA BLA BLA…if y’all dont like it
then go back to the high scoring, adds-tpye sports like football and b-ball!…

To be fair the Aussies said they didn’t think he deserved a red too. But the penalty wasn’t deserved either. You can’t expect people to say “oh well, two wrongs make a right” when the red card decision had nothing to do with Australian behaviour but the penalty decision was influenced by Italian behaviour.

In the end though, we needed to score and we had chances but simply didn’t pull it off. Going to extra time would have been a fairer reflection of the game than a penalty kick on the final whistle…. but fair doesn’t quite cut it in football does it?

Oh well. I’m very proud of the boys anyway. A great team with a big heart and very honourable guys.

Commentators are trained not to express bias. They very carefully censor themselves. That’s one of the reason the Univision commentators condemnation of the ref’s decision was so notable.

Even you Sonny, are posting from Uzbekistan. Where are you anyway? LOL.

40% of all soccer matches are decided by the referee. There is a huge amount of chance in every match, the better team does not always win. That is different in basketball or chess…

There is no “conspiracy” with these officials, They are just honestly sorry. NO World Cup KO match should ever be decided by an OFFICIAL in such a questionable manner. Never, none, not ever. They will have a real challenge to find one decent ref for the final. Sepp needs a retraining program, and these egoists need to let the PLAYERS decide it instead of vying to fill the “Collina void.” Sickening…

I am totally disgusted by that 93rd minute penalty. Does any one know where to complain? If we can get a lot of emails and make a little noise… I don’t know.. but I am very andry. Here’s a link to Cantalejos entry at wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Medina_Cantalejo
I added my 2 cents.

I also found a yahoo/fifa contact form:
http://add.yahoo.com/fast/help/us/fwc06/cgi_feedback
If it’s worth it..

Great victory for the Azzurri, now it’s Switzerland or Ukraine

Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia Italia

looks like SAM knows soccer lke i know Tongoleese

Have you noticed that the most inane comments come from Thailand? Well, from Thailand and sent by “Sebastian.”

Anthony: Are you kidding?? You think commentators don’t regularly accuse the referrees of making mistakes? I guess you haven’t been watching any of the games on ESPN…

This 2006 ‘Touch me not”World Cup is having the referees going off at a tangent. Did Italy deserve the red card? Was the penalty awarded to Australia justified? FIFA, you have to get your your act together, as the fans are important to the game of Football. They want to see a good, hard fought game. Not 10 against 11, or 9 against 10. You are depriving the fans of this.
High tech aid in refereeing has not helped the the 2006 ‘Touch me not’ World Cup up to this moment.

Did you notice how the other Italian players ran over to Totti, congratulating him for taking the dive! But they did it all so cleverly,(these smooth Italians) pretending to be concerned for his SERIOUS life threatening injuries. But in actual fact saying:”job well done Totti!” What a farce! Simply disgusting!

Watch the replays Totti is laughing as he goes down!

Quote from Aussie GK:

“I saw only one replay and I couldn’t really tell if it was a penalty or not,” Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said. “Essentially, we just couldn’t score. We are very disappointed.”

Correction “Grosso”

For all those morons defending that Spanish ref, who think all a ref has to choose from is the angle he sees something from, If that was the case FIFA could move its HQ to Hollywood and make more money.
This guy lay on the ground almost smiling after having allegedly been caught by the swinging trailing foot of an Aussie defender. I suppose the agony of the-feet was nullified by the thrill of trickery.

was the referee wrong? sure, so what? last time around south korea knocked out italy on an erroneously called penalty. having the human error is part of the game and the only reason why australia is going home is because they could not capitalize on the one man advantage period. so learn the lesson, score and stop playing out to wear out the other team for the overtime because that overtime just might not come.

The Australians lost this game on their own. The referee gave them the game by throwing out that unwarrented red card, but they did not capitalize on it. It’s only fair that the game end as it does. The penalty was well deserved. A sliding tackle in the box, missing the ball entirely, and simultaenously tripping up the attacking player… It wasn’t a hard tackle, but obviously affected the attack.

Socceroos you have done us damn proud.
To all the Aussie haters we certainly didn’t get thrashed.

Italy won. The Italians were trying to make Totti feel better so he would do well on the penalty kick. The ref made bad calls that were against both sides. It happens.

I’ll be rooting for the Azzurri until their end.

F*** the REF…bad ref…bad ref decision…bad ref decision…bad ref decision…bad ref decision…bad ref decision…bad ref decision…bad ref decision…bad ref decision…bad ref decision…bad ref decision…

Why is so much of the Italyt hate coming from the States? Are you really still so upset about being kicked out? Get over it.

sebastian,
Soccer doesn’t need instant replay. It just needs to end the diving and horrible calls. Ever sport some diving and bad calls but to Americans like me they happen too often and too many games are decided this way.

Remember, Americans, don’t mind slow low scoring games. Baseball is the American past time.

I rather liked the red card. The ball was 5 yards away, rolling toward the goal, the striker had a good line, and the Italian slid in wildly. Take your pick: Serious Foul Play for the slide (no ball even close), or Serious Foul Play for the situation (last man). The BBC may call it harsh, but almost every ref in the tournament would probably have called it the same.

Julia, I haven’t seen many Aussie haters. I thought they played a good game and they have a lot of heart. They are unfairly dubbed “thugs.”

Sebastian, what’s wrong with claiming rule changes can make soccer better? Every other league tinkers with its rules TO MAKE THEIR GAME MORE FAIR AND BETTER. It’s not about more goals, it’s about making sense. Why is the penalty rule such that a goal is virtually guranteed? What’s the raionale, huh? Is it because any time there’s a foul in the box a goal was highly likely to happen if the foul hadn’t? I think not. THE PENALTY KICK MARK SHOULD BE AT A SPOT WHERE A GOAL IS A 50/50 PROPOSITION. Why? Duh. From Canada.

Kudos to Australia! The socceroos clearly showed they belonged in this 2nd round.

I just want to add that sergio has a good point there! The Australians had the advantage of that red card, for most of the game. And they dint use it. The Italians made an attempt to allow the “luck” ball in their side of the court, to make a win. They made an attempt, they were given the luck ball to play with (be it fair or unfair).. and made the most of it.

Tough call, but they used their opportunity.. viz hook or crook!

The hook or crook part is for the team to worry about.

But it is the responsibility of the referee to make sure none of the “crook” happens. It is his duty out there on the field. If he did not fulfill that duty rightouesly.. then it is HIS fault. And he ought to be blamed and punished or whatever!!

P.S. Bob or chris or Trent or others should do a blog entry on this highly heated debate! :)

It seems to me the aussies were screwed over today, as the United States team was a week ago against Italy as well. The refereeing in this world cup so far has sucked. To me there is no dominant team in the cup so far, not even Brazil looks as sharp as usual, maybe a sign of overconfidence, Argentina and Ghana have impressed me the most.

Tom: Someone actually mentioned calling up their Aussie friends to beat up all the “wogs” in Austalia.

I think it was from an American, though. Most of the Aussie fans actually appear to be the most mature people on the board.

I’ll be the first to call Italy dramatic when it comes to dives. But the trip was not acting or the fault of the Italian player. It didn’t look like he was fishing for a foul that time. Sure it wasn’t a decisive win, but the Italians, for once, aren’t to blame for the ref’s call that time. They did not cheat themselves to a win.

Most from the Italy hating is coming from the states. During the Italy-US match, it was all anti-Italian ethnic slurs. I’m surprised I didn’t see any during this match.

So sorry Australia…

What a shame to end a game like that. The worst part of it all is Marcelo Balboa complimenting the Italian player for taking a nice dive and “selling” it. What a turd. Contributing to the plague of diving players. it used to be a South American problem and now it is spreading to the rest of the world until FIFA does something about it. How about replays for red cards and PK’s?

“I saw only one replay and I couldn’t really tell if it was a penalty or not,” Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said. “Essentially, we just couldn’t score. We are very disappointed.”

That’s very true Tom. But than without the penalty, neither could the Italians. Maybe this blog wouldn’t be this heated if it just went into extra time eh?

This is an embarrassing win I must admit (and I am Italian). But in all honesty for the Aussies, it is better to lose this way, controversially, than to lose convincingly. The Socceroos can indeed be proud of what they have achieved so far. In the end, technical superiority, physical prowess, guile and experience always comes through and the Socceroos are yet babies that can learn from this bitter experience. In my mind, they are winners as losing to Forza Italia in this manner is an honorable defeat. Remember, we are Italians and the World Cup belongs to us. Forgive me, but this is simply a fact.

“P.S. Bob or chris or Trent or others should do a blog entry on this highly heated debate! :) ”

There is a referee blog. I’m guessing it may have a lot to say about this game.

Refs are human. Bring on the technology, at least for penalty kick calls, where there will be no disruption of the game.

And use review to very harshly punish cheats. I think a six-month suspension and €20,000 fine would work for today’s dive.

Don’t know why my reply to Tom went above his post. this server keeps doing that.

In secondly, as a damn proud Australian I agree that was no red card to Italy — i’m the first to admit that….

I’m just glad i’m not the guy who has to look myself in the mirror after that obvious corrupt decision.

Someone on this blog couldnt have put it better just a few days ago – when he commented about how fifa nearly had its dream in the 2002 cup when Korea nearly played Brazil in the final…

Well sepp’s got his wish again… all the big teams are in… and the other nations can reflect on a whole bunch of bullshit about the referees for the next for years..

GO AUSTRALIA !! you did us might proud.. and Lucas Neill mate… you’re a legend… you did nothing wrong.. you can’t help fairy Italian divers…

Probably not, Carlos. But that’s what happens when something controversial happens. Every US football fan that watched the Steelers-Seahawks super bowl knows all about this.

I don’t know why everyone here is whining about that red card, a striker through the defense taken down is ALWAYS red, according the rules, no matter how hard the foul was…

Second, this was not a penalty, Grosso had no other out of his position then to run to this australian defender and “trip” over him, he could easily have avoided him and the defender did nothing to stop Grosso, he even tright to make himself smaller.

So this was a bad decission and ruined a game played once again with heart, passion and soul by the Aussies… and a very lame playing Italy.

Seeing the 2-3 big chances Italy had in the first half maybe they deserved the win, but not by this penalty and not for their very lazy boring play.

We have won!!
Sicerelly I’d prefer a draw, vinning because a penalty kick is not that I consider a real victory.

Anthony.. throughout the entire course of the matches and during half-time and before and after the matches.. the commentators openly express whatever feeling they contain inside them.. be it towards the referee or the team or the country or a player in particular.

I dont know if there is a law or rule or something of that sort.. but apparently they can get away with any sarcastic, witty, offensive or even rude comment against anyone! (or so I have noticed, from real life experience)

They have the so-called “freedom of speech”! So hah!! :D Take that!

No dive (the Italian was stumbling, and tripped over Neill). But equally clearly, no penalty — an appalling call by the ref, especially at that point in the match, when anything less than blatant should have been overlooked. From the outset of the World Cup, the weaker teams seem to get an unequal share of the bad calls (and no, I’m not talking about the US-Italy match, though that had its share). Overall, the refereeing has been so arbitrary and inconsistent as to be an outright embarrassment.

Mason, it is good to see there are still sensible people in the world, pity it is not that many. The red-carded Italian not only hit the Australian who was away on goal, he also his a fellow defender with a wild hack that was never aimed at the football. Red is justified because he was the last line of defence, that’s the rules.

There is no denying that Australia should have won this game, with Italy being one man down. But, man I tell ya – the ref giving away the game practically in the last seconds of the game in that fashion is just downright unfair! TOTALLY UNFAIR! Get it? He must have known this was coming – from the seasoned divers!

“The worst part of it all is Marcelo Balboa complimenting the Italian player for taking a nice dive and “selling” it.”

Ah… I think that he had his tounge firmly planted in his cheek.

Philip thanks.. I think I’ll go check that stuff out.

Sam.. yea I noticed. The order of a lot of the posts keep getting messed up!

1.aussies needed full side.

2.italy too good!

3.bad taclke by neil! (but he is still a champion)

4.could not take advantage of good luck (red card)

5.italy too much experience pulled a penalty out of nothing.

great stuff by aussies. 4 years now to find a few strikers.

This is why soccer will never make it as a big-time sport in the United States. I know diving is part of the game, but that’s precisely why people here won’t accept it. We like to see performance and excellence in our sports. Too many soccer games are decided by a referee’s whimsical decisions.

Besides, one referee and two linesmen restricted to the sideline to officiate the entire field? There are THREE refs in an NBA game on a 94′x50′ floor!

Let’s hope so, Mason. I hope Italy get what they deserve in a good embarassing thrashing.

Refs are allowed to mistakes, just like players. But players are criticized for their mistakes. So should refs be.

Probably the biggest flaw in the game of futbol is that one small ruling by an official can so drastically change a game.

If the penalty kick mark was located at a spot where goals from there were approximately a 50/50 proposition it would better represent the reality of the chances at the time the penalty occured and would neutralize the impact of highly questionable calls. Please explain to me why that doesn’t make more sense than the current rule (an explanation other than: “That’s soccer (football). Don’t watch it if you don’t like it.” From Canada.

sebastian

…..notice how its mostly the
ppl with the little american
falg the ones complainin bout how FIFA needs
instant replys and how penaltys shouldnt
exist and bla BLA BLA BLA…if y’all dont like it
then go back to the high scoring, adds-tpye sports like football and b-ball!…

That comment really doesn’t make sense — it just shows your ignorance. If I really wanted to go and see baseball or football, I would be watching the Cubs or Bears right now and not following soccer. No one claims here that there should be 75 goals in a match – there are just arguments for adding another ref in a booth WITHOUT slowing the pace of the game. This is a contact sport, not chess!

But then again, what is a good game without controversy or a reason for fans to clash after the whistle? Sitting in a living room is easy to look for poor calls, but it does a spice of tension and excitement.

Just because one resides in a certain country, doesn’t mean that one has a specific mind set. Stop stereotyping and open your eyes — today the world is a small place with a trough mix of cultures and mindsets.

“Ah… I think that he had his tounge firmly planted in his cheek.

Nope. He was serious…for sure. I see where he’s coming from, too. You get an unfair card that puts you at a severe disadvantage. You’re in the knockout rounds. You get tripped up by a defender. You sell it to make it look worse than it was to potentially win the game for your team.

Is that unfair? Is it cheating? Well, I suspect you’d get a lot of different answers (just read above).

Jim-
Don’t forget ice hockey, two Refs, two linesmen, two goal judges, and a video replay judge for 200′ X 85′. Yet players still complain about dives.

Good point about the size of the field, Jim. FIFA must be mad to expect these old geezers they have for refs to keep up with today’s speedy, and might I say, tricky, forwards. Refs are always having to make calls from behind the play and getting it wrong, they just can’t keep up. One man and his two assistants vs 22. It’s just not practical. Time for Video to enter the picture, but only at the Ref’s discretion.

Penalty kicks are way too penal on the defense. Most games are decided by one goal and a penalty kick is about as good as a goal. Usually a miss only occurs when the player screws up. You rarely see a brilliant save by a keeper — they have no chance.

This is tantamount to decide a basketball game with an uncontested dunk. Free throws are much harder than the penalty kick — I know, I played both basketball and soccer in college.

After reviewing the recent posts, it has come to my judgment that it is generally accepted by the majority that diving is a part of the ‘beautiful game’.

Also, that a goal is THE only, and MOST important aspect of football.

This I firmly disagree with. A team should be rewarded fairly upon their merits.

I know that refereeing is an extremely difficult task, but I suggest that FIFA MUST make fundamentally dramatic changes to improved the game.

… by means of technological implementation or a serious reviewing of current rules.

The game still has many improvements to be be made.

Well… It took a dodgy penalty in the 95th minute of the second round match to send us home. Nine months ago I’d probably have taken that if you offered it to me…

Still there’s an empty feeling. What if the ref had got the call right? What if, hell, Australia had of scored a bloody goal with all that possession they had?

That’s football. And I love it. Well done Socceroos, I’m heartbroken now and would happily punch that Spanish ref in the face. But I won’t get a chance and that’s just as well – the game is about scoring goals. Australia didn’t, Italy did… I guess. And so Italy are going to the quarter finals and we aren’t. And I won’t mention match fixing scandals or refereeing impropriety at all. It’s the World Cup and you have to expect this sort of thing.

Anyway, the Australian team has done us proud. Thankyou, Socceroos, hankyou Guus, thankyou so much.

“In my mind, they are winners as losing to Forza Italia in this manner is an honorable defeat.”

marco (if that’s the same marco who’s posted before on the Aussie blogs, not sure it is because your spelling is too good), we finally agree on something.

As I said in more detail earlier, I much prefer losing controversially to winning controversially (and it *would* have been controversial because of that damn red card).

I’m more than satisfied. I know it sounds like blasphemy, but I think I’m actually a little relieved we lost, so we don’t have to face all the attacks about the reffing tomorrow.

FIFA? FAIRPLAY?

don’t think so. the ref needs a wide screen tv.

John: The reason is that, in general, penalties are given when a player was denied a clear scoring chance unfairly.

For example, if a player shoots and a non-goalkeeper on the other team blocks the goal with his hand, then the first team was unfairly denied a goal. Therefore, the odds should be on their side when they are kicking the penalty.

Likewise, when the last defender (the farthest back) fouls a player, the teams was almost certainly unfairly denied a chance to score, as 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper is almost always a goal.
‘
Obviously mistakes can be made, as it looks like happened here, but in general a penalty is still supposed to be a chance for a team that was unfairly denied a goal to re-coup that loss.

Mason: I hear you. But I must add that dives in hockey at worst results in a two-minute penalty, where the defensive team has a fair chance to kill. Besides, most hockey players are too manly and divers are treated contemptuously.

That was a bad decision, and there was absolutely no excuse for it. The referee had a close, clear, unobstructed view of the incident. He knew exactly what the Italians were playing for, and what it meant when he blew the whistle.

Any one who saw the challenge can tell you that the minimal contact was not initiated by Neill. Yet another example of the rotten culture of Italian football where diving is considered a legitimate tactic.

Referee was poor but Italy’s defense looks immpregnable! I think there are a lot of teams that will struggle to score a goal against these guys! Poor Neill! Has been our best player and gets that call. Hiddink had an eye on extra time with only the 1 sub made, didn’t he!

Officials make mistakes in all sports; players ‘cheat’ in unsporting ways in all sports, but only in soccer (football) do these mistakes and cheats regularly affect the result of the game – if you like to see games ‘won’ by errors or cynical players keep watching; if not, go and enjoy some decent ‘footballs’ like AFL or Union. Go the Wallabies!!

Sam, as a matter of fact, as you suggest, I have not been watching any games on ESPN.

Sam Said: For example, if a player shoots and a non-goalkeeper on the other team blocks the goal with his hand, then the first team was unfairly denied a goal. Therefore, the odds should be on their side when they are kicking the penalty.

I agree that that’s the reason that penalties are such a given, but lets say that handball is 16 yards over to the right of the goal on the Penalty area. Such a play from there hardly has an 80% chance of becoming a goal.

And regarding the last defender fouling, that’s a red card no matter where it is, and only a penalty if in the box. “Obvious goal-scoring chance” and “being in the penalty area” are not the same thing UNTIL a foul is committed. That’s wherein the problem lies.

Well, all I can say is that one doesn’t have to be an Aussie, nor be a hater to see the obvious. Australia played remarkable soccer, but unfortunetely they couldn’t seal the deal – and now they are on their way home (And I sincerely feel their PAIN). The same fate befell most of the African teams – they just could not score goals despite their brilliant skills. Fortunately, the truth always prevails. Italy will go down MAN!

Ciao…

Hey football is the best game
AFL and rugby are great too.

Just beautiful !!! How can you compare a Red Card to a penalty in the last minute of the game, I have seen teams play two men down for almost a whole game with no goals, but almost all penalties result in a goal. FIFA has to crack down on diving, and if that means bringing in REPLAYS then so be it. What could have been a great game was again ruined by the REF, why couldn’t they just leave the game alone go to extra time and then if needed a shoot-out which ofcourse is in it’s own way a crappy way to end a game but atleast it’s is fair to each side, and probably the Italians woud have one in the end but aleast not by diving.

I serioulsy believe that it is because of this cheating, whining, diving, girly type behavoir that Soccer will never gain true sport status in Canada or the United States. If Hockey players acted like that on the Ice the other players including their own team mates would beat them up.

Total bullshit, calls like that should not be tolerated.

tragic end to a great game.
Onya Ref…enjoy the spoils

Sam, “a fair chance” to score a goal. Agreed. But I understand that goals are scored on penalty kicks about 75-85% of the time. From the penalties I’ve seen awarded, I doubt the offensive player was in that advantageous a position at the time. 50/50 seems like “a fair chance” to score a goal to me. And, as I said, moving the spot back would neutralize questionable calls. Someone else said it but I agree: (i) the refs have too much power over the result of a game (on a specific call); and (ii) penalities are too severe (permanent short-handedness through red carding and the penalty shot), thus motivating plaers to earn them against other players (i.e., flop). You get the behaviour you reward (and punish). And look at the behaviour you generally get in soccer: guys falling all over the place like they have vertigo and are made of balsawood.

Jim: “Besides, most hockey players are too manly…”

The visor-wearing Europeans don’t seem to mind. Do I detect a pattern?

What a waste of 90 minutes. Let the players decide the outcome.

That kind of games give a bad name for football in north America where they call soccer Sucker. Again we see some favourite teams get the help of referees and squeeze into the final. It sucks!

Aight you guys… maybe in a few minutes we could all move over to the Switzerland-Ukraine LiveBlog and continue this there? Heheh. ;)

Would you crybabies like some mozzarella with your WHINE?Italia has gotten the shaft on PKs more than any other side in recent Cups,one finally goes in their favor,a magnificent PK by Totti BTW,and a sea of salty tears from supporters of already eliminated sides and cries of “diving” echo upon deaf ears.Which is music to mine.Great match Australia,you played well,but lost to the superior side,FORZA ITALIA!Maybe the U.S. can play to see if they were the 17th best in the world?HAHAHA And Canada…the joke already lies therein!

Mop up your tears,
B.W.
FORZA ITALIA!

What kills me is that people are talking like Australia was ASSURED victory.

LOL! Not quite. They would’ve had to play overtime, and who knows what would’ve happened after a break.

The ref didn’t spoil the game – the rules did. Refs make calls; in every sport they sometimes don’t get it right or it’s debatable. But in soccer the rules put refs in impossible positions. It’s ridiculous only one ref covers such a large expanse. It’s ridiculous in awarding a penalty shot that the rules have it that you’re virtually awarding the game. And what’s most ridiculous, it seems many self-professed “true” soccer fans love it this way. Does soccer even have a rules committee like other sports or is everyone in soccer just fine with: Life is unfair; so is soccer. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.

until this year i was always a fan of italy. this has definitely changed. this italian team plays the dirtiest, whiniest type of game i have ever seen in my life. they are not a potential champion. sorry that australia could not win. in addition,italy should go to church to thank the lord high referee from spain for this disgrace.

Vin,

Obviously Australia wasn’t assured victory. That’s not the point. Any chance they had of achieving it within the rules was taken by a play outside the rules, accompanied by a bad call.

BTW, this was the same referee from the Australia x Uruguay match from months ago, when Australia got their WC spot.

Anthony O’Donnell — the same could be said about Matterazzi’s red card. Both were unfortunate, but that’s the way it goes with these refs.

Form all the comments seems like there should be a blog on rule changes. Has one been started?

Stefano, I was rooting for Italy too, but I would much rather that they won this one in a convincing way, not through a late penalty that is at best described as controversial.

Not much Forza in that, IMHO.

Materazzi’s red was at the very least a defensible call. While it wasn’t vicious, it was clearly meant to play the man as he entered the penalty area. How is that unfortunate, other than it’s not fun to have your man sent off?

Overtime is there for a reason, to settle a tie. And in the event of a tie at the end of 120 minutes of grueling soccer there is even the taking of kicks from the mark.

There is no room for a ref to say in the last 20 seconds leading up to the end of stoppage time (93rd minute) that a penalty kick should be awarded unless the player is absolutely broken. Heads torn off, limbs detached or a handball going into the goal. Other than those types of things I see no reason for a ref to award the game to the Flop-talians.

im aussie. here’s my thoughts.

italy didn’t deserve the red card.. that was disgraceful. the penalty at the end was just as disgraceful. basically australia failed to score when we had 1 man extra.. and that was for a good 40+ mins. game over, italy has won, good luck to them and great work socceroos you’ve done us proud.

I know it may be hard to accept. But unfortunetly, diving/acting is an essential part of soccer/football. It happens all the time because it is rewarded, not punished. It is integrated into the strategy of the game even at high-class events such as the World Cup.

It is sad to say that we might just have to accept it in this game.

I’m not aussie, but I was with them all the way! They did well. Atleast they stood like men. As for Italians, well they make ballerinas look like rap dancers. As for the ref, well he was far off when Ivanov last night. Today football sucked! Swisswatch vs “salo” time!

Well Done Auzzies, the WORLD knows the heartache.

stuff the ref they had to get us sooner or later,enjoy italy as there is no way i can see you winning the cup,not a chance even with your cheating diving way of playing

Saw it, couldn’t believe it, actually believe the Mafia was involved. Australia didn’t have a sure victory but the penalty kick called at the last time sure as hell was convenient for Italy. Sorry, this is just fishy, I’ve seen worse plays and not even a Yellow Card being raised.

To the other David–

Dirtiest? I didn’t see today’s match on TV, but do not believe Italy could have topped Portugal’s performance yesterday.

Whiniest? The Brasilians were whining about the refereeing the week before play began.
BTW no one here mentions the Materazzi expulsion which was apparently unwarranted.

However, my support for i Azzuri has abated somewhat this time around given all the diving etc in the Italy-US match.

It is a shame that lousy refereeing has taken over (again!!) You’d think that six or eight good referees could be found for an event of this importance.

I am not an Aussie, nor am I Italian. I do not exist to defend Australia, nor is my existence predicated on bashing Italy’s soccer team. Having said that, most of the ref calls should not be always as dubious as they are. The red card awarded to Italy was deserved because it was clear the fury with which the defedent came to clear the “ball+player”. Infact he took along one of his team mates. That is how intentional the tackle was. On the other hand, the penalty kick was clearly awarded after Grosso (correction from previou post) tripped over a prone Aussie player. These are clear events that in the least are hard to call. The UNFAIRNESS comes when the overall outcome of the game is decided by one such bad call. And in my mind, should be reversible! Australia deserves a win, I don’t care if Aussies are bashing themselves. This is a decision much bigger than Austalia.

Peace, & out…

Everyone keeps saying “lousy refereeing.”

This guy made TWO controversial calls, the second of which hardly raised any eyebrows with the blogger above, the UK radio I was listening to, and the BBC report I read. It is only on THIS board that people are claiming diving, match fixing, pro-european bias, etc etc.

Other than that, we hardly heard from the referee all match. In fact, there were a lot of posts above before the penalty PRAISING the ref for being a good ref.

I wish people wouldn’t see everything in terms of black or white. The ref made two calls which have been called controversial, but outside of that he was a fine referee.

To the russian federation blogger – thank you sincerely for your kind comments about the socceroos, and to everyone else being generous in their praise for Australia.

Well both the team started very badly,and the match was wague,the condition of the match was either do or die,but when Toti entered the team during Half-Time,i had an intution that Toti is going to do wonders in the field,at last he did.Osum performance by Toti after crossing all his hurdles.More goals are expected from Toti in coming matches.Good luck for all.

Do you think Bresciano or Grella were afraid to kick goals in case they lost their job at Parma?

“Probably not, Carlos. But that’s what happens when something controversial happens. Every US football fan that watched the Steelers-Seahawks super bowl knows all about this.”

I should note that even after the ridiculous calls in that game, no Seahawks fan went on any board talking about going out and beating up people from Pittsburgh. Blaming it on “Americans” is just the usual brainless hatred of fools.

And that game showed that all the wonderful electronic replay systems in the world don’t guarantee a better officiated game. The replay clearly showed that Ben Roethlisberger did not get the ball over the line, and yet they still gave him the TD.

“Besides, one referee and two linesmen restricted to the sideline to officiate the entire field? There are THREE refs in an NBA game on a 94′x50′ floor!”

I think that THIS may be the best solution — more officials. Baseball does quite well with four and no replay (six during the playoffs). American football, which has a similar field to soccer, has seven officials. And while there are officiating controversies in American sport (The Fifth Down, Jeffrey Maier, was Mondano’s skate in the crease, the debacle that was the last Super Bowl), you don’t see the game-in game-out insanity we’ve seen in this World Cup.

Don’t lean on technology. Lean on getting more refs on the pitch.

And I should say that Australia played a hell of a game, but Italy had their legs at the end, bad foul call or not.

Unfortunatley 90% of the comments come from people living in countries with verl little understanding of the game.
The beauty of the game is that everything is decided by quick decisions by both ref’s and players.
Was Matrix foul a red card? Poassibly only a yellow but so what? The pro player knows that when you go into a sliding tackle it could be a red card depending on the angle of the ref.

Same goes for the penalty, Neill is on the ground obstructing the direct path to the goal. It should not have gone to ground. Demanding Grosso to go around it in the name of fair-play is stupid. The result: penalty.

Just read any soccer country newspaper website and the same opinion will appear.

That the greatest sport on earth!

I guys i am posting from Italy, obviously i am a member of mafia and as i am posting i am playing my mandolino and i am acting and diving of course. You are definitely right FIFA does want european teams only to reach the semis in fact a nice way to keep us in the tourney is to award materazzi with an absolutely not deserved red. Everyone knows the only way for italians to win is by playing 10 vs 11. I just want to say something to Aussie supporters. In order to win you shuold be able to shoot on goal. Best regards

There are people in the US who know and can and should comment on soccer as anyone else on the face of the planet, OBVIOUSLY! No country has a monopoly on the knowledge of soccer. Grosso did not have to stumble over Neil in order to take the dive. Well, if that was his intention, then fine. And I am sure it was. But the referee should not have “fallen” (no pun) for that. There are many ways to clear an “obstacle” than to run around it. C’mmon, this was a shameful ending to a well played game. Uughh, it makes me gringe!

cringe that is…

I think I’d of liked to have Aus lose fairly then to have Ita won unfairly…

Tujeni,
I am please you said it yourself:
“There are many ways to clear an “obstacle” than to run around it. ”

But it was an obstacle and football is not an obstacle course, going to the ground bring unexpected consequences:

1) Materazzi –> Red Card
2) Neill –> Penalty

It’s not the refs – it’s the rules. I feel for the refs. The rules put the refs in impossible situations. Behaviour is determined by rewards and punishments. Soccer players dive because the reward is so high (like a virtually automatic goal or a a man advantage for the rest of the match.) Change the rules; change the behaviour. Move the penalty shot mark back so it’s a 50/50 proposition. Put more than one ref on the field. Or how about giving penalty shots for diving? I’ll bet you’d see less fragile players then. You want to know why the reffing is THE discussion at every World Cup? Because the RULES make it so. And yet close-minded arrogant apologists like Ruben continue to spout the “that’s-soccer-you-just-don’t-understand” line. Like it’s some holy game that can’t be tinkered with. PUH-leeez. Give me a break. I’d be delivering this message by pony express if the world was run by FIFA.

Ruben,
When all is said and done, and the dust from the most dramatic and costly dive in World Cup history has settled down, you’ll come to see the light – that the Aussies were sent home unfairly. And who knows, it may take them another 16 years to reach this stage again. And that’s sad…

Nick M. says it best.

There is absolutely no way that the referee should decide a game of such magnitude under such circumstances. For us Americans it is like a basketball referee in a tied game 7 of the NBA finals sending a player to the line for a touch foul to end the game. You just don’t see it EVER in those situations. The only exception being someone going hard to the basket and getting literally decapitated. Generally, the players are left to decide what happens…and that is why this decision is so upsetting as an American ’soccer’ fan. The Aussies played their hearts out the way that the Americans should have for every minute of every game and for a campaign to end in such a manner is a travesty.

It is a little ironic also that both the Americans and the Australians ultimately had their respective chances of victory taken away by dubious penalty decisions.

I will concede that the Aussies and Americans are not quite at the skill level of the various European powerhouses and neither teams were guaranteed victory by any means in their respective games. However, in order to attempt to compete, teams like the US and the Aussies have to play a hard, gritty, and physical game. And ultimately, the need to play in such a manner in countered by poor referee decisions leaving teams like Italy to perpetuate the sterotypes that they are ‘divers’ and ‘cheaters’. They at least deserve a chance to play an agressive style and not have to fear looking at Pimpong or Grasso the wrong way in the box and as a result ending the game.

However, I am not debating this particular call. All I am saying is that Neill should have had to have picked Grasso up and bodyslammed him in order for the referee to decide such a hard fought game that way.

Unfortunately, this game serves as a perfect example of why “football” remains elusive in terms of popularity to the American public. Nobody wants to watch a 90 minute gritty, phyiscal game decided by a Spanish dude with something to prove.

Am I wrong? Or do people from the rest of the world want to see a game end in such a way? If so, I guess it just boils down to a different sense of the meaning of competition and sport in various parts of the world. In my opinion, if there is any doubt in such a situation, it should be a no call…

Please, let the players settle the game.

“im aussie. here’s my thoughts.

italy didn’t deserve the red card.. that was disgraceful. the penalty at the end was just as disgraceful. basically australia failed to score when we had 1 man extra.. and that was for a good 40+ mins. game over, italy has won, good luck to them and great work socceroos you’ve done us proud.”

Good post, rA.

The Aussies had 40 minutes to put the ball in the net with the Italians a man down.
The penalty was unfortunate, but that’s the game. I would’ve rather seen my Azzurri play it out, and who knows… maybe they would’ve won in Overtime, making all of this discussion pointless!

Is just the fact the bad call against aussies was the latest bad call who makes you forget Italy shouldn’t have been playing one man down, or is just you are biased? It’s a matter of time or you are just blinded by your stereotypes. Are you all thinking being or what?

I realize the rules of soccer are set out in holy texts and thus cannot be revised, but here’s a great example of a league that improved its game considerably this year with some rule changes: the National Hockey League. It’s still hockey but more exciting and enjoyable. Luckily, its officials and fans aren’t so arrogant and blind to believe their sport was perfect and divine and instead made it better through change. And guess what? Although there’s always your usual complaining about this call and that, the rules are such that it’s extremely rare that a call can almost automatically determine the outcome of the game. No penalty shots into open nets, for example.

John, Jackie & Tujeni,
I am not an apologist, on the contrary I make no apologies.

IT WAS A PENALTY.

Unfair and heartbreaking for my wonderful friends the Aussies?
Yes, absolutely.
I love the Aussies and their competitive spirit and they did not deserve to go out that way.

But you do not change the rule of the game because of a defensive mistake consequences.

What need to be changed are the guidelines giving to referees on yellow cards and red cards but a referee should not decide to award a PK or not based on the score, the timing or the importnace of the much.

Neill was on the ground at the wrong time and the wrong place. Result: Penalty.

The Italians are smelly and are lucky they won on that wack penalty.

*the importance of the match.

typo-

i am not Australian — but am very proud of the way the Aussies played. Very competitive, lots of heart — i think we have a future soccer power house in the making!

Y these bum dudes gotta flop they should be smacked instead of rewarded

Not one soccer “rule apologist” has put forth a reasonable argument to support why it is sensible that the game’s rules result in such perverse and severe consequences at the hands of a single official. Instead, you get one of two things: (i) that’s soccer (it’s unchangeable) or (ii) yeah, but our country has been ripped off by bad calls too (it balances out). How depressing. That’s some beautiful game.

Ruben,
What is it with you and a guy lying on the ground? There are no rules against falling genuinely in soccer, but there are rules against throwing yourself on the ground at the slightest provocation – or so I hope. Neil accidentally fell, and Grosso, by virtue of training and conditioning saw blood. He dove, the ref bought it, and the result is a monumental bad call of World Cup biblical proportions which will continue to reverberate in the soccer world for years to come. That’s just uncool!

Eventually it comes down to experience and cold-bloodedness. You simply can’t give them a chance to dive. If you’re ackward enough to do it in the 95th, ah well, then that’s it. Everybody knows that Italians will go down, so you have to play very carefully and clean in the back. If you don’t, it’s your loss. It’s definitely an experience the somewhat naive Australians had to make.

them shorties gotta cut they hair and quit bein some pansies theyd get clapped quick if they fell on my block in NY

Say what?

Ruben, if the law was such that jaywalkers were executed, would you support that law because everyone knows its consequences?

y them dudes fallin all day man it aint good and yall know that damn b theres madd italians near me and they all tough i dunno man them soccer playas is sumthin different tho u feel me

John, what’s with this continuous strawman?

You’ve put words in football fans’ mouths at least ten times above, repeatedly suggesting that we think the current rules are “sacred”, that the texts are “holy”, that “if you don’t like them, you don’t understand football.”

Can you cite ONE message above that says this? If not, quit repeating it! It’s getting tiring.

Of course the rules of football change. They change all the time. Look at the rules for deciding ties: they aren’t even the same four years in a row! We’ve got no golden goal this year, if you’ve noticed. Look at the rules for shirt-tugging: FIFA’s decided to go extra-harsh on shirt-tugging this year, and even give red cards if they’re in the penalty box. Look at the advances in technology that are appearing: next WC we may well see chips in the balls that make it easier to decide if the ball crossed the goal line.

John, the rules of the game are in constant flux. Quit claiming that football fans think the rules are holy, because they don’t and they aren’t.

Jamaal – Dude, you’re new to soccer/football/futbol/calcio, aren’t ya?

Na son i played on the Jamaican national team from 83-87

Vin:

I think Jamaal is new to the English language as well. Text-talk is not English.

I couldn’t even work out his point.

Does he even have a point?

Trapper im sorry i aint talkin like u rich dudes in the burbs rollin in maseratis and sh*t. im from the gutter, been incarcerated, and still know more than you do about football

Ja, I think Jamaal’s point is that the Italian soccer dudes are such sissies for letting themselves fall over the place the way they do. And that they wouldn’t survive the pavements of NY. Do I have your point summarized correctly Jamaal, man?

Sam, PF at 6:52, Carlos 6:54, Tom 6:55, Roland 6:55, SES 7:12&7:26., etc. But I would be interested in hearing what rule changes have been made recently. I’d also be interested in your opinion on why a penalty in the box should result in an near-automatic goal.

I’ve decided that most people who comment are ignorant of the game. I’d be surprised if half of the Italy and referee bashers have even played this sport and even further, refereed it themselves.

Football is a non-stop sport, which doesn’t allow time for incorporating technology into officiating games. More officials on the pitch would get in the way and cause inconsistant calls.

The red card was undeserved. There was a defender on his side, making claims of “last defender” irrelevant. The tackle itself was not that bad, however they look a lot worse in person. I believe a yellow with some serious words would have been more appropriate.

The penalty kick was deserved. You cannot slide tackle an opponent in the box, miss the ball, and continue to slide at a player expecting him to run around or jump over you. It’s these moments that a player must make a decision to completey avoid the tackle and give up the goal scoring opportunity or let yourself get hit and hope for the foul. That is what he did.

A lot of “dives” are not really dives, but players allowing themselves to get hit and allowing themselves to get knocked over. It’s as simple as that. The Italian’s foot got clipped by the Australian. Whether or not it could have been avoided, you’re not required to avoid tackles.

Tujeni,
I have no argument with what you say. You feel it was not a penalty, I saw a penalty. I checked the british press (they havea long hostory of hating continental teams) and they are divided but in general call it as a fair call (The Times, The Indipendent, The Guardian, BBC).

What I do not understand is some of the proposed remedies: kicking from farther away, not awarding a penalty in the last 10 minutes of the game. That will be an invitation for massacre on the pitch if the PK was not such a harsh penalty.

I would agree to go for instant replay occasionally but even than all the armchair specialist do not agree if it was or not a penalty because the passion taints the judgment.

And, John, go and check the rules of football, from the off-side rule to tackling from behind to wasting time to back pass to goal-keeper and see how much they have changed in the recent past alone.

But clearly you are not very familiar with the game. In fact have you ever played it?

yo my dude got it right here cheaa boi

There’s always someone like you, Brice, who THINKS he knows it all, and then, according to you anyone who disagrees with your so-called expert opinion “are ignorant of the game”. Rale Rasic, the coach who took Australia to the 1974 World Cup Finals called the penalty decision a disgrace. I would accept his opinion of that incident over the likes of you and day.

Jamaal,
Are we sharing the same planet?

World Cup History: Appearances: 15 | Wins: 39 | Losses: 17 | Draws: 14 | Best Finish: Champions 1934, 1938, 1982
……. enough said!

Yes, and he’s Australian. Of course he’d say that.

Ok, this is getting a little silly, and I have to leave for home now, but this is still absurd:

PF at 6:52: Not deserved penalty … Controversy is always part of soccer, and this cup seems to be loaded with it … It’s bit lame

Carlos at 6:54: Not an ideal way to end the game, but well…

Tom at 6:55: welll italy got a bad red card..australia a penalty. i think it equals them out

Roland at 6:55: This is all part of the drama of a World Cup … imagine the frustration of teams that have endured poor refereeing in cup after cup.

SES at 7:12 Controversy attracts viewers so I doubt we’ll ever have a “clean” match.

SES at 7:26: I agree that FIFA needs to clean up its act, but in the meantome we just have to rely on the refs’ judgment.

Not a single one of those comments suggest that the rules are golden, that the rules should not be changed, and that “if you don’t like the rules then you don’t understand football.” One of them even says that FIFA needs to “clean up its act.”

Some of the comments do say that, with the rules as they are now, you get the refereeing decision we got today. Well of course. That’s not even remotely the same as saying that the rules should never be changed. Surely not even you are suggesting that new rules should be applied retroactively, so that they could change the result of today’s match?

It’s not the place of a referee to change the rules in mid-game. The referee is required to follow the current rules. That’s still not a statement suggesting that the current rules can’t be changed.

Sure, I could see that it might make for a better game if the ball were a little further back, although I gave some reasoning way above as to why it’s considered reasonable that the kicker should have some advantage. But so what? What difference does it make in THIS game? Players are well-versed in the current rules, they ought to be able to stick to them.

OK, I got to go, but mark my lines.
This was an earth shatteringly bad call – which Australia, after having played such great unexpected soccer, does not deserve. And which many people will not forget. Oh, and the timing of it – oogh so crushing. I just cannot get over the call at, and maybe I should – and probably will. But boy, what a bad call!

Peace, over & out.

envy is a bad thing…
this time fortune was with us

Vin, Pao, Sam et al-
Hard, reckless tackle + Last Man + Ball already by = Red Card. Law 12. Read it. Know it. Live by it.

And Gabriel: Envious? Of Italy? Surely you jest…

I have never been a fan of soccer(football)but have taken an interest in every match during the world cup, whether Australia has played or not. Australia plays the beautiful game as it should be played, aggressive and tough. The adverse comments about the referees in general can be understood given the seemingly random nature of their decisions. I don’t blame the Italian for taking a dive, but I do have a question over the referee giving a penalty shot. Yet another gripping game ruined by inadequate officials. This game deserved another 30 mins of extra time and then a nailbiting penalty shoot out. Never has a sport screamed so loudly for a video referee as this one. With the combined value of the players in the billions of dollars worldwide you would think that the governing body could invest a few dollars in finding and keeping decent officials. I now know why soccer fans are sometimes driven to violence, some of the decisions I have seen against all countries are enough to drive anyone mad!

gabriel what u talkin bout? aint nobody envying u. yall had to cheat and get a lucky ass call to defeat the australians. i dunno about u but i like watchin real men play the game and not some pansy ass diving women.

Red card undeserved. Last minute penalty undeserved. Not much more to say about the controversies than: that’s the beautiful tragedy of football. Feel sorry for Lucas Neil, one of our best players.

Italian defence was magnificent. Crap way to go out for Australia, but all up we had a pretty good worldcup.

If Italy go all the way i’ll feel better.

Sam – of course the rules should not change in the middle of the game nor retroactively. Don’t be silly.

Ruben – quite right I’m not an expert in soccer. Never claimed to be. But so what. Perhaps my perspective is less stunted or cautious because of it. Any rule changes to date do not seem to have done much for today’s situation.

My point is not about whether or not the penalty call today was correct within the current rules. I don’t really care (though, in my own humble opinion it was not the correct call given the situation).

My point is that it seems to me to be a flaw that a near-automatic goal can be awarded in these dubious situations. And it’s not even about soccer. I believe in general that the “time should fit the crime”. It’s why we don’t execute those who litter; we fine them. Based on my memory of the penalty kicks in this World Cup, I don’t recall a situation where the player had an 85% chance of scoring but for the foul; yet that’s what his reward is. This seems wrong to me – IN ANY INSTANCE IN LIFE. In the case of soccer, it leads the grotesque aftermath of today where yet again the issue of the refs is the lead story. I don’t think any sport should have that much emphasis on reffing.

Why discussing rule changes is not an legitimate topic for exploration is beyond me. Tell me why the penalty spot SHOULDN’T be at a spot that makes it a 50/50 proposition because that seems much more logical and appropriate to me. I will listen. (Also, tell me how to put in the paragraph breaks. I tried the standard html BR in signs, but it didn’t take. Gotta go.

Um, duh. I guess you just hit the enter key to make paras.

hey Brice, try to read more about football, cause it seems that you know nothing about this sport…

i hate people that think they’re the bests, they know everything, etc.. try to think about other’s opinions. it’s not only about football. ok, you can disagree with them, like i disagree with your opinions, but please try to think about it, so maybe you can become a better person..

FIFA should give coaches power to object ref’s calls. Coaches should have at least 3 chances to ask for a review of plays.

jamaal,do not exaggerate.:D probably it is the first time that you see to play Italy…
we have never been lucky before…Usa94,France98,Netherlands2000,Korea&Japan2002…
and I add I like watchin real men play the game too,I love Gattuso for that :D
however I don’t say we have deserved,but sometimes that’s football!
unfortunately we play this way

No Gabriel,

Diving, faking, and time wasting are NOT futbol. They are not sportmanship.

Haha, as if the rest of the world needed even more reasons to hate Italian CRAP PLAY. Brilliant performance by Italy (literally); I can’t wait to watch them go up against Ukraine and wait for the inevitable match-deciding flop.

At least the rest of the world can take solace in the fact that once they FINALLY have to play a decent side they will be annihilated.

Enjoy it while it lasts!

you are exaggerating. it’s only because we are talkin about Italy,nobody talks about referee…
then,lessons of football from Americans…against you I saw wrestling not football
magic De Rossi

For the Canadians on the blog, remember Bobby Clarke’s motto with the National Hockey League’s Philadelphia Flyers, “If you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’.” Can’t blame the Azzurri, or anyone else for diving, if divers are allowed to prosper. Ruins the game of course, but would you rather win a ruined game, or lose in a sportsmanlike way? At that level, you play to win, whatever it takes.

I agree about moving the spot back to make a penalty kick more of a 50/50 proposition. You can’t eliminate bad calls, but that will reduce the consequences of them.

I’m remembering fondly how Totti was carded in the South Korea game last World Cup for diving in the penalty area with five minutes left in regular time, trying to “Camille” his way into a game-winning penalty kick. A friend of mine said at the time that Totti was carded for his reputation, rather than the dive itself. Perhaps this one will come back to haunt the Azzurri in the later rounds. One can only hope…

In the past Italy was the best in the world in defense. I loved to watch them play defense the whole game. But today I am disappointed.

Italians smell and are dirty

If only we’d had 30 more minutes with a numerical advantage we might have managed to score!! We were TOTALLY the better team!!

Good god. You guys sounds like Americans.

As for Raybron…Australia ARE a decent side.

“It is a little ironic also that both the Americans and the Australians ultimately had their respective chances of victory taken away by dubious penalty decisions.”

Under NO circumstances were the penalty decisions in the US-Italy match dubious.

It’s a shame this game was decided in this way. But Italy also didn’t deserve to be a man down. These were the first truly, truly bad calls I’ve seen. (Didn’t see Poll)

John,
The problem is that not only are there great rewards for diving because of the harsh, there are great rewards for fouling. Reduce the penalties any and this game would become a mess.

Tom, Tom, Tom,

If univision is so bad on your PC (breaking up etc.) no wonder you thought the Italians outplayed us! We played a great game and at the end of the we are no longer ranked 42nd, we made it where others failed. Yeah sure I can join with everyone else and put blame on the refs, (which you know IS WARRANTED) but Socceroos, Socceroos it took a dive to make them lose!
Well Done boys, you have every reason to be proud and all you Aussie supporters too!!!!!

If that was a penalty, then Ivory Coast should have been through ……Ivory Coast striker even got yellow carded for not clearing defense in the penalty area when he had plenty of time….
Though admittedly the previous red card was a bit dubious, maybe the ref wanted to compete with the cards in the Ned:Por game?

So congratulations Italy on winning with no honor.

Congratulations Australia for making them work hard and forcing them to stoop to lower depths in order to do so.

Congratulations refs for being in the spotlight – for all the wrong reasons.

Now next game i hope Ukraine slaughter Italy’s hopes for getting through further. :P
———————

Was mostly a great game to watch – though that could be sleep deprivedness talking

actually, sorry if i’m repeating what someone else has said, but since there are fines for players…shouldnt there be the equivalent for referees?

That way at least there’d be a little balance…and might make refs think about the consistency of decision making.

Life isn’t fair.
Aussies can be proud of their play today.
Italy was lucky today.
That’s life, that’s sports.
The good eventually prevail, so Aussies will have their day!

I’m going to repeat myself again.

Neill slide tackled Grosso. He missed the ball, but got the foot of Grosso who then proceeded to fall down.

If you slide tackle, miss the ball entirely, and make contact with your opponent it’s a foul!! Especially if it is in the penalty area!!!!!

It was a poor decision for Neill to attempt such a tackle. He was probably tired, but that was a terrible decision and it cost them the WC.

I’m going to have to watch the replay again tonight. I didn’t see any contact, or enough to cause a trip.

What I did see was a nice move by Grosso to maneuver the ball around Neill’s tackle (which was not a poor decision). I give credit to Neill for making a sporting attempt to play the ball.

Once the ball was past, Grosso never made any further attempt to score a “heroic” goal. I didn’t see Neill make any action to impede Grosso if he wanted to pass him (i.e. grabbing clothing or body parts, sticking his torso in the opposing players path, etc). Top marks to Neill for making a sporting, if unsuccessful attempt.

Players much less skilled than him could have jumped and earned a praiseworthy goal.
Instead, Grosso played the ref card, and came out ahead.
Both players deserve credit, and the result doesn’t determine who was “right” and who was “wrong.”

Both players were right, and we are left deciding which team we liked more, and which team we would have liked to go on. It won’t be unanimous but I’m sure Aussies would receive a fair share of the praise out there.

Italians won, and next game may be a whole new can of worms. Hope not, hope to see some good soccer.

What Aussies can bank on is the experience of this World Cup, and the knowledge that they were (and will continue to be) competitive.

Italy was lucky today. Don’t believe those coaches and writers who say (or think) they outsmarted the Aussies. They were outplayed but caught a break.

Does the ref have an obligation to rule in favour of his catholic brethren’s? Even the dive was lousy.

Yep,

Tripped by Neill’s shoelace.

Brice,

I’m looking forward to seeing the replay of that foul again, it’s been a few hours since I saw it. But wasn’t Neill in front of Grosso? Who slide tackles from the front? Judging from the expression on Neill’s face at that moment, I don’t think he intended to go to ground.

And I don’t recall him making contact with Grosso’s foot. Grosso had to run at least one step, perhaps two steps towards Neill to catch his foot on Neill’s hip or upper thigh in pursuit of the ball. A mistake to be sure on Neill’s part for going to ground and giving Grosso the opportunity to initiate the “trip”. Curious to see the replay again though and see who initited the actual contact. It seemed like a Grosso dive to me at the time.

No more whingeing, Australia. Maybe we were catastrophically unlucky, maybe not. But it wasn’t unfair. And as for all that drivel from the anti-Italian, anti-referee brigade, what a load of brain-dead bullshit.

If Fabio Grosso hadn’t produced that storming heroic run, we would have won the game: 30 minutes of extra time against 10 tired Italians & two fresh players up our sleeve. If it goes to penalties, my money’s on Australia with Italy’s demons chewing on their souls.

Was it a penalty? Of course, it was – for an unintentional trip caused by Lucas Neill flinging himself into Grosso’s path in the shadow of the near-post. Grosso didn’t dive – he didn’t need to. He stays on his feet, he scores. Was it bad luck for Australia? Sadly, I doubt it. It will be there in the replay. Somebody on the left of Australia’s defence let Grosso get away. Somebody else failed to stop the pass into his path. What happened? I suspect that with 10 seconds to go, Australia was waiting for the whistle and forgot to mind the shop. It’s an old and sad story.

Give Grosso credit. He ran 60 metres and blew Bresciano away, left him flat on his face down on the turf. He made bound-for-Barcelona Neill look ordinary. Somebody further upfield exposed Bresciano, and Bresciano exposed Neill.

The penalty was absolutely correct – and so was Matterazzi’s red card.

Matterazzi put in a flying, two-legged tackle on Bresciano with no attempt whatsoever to play the ball, with Bresciano – so far as Matterazzi could tell – through on goal. It was a classic professional foul on a goal-going player – and that’s a red card every day of the week.

So we’ll agonise over the replay and somewhere around 15 seconds to go, we’ll find the if-only moment when the ball might have gone anywhere else but into the path of Grosso.

Did Australia deserve to win?. No. We got four shots on goal – none of them seriously dangerous – in 90 minutes, and for 40 minutes against 10 men. Hiddink is only human – he lost his nerve and fell for the old fiction that Viduka’s a superstar: if he brings on Aloisi a lot sooner, and Josh Kennedy also, we could have had a red-hot go at the Italian defence.

All that tells us our World Cup result was about right: the spirit was willing, even wonderful, but the technique was lacking, and until Australia adopts a blanket national approach to junior development – starting with the five-year-olds – along the lines of the French or Dutch system, our technique will always be lacking, as in this World Cup for every World Cup to come.

There is no comfort for Italy here – but for that fatal lapse, Australia would be preparing for a quarter final against Ukraine and a semi against Argentina. What a run! What a result from the debutante’s from DownUnder!

Troglodyte,

The game is already a mess. Look at today. Forget about whether or not the ref made the right call. The rules pretty much guaranteed that the call he did make would end the game.

Did Grosso have an 80% chance of scoring if he hadn’t been “fouled”? I doubt it, but he was given an 80% chance of scoring with where the penalty spot currently is.

I hear what you’re saying, but the rules are way out-of-balance in favour of diving for extreme reward.

Part of the problem is that scoring chances overall are at a high premium (i.e., very rare) Perhaps the game need other rule changes that create greater scoring chances to reduce the players focus on being so motivated to eke out whatever advantage they can through penalties.

I think moving the penalty spot out to where its a 50/50 shot is a modest change, simple, fair and reduces the ref as a determining factor.

Grosso did well in faking a foul. For Italy, which is a big team with lots of talents to win and book their place in QF in such a manner, I can only describe it as a DISGRACE! But the good thing is that, from now on, they can stop whinning about how they were unjustifiably knocked out by South Korea in 2002 because this time, it worked in their favour.

“Vin, Pao, Sam et al-
Hard, reckless tackle + Last Man + Ball already by = Red Card. Law 12. Read it. Know it. Live by it.”

Mason come on, it wasn’t violent, and Materazzi wasn’t the last man since Zambrotta was there. Read it, know it live by it.

“he could easily have avoided him and the defender did nothing to stop Grosso, he even tright to make himself smaller.”

More proof people see what they want to see. He actually LIFTED his shoulder to put it into the Italian’s knee. No dive.

yeh i agree with u tay to the italians on this site that are trying to justify your team and reckon us aussies are crying foul remember how much you carried on after 2002 ten times more than we did you lot even sacked the goal scorer from the club he played for in italy talk about sore losers,crawl back under your rock ya barstards

I want Neil’s babies

“Commentators are trained not to express bias. They very carefully censor themselves. That’s one of the reason the Univision commentators condemnation of the ref’s decision was so notable.”

Anthony, as a professional journalist, I can confidently assure you that you are flat-out wrong. You couldn’t be more incorrect if you deliberately tried…Okay maybe you could, but still.

5 minitues earlier you could see five aussies making a wall around the italian inside the box. Not one of them made a tackle because they knew something? These officials suck!

just watched the replay there and there was no contact in and the ref was wrong there should have been no pentaly at all Grosso triped of his own feet. i firmly believe it have been riged i hope the ref gets raped twice and the burns and dies and burns and goes to hell and burns kos them he might feel different

Digby,

I’ve reviewed the tackle several times on the video highlights at worldcup.com. It was a pain too because you have to watch all these highlights before it, but I suffered through it 4 times.

It’s actually a very bizarre tackle. Grosso cuts to his right, Neill slides parallel to Grosso (but going opposite direction) and then Neill sort of just leans backward between the legs of Grosso. For a moment I thought he was playing Chinese freeze tag. It’s only natural to then get tripped up. I definately do not think there was a great deal of contact, but if you miss the ball and get the player at all on a sliding tackle in the penalty area, you’re highly risking a penalty.

I’ve literally watched the replay about 10-15 times and there is definately something wrong with the tackle. It’s just unfortunate for Australia that it occured in the penalty area.

Extremely disappointed with the awarded penalty in the last minute of injury time by the ref in the Australia vs Italy game. It was so clear that it was not a foul. I guess the ref was tired and wanted to go to his hotel room instead of going into over time. Italy may have won, but the call robbed both the teams and the fans.

Italy will lose to Ukraine – useless bunch of floppers.

I just think that the reward of attacking play often takes a not so pretty shape. With a man advantage the Aussies ought to have pressed harder, the ball ought to have been in the Italian penalty box for the last 5 minutes of the game, rather than in the Aussies at all. Attacking play is so often rewarded with a penalty, questionable or otherwise, I’ve seen it a million times. People who live in countries where domestic club soccer is a firm fixture on tv will also have seen it a million times. If the Aussies had done their homework and also if the US had done their homework on the Italians they would have taken advantage of the breaks they got from the refereeing and the Italians would be at home or going home right now. Luck swung both ways with the refs calls and when it was time for a call to go their way Italy called on their pedigree and took their opportunities agains the US and Aussies. The Italians were, in any case, the better team overall and their attacking play was rewarded, albeit dubiously, against Australia. After the sending off it was the Aussies game to lose, and they lost it.

Alberto GILARDINO (ITA): we’ll do anything to stay in the tournament.

The games are looking good, but be on the lookout for Italy, they are showing there true colors. On the other side of the world, Ghana Bests U.S. to Advance at World Cup. I tell you, it’s getting tough out there.

Wow, That DIVE almost fooled me. When you watch the replay, it is so obvious that any football player with a minimum of skils could have scored a goal without diving.

I’m Italian and happy that Italy won….but the way they did it is sad.

By the way, the DIVE is part of the Italian football culture.

Is anyone else convinced Italy has this Cup rigged? They have gotten too many favorable calls, in my opinion (i.e. Italy-U.S. and Italy-Australia). Just my opinion.

DONT WORRY AUSSIES WE KNOW WHOS BETTER! ITALIANS DO NOT HAVE THE TRUE SPORTSMANSHIP THAT WE POSSESS. WE PLAYED REALLY WELL
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE…. OI OI OI

I DONT KNOW WHO IS TO BLAME FOR AUSTRALIAS LOSE BUT ALL I KNOW IS WE DESERVED TO WIN. FIFA MAY HAVE BEEN AGAINST US BUT WE MADE IT THIS FAR AND SHOULD BE RROUD. UMPIRES SUCK!!!!!!

I’m australian – and I felt gutted at the end of the match – but a few hours later, a few (painful) watchings of the final tackle – I see a decision that might have gone either way, in a sport where the refs subjectivity is authorised in the laws of the game – I doubt if there was any conspiracy – but I wish I could turn back time. My sad refelction is that the only way Australia looked like we were going to win was in a shoot-out – Italy were the only team who looked like scoring – and the w***kers did it in the last 3 seconds – ars***les!!!!

No more whining about the calls, You have to put the ball in the net to win and when you are up by one man for so long and don’t put the ball in the net there is no one to blame but your teams inability to score. End of Story!!!!!
Oz played great but in the end lost such is the world cup.

the fact is: in Asia the betting still open after match start, after Spanish Ref show a red card, all the money rush to the Australia side, then a last second PK, Guess who win? that’s bussiness, italian did nothing wrong, It’s Gambling bussiness kick Australia out.

Yeah Danny. I share the same feeling with u. I think highly of Italy but was damn disappointed by the way they won. Being a team with rich tradition in football, they should be showing the others the decent and sporting way to play.

Italy got their luck this time around!

So there should be no more cries of conspiracy theories or anti-Italy plots until the next round when they should easily take care of a lackluster Ukraine.

But can Italy beat Spain or Brazil. I don’t think so.

Australia could have taken the match to extra-time and won on penalties. But let’s put their unlucky exit down to a lack of cunning. The Italians are old hands at gaining the odd advantage, like falling over an opponent when it matters.

Totti tried it in Korea and got red-carded. Grosso tried it in Germany and got a penalty in return. It could have gone either way, but as I said, ITALY GOT LUCKY THIS TIME!

I have to write this to get it off my chest because I will be thinking about this for a very long time!!! If you can’t be bothered reading then fair enuff.

The Socceroos have done us proud through the whole World Cup. They have not had it easy with some referee decisions, but that can be said for other countries as well.
1).. Japan’s first goal was a blatant foul on our Keeper but we came back and recorded our first ever victory in a World Cup.
2).. Vs Brazil it seemed that the Brazilians were falling over with out a hint of contact and Harry Kewell let the Ref know about it after the match.
3).. Besides Kalac’s abysmal performance, which match have you seen a player get 3 yellow cards in one match? Simunic was very lucky. Also, which Ref blows the final whistle when the ball is on its way to be a goal?
Our fighting spirit and our attitude towards every game was awesome. I cannot remember a time we took a dive or played to the Ref to give us a free kick. Should we start? I don’t think it’s the Ozzie way….

I think we played Italy off the park in a more attractive style of play and that the penalty was not warranted…I also got the feeling that Italy played to their strengths defensively and countered to perfection. They did look more lethal on goal. 10 Men is “not” always a big disadvantage as there have been many times the 10 sided team has won (this is a another case ), but that should have not been a Red Card. For those who have said Red Card = Penalty, I think not…I would take the Penalty any day of the week.
I feel hard done by as an ozzie as many Italians have felt hard done by in previous world cups. At least you guys get there every 4 years, have another billion (exaggeration) tournaments throughout the year to see your team play. Us Ozzies have never been this far in a World Cup and to see us get this far and get taken out by a controversial decision with approx 6 secs of play left, that’s where I feel cheated.
You can’t take anything away from Italy as they did what any other soccer/football player would have done in that situation (milk it for what it was worth)…the ref was in the perfect spot to make a decision, which “could” have gone either way, I say “could” because it DID go the “other” way.. I have seen the replay many times now and I think the ref thought Lucas Neil tripped him with his left arm, but it was just to protect his head from getting hit..it was the perfect oppurtunity to take and Grosso knew it..Totti’s penalty was perfect….it’s just hard to accept what has happened.

Well done Guus Hiddink, Graham Arnold, Frank Lowy and John O’Neill and the rest of the socceroos team, what a memory!!!

What a joke – as an Aussie rules fan I almost got seduced by this sport we call soccer. Thank God the ref has steered me back to a real man’s sport and not a game for divers, cheats and actors. In this country, soccer will now slip back into obscurity behind aussie rules and rugby where it belongs!!!

“Italians smell and are dirty”

hey jaamal you’re my hero(pathetic)!
are you so brave to say that face to face?
behind a keyboard we can be all heroes…like David Bowie’s song “just for one day”

however,it’s ever so:everybody
hates Italian team,Italian game,Italian mafia :D(and also Italians!),but we don’t care about,and I repeat that Italians don’t accept lessons about CALCIO from Americans(what experience!),Australians…(oh god!but isn’t football a sport for Slavic and Italian?)first of all cause we sleep with a CALCIO’s ball since the crib and then
cause fortune is a wheel that turns for everyone.
you can talk and write for ever…they’re only words…

Lorenzo De Medici said:
“quant’è bella giovinezza
che si fugge tuttavia
chi vuol essere lieto sia
di doman non v’è certezza”
or:we don’t know what will happen tomorrow,so ENJOY IT.

Pity for the aussies, you deserve more than that. Is strange how some teams always manage to go through no matter how bad they play. I will support Ukraine now.

instead of a video ref, why not have two on field refs. That way the ref could be right near the play instead of having to call from 25 yards back (even though the italian penalty was given by a ref in the proper position). I think it would help out with a lot of “dive” calls as well as hand balls that are hard to see from a distance…plus it would keep video out the sport.

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!

I’m an ex pat Englishman who watched the Italy/Australia game live in a packed Sydney bar last night. I don’t think anyone could believe the ref’s decision to award a penalty to Italy’s Fabio Grosso, after he decided to fall (rather than step) over Lucas Neill’s already prone body. Neither could my old mates in UK – who texted me within minutes of the final whistle. He just so blatantly got it wrong. If you look at the replays he looks like an idiot and once more (like Maradonna’s ‘hand of God’ incident) his error sent a worthy team out of the competition under very dubious circumstances.

Admittedly he gave a harsh red card decision earlier in the game, that saw Italy’s Materazzi leaving the pitch early; but as I’ve stated, the clear cut error that ended Australia’s run of luck was just incredible – especially with them playing so well throughout. Extra time might have seen a different team progressing.

Something needs to be done about the quality of refereeing in this great competition.

http://www.expatworldcup.com

My guess is that the referee really needed to take a sh*t and he couldnt wait another 30mins for extra time….i cant think of another reason that would possess a ref to make such an appalling decision in the last 12 seconds of stoppage time…

Ok. Now it’s a new day, and all the replays are on the web. We don’t have to rely on people’s memories, or on idiots who didn’t watch the match (hence being here on the blog) but say that “Italians always dive — it’s not their fault, it’s in their culture”, or any of the other quite racist comments that have made this board so ugly.

This web clip has the foul from many different angles: http://youtube.com/watch?v=3G7tCw7SVA4
Watch it. Watch it several times.

There are two questions: Was the player diving (like all Italians do), and was a penalty kick justified?

If you watch the reply, there is absolutely no question that he was not diving. It is absolutely obvious that he tripped over Neill. Neill slides down right in front of Grosso (some people on the board have said Neill “fell”, or was just lying there). Grosso taps the ball to the side, but gets his legs tangled up with Neill. Just take a look at the clips replays between :30 and :45. Remember that the clip is in slow-mo, and Grosso is running very fast. Can anyone really doubt that he tripped over Neill? Is anyone still pathetically shouting “Italians always cheat”? Grow up.

As for whether the penalty was justified. I’m not a referee. The laws of the game state: If a player “trips or attempts to trip an opponent” in the penalty area, then a penalty is granted. Well, to me it seems clear that Neill tripped Grosso, but perhaps the rules require intention. Maybe Neill didn’t “intend” to trip Grosso, but just made a terrible slide tackle in front of him. Either way it’s obviously not clear-cut. It seems to me that many other referees would have granted the same penalty, but that’s probably for someone like Aaron to decide, who I hope gets to writing about this game quickly.

materazzi wrongly shown red card…..as usual italy unjustly punished against a very sharp australian team coached by the same man that masterminded italy`s exit last world cup(unjustly….two good goals disallowed).anyway penalty doubtful even though on a closer look australian defender does lift an elbow on grosso`s shin. But ……. accepted …..a gift! For once !!! Forza italia!we would have had them in xtra time anyways!! its all good as italians we have the whole world watching us nclosely as usual!!!!! Final…?? england or brazil vs italy. italy 2006 fifa world champion !!! From italian ultras…..ZAMBIA

Having some small experience as a referee, I just want to say that Niell’s intention has very little to do with whether a penalty is given. The main criteria is: did the Italian’s lose an opportunity? The answer is definitely yes, and then the question is how big an opportunity… unfortunately it is quite a big one. Hence the referee chose to award a penalty as compensation. Note: He COULD have awarded and indirect free kick, which is taken from the edge of the goal box. Its up to him to decide how much compensation is deserved.

Niell may not have intended to obstruct Grosso, but by the way he tackled (he didnt really challenge the ball, he went to block it and got it wrong) and then went to ground, he produced an obstruction which made it hard for Grosso to have a chance at goal. Of course, Grosso did exaggerate the fall, but the fact is that he would have been affected by Niell’s obstruction. So the ref had to blow it…

The penalty was the main issue in this game, and the red card that so many people say was harsh… was only slightly harsh, the tackle was clearly late and somewhat dangerous with both legs in the air, a semi-slide tackle… not an automatic red card but certainly risking it with a (slightly) strict ref (who I will now commend for a good performance and managing to keep the players in line for most of the game).

Finally, I thought the game was quite good… the Australians played very well, and based on possession they did well in the mid-field, giving them more attacking opportunities which they unfortunately failed to execute. Ultimately Italian strikers posed more of a threat to the Australian goal (when they got the opportunity), and probably deserved to win. Regardless I wish it had gone into extra time, and we got to see some real (exciting) goals!

And the oscar goes to…
Italy!
Shame on you, Italy and double shame on you FIFA-mafia. Youve really hijacked the worlds greatest game – who died n made YOU such Hitlers anyway -huh! The worst refs ive seen in any world cup. And a red card to italy in the 50th is NOT the the same as a penalty in the 94th. One you can play on – the other you can’t. Only the Italians have the gaul to run around the pitch celebrating after the goal -like they actually achieved anything resembling sportsmanship.
Enjoy your slimey,psuedo victory – you’ll get your ass kicked-karma-style soon enough-then we’ll really see some babies crying!

Italians won…just coz luck was on their side otherwise our Socceroos were almost walking all over them wogs…

GO Socceroos
Go Kewl

Lot’s of whining Austrailians..look you slide into someone in the pentaly area and what the heck do you expect ???? Learn to play the great game with style and finese and maybe you to can be a great football nation..

Anyone who remembers 3 Italian goals being called back due to very questionable offside calls last time around will know the refs NEVER give the Itals a break..

US – still can’t figure out who let’s your useless team dirty up these games…stop your whining, you can’t win a game that is why you’re at home..watching it.

PLAZ

I’m an Aussie and I must accept the facts. Football is a game where the winner is based on who scores. Australia has an excellent defense and midfield. We just don’t have a striker of the calibre of a world class side. Our striker can not score. Our forwards score irregularly. We need a world class forward. I’ll admit that the italians had us smothered in their defense, but if you gave a team like Argentina 40 minutes to score a goal, they would capitalise possibly a few times, rather than not. We knew the Italians would play defensively. Our game was based around a full on attack. The attacks worthless if you can’t score. I won’t question the validity of the penatly. Like my opinion will matter with the entire world already stating theirs. All that matters in my mind is that for the first time in my entire life I’ve watched Australian soccer and been immensely proud, rather than completely frustrated, in the past two weeks. I just hate that it’s now only dribs and drabs for another 4 years.

The only way Italy won was by cheating… The refs in the world cup where totally against the aussies…. I believe Australia would have made teh semies had it not been for the Italian cheats…They did not deserve the win

Bob, that must be some good Aussie crack down there.

How did they cheat exactly?
They were forced to play a man short the entire second half !!!

Who exactly pay’d for that ?

LOL
Plaz

Australia deserved to win. Can’t believe Australia was cheated like that. As a fan who has seen the socceroos fail to qualify so many times by so little, this was a slap in the face. But I expected no more from the Italians. I just can’t believe the Italians got a penalty!!! With two subs we would have definately won from there. But Italy crowded their box and made no effort to attack. They just crowded the box and played the awful football the world knows they play. Then they send on Totti so he can take the penalty that is going to be awarded after the training ground diving practice. And the ref, who should have seen it wasn’t a penalty (as Del Piero’s free kick earlier was *^%$), let the game go on for 2 minutes too long into extra time. The nation, non-soccer fans and soccer fans, were devastated. But now everyone here is happy that we made it this far despite Fifa trying to let only the ‘big’ teams go through. So lets all go for Ukraine now!!! And let the Italian cheats go home. PS One of the Italian players handballed it in their box to stop an Australian player having a free shot on goal. That was a real penalty, but wasn’t given.

By the way, the Italians deserved the red card. If you are the last man and you completely miss the ball and take out the player, then you get a red card. Plus it was studs up and was a hospital challenge anyway – I’ve seen a lot less equal a red in this world cup. Another thing is that I really respect those Italians who are embarrassed of their team’s tactics (defend and go for penalty at end), the other fans should be big enough to admit that, but if they can’t, that is also understandable. I think Fifa should look back at the footage and give Grosso a three match ban. I know many of the other players do it as well, and when you play like the Italians did you don’t need to be too skillful and don’t need your best players to play that tactic, but maybe it would stop individuals from doing it (unless they decided to sacrafice themselves like they are sacraficing ‘good’ football).

Next World Cup Australia should try the Italian tactic and put Russel Crowe, Heath Ledger, and Nicole Kidman in our lineup.

Oh and by the way, Plazomat has no idea. haha

As an Australian I watched this match days ago and was absolutely shattered. Firstly I’d like to state that Australians are NOT whingers, we’re incredibly proud of how far our team have come, but for the few who are, who can blame them? Our dreams are over…If Italy had won the match fair and square then fine,(they also had plenty of time to score early on and failed to do so…with some excellent saves by aussie Mark schwarzer!) we’d be upset but we’d move on a lot faster. Winning on a dodgy penalty kick is nothing to be proud of and likewise proves nothing about which side is better. If memory serves me right, Neil went to kick the ball away but fell in doing so, and Grosso was running too fast not to fall over him. I dont blame the Italian for falling, it did look like an accident, but the fact that the penalty was awarded 10 seconds before the end of normal time is MIGHTY suspicious. And the worst part about this cruel ending for our team who have so much integrity and spirit (something some other teams certainly lack) is the fact that we will never know what could have been. In my opinion we could have won because italy we wearing down towards the end and im sure the great Aloisi would have scored in extra time. Plus history shows us that had it gone to a penalty shoot out, the odds would have been stacked in our favour. I’m not saying that we’re better than Italy. But to lose because of that idiot ref was infuriating! I guess I’m still suffering from socceroos withdrawal.

I hope Germany beats Italy in the semis.

Go Italy! This night Italy will continue his world cup… Bye bye Australia, see you next time!

CURSE you Italy WC team…you will go down in this World Cup like the way you did to Australia…SHAME on you…Italy WC team is a shame and bring bad name to this beautiful game…you should call yourselves as “DIVITALY” WC team…

Yup, I have no idea….looks like Italy was acting again today..

Acting like when they feel like it they can wipe the pitch with all who dare get on against them..

No penalties, 3 goals and on to the semis..they were cheating again right..they should have let the Ukes back into the game..

See ya in 4, good luck then,

Plaz

fifa needs to get refs that can actually do there job properly. if anything it should have been ausralias free kick because the italian player dived. its a discrase!!!!

mimmo your a discrase aswell…ur an aussie go for the australians …bye bye italy coz there not going to win the world cup!!

The Australians played like some rampant primates. About time that damn referee saw his chance to make up for his stupid mistakes of not seeing the many fouls made by the grappling ‘roos’. Granted tho, Australians did better than expected by the Italians, perhaps why they did so badly and didn’t release Totti till the end. Also, when will Australians pick something better of a name? ‘Roos’ sound like ‘poos’ and isn’t the kangaroo so overused as it is? Why not use the platypus?

hey wt does everyone think of what happened on big brother what a scandle ay? hahahahahahahahahahaha go the socceroos

ive heard enough comments and bullsh*t bout the italian team. WHERE HAS AUSTRALIA BEEN, U THINK OZ WOS GONNA WIN, they played good but not goodenough years ago no one even cared who the socceroos were and pepole whould laugh if they made it to a world cup. and dnt forget 2002 when italy should have one most games but due too poor refering we went out again. but no one complains when brazil win every match or world cup. so i say this, now that my team italy r in the final AGAIN how many aussies r jump on this band wagon like they already are FORZA ITALIA

why australians up set bout italy, wot were happened if and australian player had the ball and didnt pay the penalty i bet the socceroos still wouldve been upset and italy still wouldve been picked on! it wos a refs decision and thats it i wouldve done wot grasso did wouldnt u. Neil came slidn in and did go for the ball but miss he obstacted grasso’s path when niel slid and contacted grasso’s feet so he triped oops! All i have to say is for people who know what soccer is IT WAS THE WRONG TACKLE AT THE WRONG TIME ANDTHE WRONG PLACE you dont slide tackle a player in penalty box u mite as well give the opposition the goal

why australians up set bout italy, wot were happened if and australian player had the ball and didnt pay the penalty i bet the socceroos still wouldve been upset and italy still wouldve been picked on! it wos a refs decision and thats it i wouldve done wot grasso did wouldnt u. Neil came slidn in and did go for the ball but miss he obstacted grasso’s path when niel slid and contacted grasso’s feet so, he triped oops! All i have to say is for people who know what soccer is IT WAS THE WRONG TACKLE AT THE WRONG TIME AND THE WRONG PLACE you dont slide tackle a player in penalty box u mite as well give the opposition the goal. 50/50 chance a ref will give a penalty in this case he did.

HEY BALLACKLOVER WE BEAT GERMANY FORZA ITALIA 2-0

just wanted to say to all those people who do not think that grosso was a cheating diver and that the italy side does not encourage diving to look at the replay again (http://youtube.com/watch?v=3G7tCw7SVA4) and answer this question: immediately after falling over niell, did grosso’s teammates then race over to congratulate him on a job well done? certainly looks like it to me.

Italy plays a dirty game.
That says it all.

ah well guess who went on to win the cup? ………
ITALY !!!!!

FORZA ITALIA GO AZZURRI

Australia had to win the cup!!
That stupid grosso… it wasn’t a penalty!! :(

Forza Italia…oh look they are the Champions and you all are still whining about a WELL DESERVED PENALTY…

Really he tackled him in the box WTF do you expect, an Aussie free kick? No wait an Aussie penalty, or just call the game and give it to Austrailia.

I guess they cheated when the wiped out Ukraine, Germany and the French.

Plenty of room on the Italian Band Wagon, come on get on it, we teach you a thing or twenty.

PLAZ

Yep, Laundromat, Australia was robbed and the Italians just fixed yet another match. But the problem is the RULES – FIFA cannot stand by and let refs make decisions without help from avalailable technologies. Since cameras scrutinize every decision, refs can never win and the best team also struggles to win. Give them access to a 3rd umpire (video) like cricket and restore fairness into the game.

Unlike Australian rules where a number of points are amassed byu either side, soccer is decifient in that scores like 0-0, 1-0, etc or a win on penalty shootout do not necessatily indicate the best team. Its often just a lottery… might as well score like paper-rock-scissors. FIFA need to come up with a better system of umpiring decision-making for penalties and resolution of tied scores.

Plaz is a w@nker – enough said

I agree, use instant replay. Then the countless BS calls that go against ITALY would have been rectified and they’d have a few more CUPS.

Penalties are a lousy thing, I agree come up with something better. But Italy lost a CUP on penalties, so this evens things out.

BTW did anyone really think that ITALY was offside when they scored thier second goal. The offside man was not in the play and the goal should have counted..

Or the french penalty, the player called was behind the action and did not impead the frencman at all, fixed…yeah Zidane was supposed to win not Italy..

Anyone who has watched any previous WC’s knows that we NEVER get the benifit of any ref’s call. The tackle in the box was a penalty, and always will be a penalty get over it already.

Matt: I will leave you with this, if you’re ever in the great white north, look me up well go out get a few drinks then you can show me how you do roos in the rear…

Plaz

italia was the best team in the world cup best defence and if italy never got that undeserved red card they wouldn’t have taken out toni then more strike force.

Go Italia
sure they might have cheated agents Australia but they played far in the final
pluss australia had 1 more man then italy so they proberbly would not have beaten them if the couldnt do it with italy 10 players
FORZA ITALIA

i thought the decision in the australia italy match was awesome the refs are great dont bag em,aussies are sooks they all suck and by the way get over it you sooks
i reckon san marino could beat australia
italy for life!!!!!!!!!!!

Dunno, mate. Sucks that we lost, and I’m not saying it was an unfair penalty, but come on! Who calls a penalty EIGHT SECONDS from the end of the match?! Seriously? Who does that? But whatev… it’s alright, ‘cos the whole world was going for us Aussies, and the only people who wanted Italy to win were Italians. I mean, everybody likes Aussies more than Italians. No offense, but, it’s the truth. And personally, more power to Zidane for the headbutt. And to all you Italians who bitch about Australians whinging about the penalty, you guys won the world cup! You have nothing to complain about. You can’t have it both ways. You either lose the world cup, and then you bitch, or you win the world cup and shut the hell up. Which one would you prefer?

Can I just firstly say congratulations to Italy for winning the World Cup, I think that there determination certainly against Germany and France was World-Cup-Winning class but the penalty really wasnt a penalty, it was proved that Grosso fell on his own accord and not tripped by Neill. But if it had gone into extra time I believe that Italy would’ve took the game, they were constantly around the Aussie box and something would’ve provailed. However, Australia were still ‘cheated’ out of the most prestigous tournament the world of sport has ever seen. This should be the final straw for the need of Video Referees and I for one would love for them to be installed by the South Africa World Cup in 2010 to let teams like Australia and also England (as Wayne Rooney’s red card verus Portugal was again proved not to be) to have a say. Maybe a system like the American Football body NFL have, were you can make a certain amount of challenges to have a call overturned and the officals watch the action on a screen?

Italy have had a lot of bad luck for a number of years 1990, 1994, 1998 losing out to penalties. 2000, 2002 eliminated by a golden goal and 2004 eliminated by a 2-2 draw between the scandanavian alliance of Sweden and Denmark. Well this world cup a ref gave us the benefit of the doubt. That’s it (no mafia, no paying off FIFA and no conspiracy against Australia, all ridiculous claims) Again we were almost undone by the sending off a player. Nobody looks at the fact that Australia had 40 minutes with the man advantage and all they did was knock the ball around..Buffon had absolutely nothing to do all half. Australia were getting tired by the end of the half. Italy showed greater heart and determination and held strong, Australia were a team at the end of their rope trying to hold on for penalty kicks with a little luck. Saying Australia would have won the match in Extra Time is extremely presumptuous. Australia played the possesion game pretty well but didn’t look dangerous in front of goal at all. It was pathetic really. The Italians were bitter and angry after their 2002 elimination at the hands of Korea and they were told by everyone to suck it up and stop being poor sports and here we are in a similar situation and the self-righteous have become the bitter and twisted. Well you win some and you lose some and this is our time so we’re going to enjoy it. So take your own advice and suck it up.

that game was a discrase italy shame on you why would you dive? huh? it was appaling you are taking the spitit out ov the game!!

Austrailia lost because they had no experience, no game plan and no leadership on the field..pretty important components missing there…You Australians should look at the bigger picture not 5 seconds of controversy.

don’t you think the big sponsors, the advertising and the billions of dollars being made by commercials which sell the World Cup as if it were a product are taking the spirit out of the game. Anyone with a brain can tell you that the spirit of the game has long since died. I guess you can find your scapegoat in Italy but Australia doesn’t exactly exemplify good sportsmanship, need I remind you of the “friendly” they played against the netherlands…

ITALYYY ROCKS ALLL THE WAYYY HHHAHAHHAHAH THE WON

I find it very depressing how most of the comments containing “Forza Italia!” are comments from Australia. Glory seekers who support what land their grandparents came from because they feel they have more of an opportunity to brag because Italy have a better chance than Australia. It makes me sick to think we have so many Italian nationalists in this country. If Italy is such a great country; then fuck off and go home. You’ll see how messed up and unstable it really is.

Ok guys
heres what happened. I thought this was clear enough for all, but judging from these posts maybe it wasnt: at the 50th minute I gave a red card to Marco Materazzi for something which was hardly a foul at all (please go and rewatch the part of the match with the red card to Italy). My sense of guilt was plauging me from the 50th minute onwards and, as often happens to referees, the penalty against Australia was also a way of repairing for the previous error. I dont know who youre trying to kid when you seem to forget the Materazzi red card. Yourselves?

Luis Medina Cantalejo (spanish umpire for the match)

To Peter.

messed up and unstable?
why dont you abstain from talking about something you know nothing about.

australia is a country that does nothing more, even today, than live off the natural resources it has (or someone else had).

consequently the idea of bringing back youths of italian origin back in italy is a very welcome one. australia is a land, still today, of ignorant parasites like Peter. Italy today is leading the sales in helicopters (Agusta), ships (Fincantieri), trains (Ansaldo together with the French Alstom), semiconductor chips (STMicro,with the French again, no1 in Europe), satellites (Thales Alenia Space) etc etc.
So if Australia is full of bigots like Peter, and Italy is desperate to find youngsters who dont necessarily want to be managers but are willing to work in production I think we could just make everyone happy here.

to those guys and gals out there of Italian origin, why dont you consider leaving Australia for good?

This is the year 2007. And in 2007 Australia is still a British colony for goodness sake! To be ANYONES colony at this point in time is just pathetic. I mean by this that if Australia were to suck up to France, say, who have a very rich culture and leading multinationals like Alstom, Thales, Vinci, Accor, LVMH, Carrefour, Alcatel etc etc etc would still be very pathetic. But guys, to still be a British colony in 2007 ????????

There are here many European organizations, such as the European Union, European Central Bank, European Space Agency, CERN etc. and all have had Italian and French leaders. When was the last time someone from the UK was made head of the Europena Commission? and why not? beacuse theyre just parasites. what about Germans? nobody can stand their guts… extremely nationalist and nothing to show for it…. isnt that always the case….

guys dont waste your time down in australia. time is precious. move over to italy. or try spain and/or france first before moving to italy. Carpe diem!

Peter you are a disgrace. Next time you’re sip[ing on a “latte” or munching down your “pasta” (unless youre the kinda of guy that loves witchettigrubs and meat pies) just think of who you’re telling to go “home”. All the Brits accomplished here was Aboriginal genocide and build a few shacks. Italians built this country in many ways. Italy is a great country. Probably the most fancied in the world. Australia is great too. Australian Italians enjoy the best of both. Suck it up – just because you have nothing but bread and butter pudding and your pay to piss up against the wall doesnt mean you can tell off the most influential race of all time. Remember this next time youre wearing your Italian designer clothes while eating your pizza STRONZO. Just remember which Australian Italians got the Socceroos to the World Cup – Bresciano’s goal and Aloisi’s penalty. VA FUNK, DA NOI

Australia lost because soccer is not rugby or criket, because soccer is an art, because soccer is tradition, history, ability, experience, palying smart. Italy is the history of soccer together with Brazil, Argentina and Germany. All other teams are mere chipers. We stand ever on the top with our 4 stars (for now!!)

To David

For someone like Peter you are only really an Australian if you are of British origin. And there is no point in wasting your breath on someone like Peter. The more important point is that this is the typical British, and therefore Australian, point of view.

Again my advice would be to leave. If you are an engineer or of a technical field I can give you some pointers. And not just for Italy. Even in the US one would be better off, at least in some ways. And the average cultural level in Canada, say, is light years ahead of Australia. Staying in Australia is just a waste of time.

Try putting these keywords in a google search:

neuron UAV, ESA, piaggio avanti, FREMM, ORFEO (pleiades + cosmo), multijet, fincantieri, agusta, ansaldo, vega launcher, 787 dreamliner le grottaglie, aermacchi M346, ATR regional aircraft, alenia C27J spartan, US presidential helicopter,
etc etc

I agree with you Signor Messed Up.

Most patriotic Australians, let’s face it, are simply nothing more than descendants of convicts from the pre-WWII era.

Since the arrival of Europeans post WWII – predominantly Italians – Australia has grown to be the tourist attraction and economical powerhouse that it is today.

Unfortunately, like always, the British Australians would like to take credit for how good Australia is.

As far as I’m concerned, every non-aborigine of Australia is a foreigner here.

So Peter, or Pietro as Italian Australians would have it, it’s time to learn a thing or two about ‘Our’ country and ‘Our’ Socceroos.

Australia is not British. It’s a land of prisoners and refugees that’s come good.

It’s also time you learned something about Football.

It’s the greatest game. Perfected by Italians, Brazilians and other Latin races.

Do Italian Australians tell people of British descent to piss off back to Britain? There are thousands of patriotic Brits here who still support Scotland and England.

The only reason why you never see any sporting patriotism for them is because THEY SUCK at world renowned sports (and even at colony sports).

Italy won the World Cup. I’m in Australia and I support Italy. Always have and always will.

We brought Italy here to Australia and it’s only going to grow even more. You should be used to it Peter – you’ve been living amongst Italians your whole life in Australia. Live your “flat white” lifestyle as you will. La Dolce Vita…

If it were not for the ground work of the Italians, Germans and Dutch in Australian soccer and football, Australia would still be a farce in World Football under the guidance of the so called Brit-Australians.

Lowy, La Paglia, Farina, Bresciano, Grella, Vidmar brothers, Zabica, Valeri, Viduka, Skoko, Schwarzer, Popovic, Kalac, Yankos, Les Murray, Aloisi – are all names that put Australian football on the world stage.

We are in every sport in this country – AFL, cricket, union, league, tennis – the lot.

You live in our apartment designs and architecture. We are on every street corner with our food, cafes and lifestyle and drive on every road – Ferrari, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Ducati, and run your fashion world too – Kappa, Versace, Dolce Gabbana. http://www.ausitalia.com for more Peter. You might learn a thing.

Pay credit where credit’s due.

Italian Australians still support the Socceroos.

But we, Italians, are also world champions. Choke on it.

Forza Australia
Forza Italia

David sei grande!!!!!!!!!!! We made the history of World

I’m and Italian/Australian and all I have to say after living in both countries for several years is both countries have there great freedom and standards of living. Australians are nothing like the British, they are a very friendly and happy bunch of people who are some of the nicest people Ive ever met. I can’t prove this seeing that Ive only stayed in the north but I’m pretty shore its the same everywhere else.

Italy won
Fair

A few words for messedup and david.
It seems so ironic that you people can harm the reputation of our proud and welcoming country when in essence you have no idea what you are talking about. Ok Italy won the world cup and along the way beat Australia, in what im sure you guys can even admit was a controversial game. Congratulations. But for you people to say what you have said is an absolute disgrace and you should be ashamed. Its people like you that typify what Italians stand for. You are an arrogant, shameless race, who only really seem to care what they look like. How dare you criticise the Australian way when you have no idea what actually goes on here. We have provided sound comfotable lives for huindreds of thousands of Italians, and growing up with a number of Australians with Italian background, they always stank of arrogance and a sense that they thought they were better than everyone else. David and messedup you two are what we aussies would say absolute pricks. You are narrow minded fools who read the media about our past and think they know everything about Australia. And messedup, you really must be messed up. Do you not think there is a reason why so many Italians come to Australia and choose to stay in Australia. Instad of saying, that staying is Australia is a waste of time why dont you come here yourself and see what the fuss is all about tou idiot. Your right, the Italian race, as well as many other races are integral to the economic success that our country enjoys, but in contradiction to what you idiots have said, these Italians choose to integrate into our society and call themselves Australians. You know what? im sick of writing about this topic. You two are complete and utter dickheads. Didnt your parents ever teach you not to talk unless you have something constuctive to say. Congratulations to Italy on your success, but for david and messed up i hope you choke on it you italian poofters.

Dear John (as im sure your homo and bi boyfriend lovers have left you so many letters the morning after),

All that can be drawn from your “spat” on the defensive is that you are slightly racist.

“We Australians” and “You people” = johny is a redneck that pumps “cotton eyed joe” in his gemini.

If you honestly think there is any such race as a pure Australian (referring to the “we Aussies” term that you use) then you are the one that is mistaken.

This country was a prison until 1861 for the British. It was then settled by mainly more Brits, Chinese, Germans and Italians.

Before the arrival of your prisoner descendants, this country was inhabited by the people that YOUR kind classed Aborigines.

To johny – Do you know what aboriginal means jerk off? It’s a term used to describe the national race of that particular country. ie dumbnuts, Swedes are the aborigal race of Sweden and so on.

Therefore the word “Australian” applies to the people that your Brit settlers called “Aborigines”. Therefore you are more than likely a Brit-Australian.

We are Italo-Australian. And we love it. We have the best of both worlds.

Your descendants did nothing for this country except kill off the people that you Brits class as “coons” and “black fellas”.

Italians built the majority of this country termed “Australia”.

So this proud country, as you call it, is only so proud because of its Italian influence. Without it, it would still be stacked with shacks and our capital cities would resemble Cairns and Darwin.

The Brits would never have imagined that bringing us “southern european darkies” would bring so much success aye?

Us people, as you would call Italo-Australians, are not only Australians, which we are extremely proud of, but also Italian, we we are also extremely proud of.

Italians mainly came to this country after world war 2 after being sold on the idea that Australia was paradise.

Instead Italians found a miserable country fueled by binge drinking “yobbos” with a poor economy and a tasteless national diet of meat pies and bangers and mash.

The main reason why we never left to go back in the 50’s and 60’s was because there was no money to do so. Instead Italians stayed and faced the Brits’ racist taunts but were strong enough to band together and build a great community. Take a look around your cities Italian clubs and cafes etc.

Ask any economist. This country would be nothing without its tourism. Italian settlers beautified a country thats face was dried, ugly and lacking class – much like yourself johny-boy.

And as for football, Australian football (or soccer) would be stuck in the 50’s without Italo-Australians.

I’m an Italo-Australian and there are hundreds of thousands like me. We are the second largest ethnic group behind Brit-Australians.

This is not a war of words against Australians, as there are many kinds of Australians. Remember johny, Australia is a multi-cultural country, full of many races. It’s not a country of just Brits.

Our lesson to the people that think all Italians are cheats, and those that think Australia would have beaten Italy and won the world cup is that simply you know nothing about football and that you should learn not to label us just because Italy beat Australia in the world cup.

Secondly to the people that think the EPL is actually good football – learn Italian or Spanish and watch some real football. Serie A, La Liga, Clausura and many other leagues are of a much higher standard. You just don’t watch them because you can only speak English, read English tabloids and believe the EPL hype and marketing.

Johny – vergognati – it means shame. Italians know all about shame. We are ashamed of the Brit-Australian racists like yourself.

Johny we Italo-Australians have integrated just fine. Thanks for your tips.

It should be you Brits that learn to understand that Australians are not blonde haired (or the typical red dog like yourself)and blue eyed. “WE” Australians are dark, fair and yellow.

Deal with it.

Forza Australia, Forza Italia, Siamo Campioni del mondo.

David you certainly do know it all dont you ? First of all i do know what the word indigenous means. And
yes the aboriginal people (dont say, aboriginie, it is a racial slur david) are the indigenous people of Australia. If you think we are proud of what happened as a nation then you are the jerk off my friend. What happened in the past is the past, we cannot change that, but you as an Italian-Australian as you call yourself would know that we as a country do everything in our power to help out the indigenous peole of our land as best as possible. But this is a separate issue all together isnt it
David?
You claim David, that we are all redneck racists and that our descendents did nothing for this country, whatever mate. For one you do not know the background of myself. You David are an Australian, I am an Australian, even if my mother was born in Lebanon, David. So am i a Lebanese Australian ? well no David, im sorry, but i am Australian. I am so proud to call myself an Australian, that when i hear yourself and that messed up dickhead, slag our country ,that if you dont like it David , as Peter stated, Fuck off back to Italy.
I am not racist David infact, im as for off a racist as you can get. I have alot of friends with Italian background. I do not hate the Italian race, at all. But as i stated in the previous posting, you Italian people are arrogant, and know it alls. Your postings are actually laughable, and prove my points precisely. You go on as if life as we know it wouldnt exist if Italians were not around. Well let me tell you David, that it would.
Im sorry if i went over the top in my last posting David, but surely you can see where my anger has come from. You have judged me on my posting as a racist amongst other things, when i think you are the one showing racism David. Yourself and messed up have unleashed a verbal barrage on our country, because Peter has told you to fuck off. That in my opinion is a sign of weakness, and is certainly not a trait that the all powerful Italian would resort to, is it?
And at the end of the day this
is not a racial thing, or whatever, it is simply about a game of soccer. And David and all you other people who want to
attack our country i will say this. Soccer is a game in Australia that mostly kids play. once kids hit their teens they mostly will go play other sports, such as rugby, cricket or whatever. So what im trying to say is that soccer is probably not in our 5 most popular sports. In Italy, it is a matter of life and death. Geez you will even kill policemen if the results arent going your way. Soccer is so important in Italy, that supporters base their entire lives on causing trouble and violence, and even club officials will pay off the ref, just to win a game. I mean if italy can only thrive when their is a scandal going on then
that certainly speaks volumes about you doesnt it. So if we add up all these factors, plus the fact we only have 20 million
people to choose from, and then add in the fact we almost beat you, who would not be a proud Australian, even you David are allowed to show some pride.

Johny, that load of crap you just stuttered out was neither intelligent nor possessed any substance.

Never thought anyone would ever ditch their heritage to claim gold – but then again, if I were Lebanese I probably would too.

I mean, you had a go at me about Italian football and life and death…

You Johny are the load that should have been swallowed.

Lebanon (assuming youre not from Senegal like most Australian Lebanese) is a great comparison…life and death…

You shoot down Italians in general for a cop killing whilst your people kill each other out of normality. Civil war is your break away from plotting agains the jews.

And as for Italians in Australia being arrogant and whatever you wanna put them down with…

How many Italians have been on 60 minutes for gang rape?

And fancy a dip at Cronulla beach?

No wonder youve ditched your heritage.

MA VA FUNK

Forza Italia – Siamo Campioni del Mondo

dudes, this game was over a year ago??? …….

also, you should all come and check out my football forum:

poor old David you dont really seem to be grasping the point i am trying to make. But its ok David we can not all be so intelligent. You know what David i wrote such a long post and cancelled it because it was probably a bit to agressive, so i really cant be bothered writing, but one issue that i think is quite important is still going to feature here.
So David in short, i do not dislike Italians , i was merely stating that the italians i do know are quite arrogant. And David, whilst my father is anglo, yes my mother is Lebanese. I went to Lebanon for the first time in 2004. It was the most beautiful country with the most welcomming people i have ever come across , and i met family that i never knew existed. You David are a fucking genius. You seem to handle criticism so well. When someone pays you out you come up with the greatest of all comebacks. Hey everyone !!!!! because david got called arrogant lets beat up on a country that has been totally destroyed, had thousands killed or disfigured and left many more homeless. Thats fucking brilliant David. While your here sipping on your latte, or cuppacino, I have family that has had to flee to the mountains because bombs are going off 20 metres in front them, and witnessing dismembered bodies in the street. You are brilliant, you low life piece of scum fungulo. A wise man once said never argue with a fool, and you my friend are a fool.

There are certain characteristics that typifies a champion. Some of these characteristics include dignity, respect to your opponents
whilst still having a strong will to win. I would say true champions include Pete Sampras, Tiger Woods and The French football team that won the World Cup and European Championships in 98 and 2000 (i think). The Italian team of 2006 are not true champions. Their conduct in this world cup, not necessarily in the later stages, but in the early games was questionable at best. Two games in particular stand out to me. The first game was against the USA, a game if people can be honest with themselves, Italy should have lost. Personally i think soccer players are soft. Being a rugby supporter, some of the stuff i saw at this world cup was a disgrace. The Holland v Portugal game was nothing short of a shambles, and pretty much the whole world cup was a joke, and in my opinion was due to the referees. But the attack i saw on Brian McBride from the Italian player was up there with
the worst i have seen from a professional footballer. USA deserved to win this game and only didnt due to an extremely dubious red card to a US player, in my opinion to square the game up.
That was game 1, and probably didnt affect Italys progress, but it might of meant Italy and Australia avoided each other, or we probably would have met each other anyway.
David i first came on to this blog to defend my country, after i heard some un-savoury comments
written. What was meant to be a conversation about soccer, has esculated into a racial war. Sure I have ripped into Italians. But you have ripped into first of all, us blue eyed blonde hair Australians, and then those lebanese rapists, whilst at the same time having the nerve to mention the plight that the country is in. I dont really know what you were trying to say in that last post, but it
is unforgivable. Maybe you would be interested to know that the situation in Lebanon has dramatically improved recently. Innocent people do not have to fear for their lives, and lets hope it stays that way, because it really it is an amazing country.
Anyway i am going to leave it there. I am going to send another post, as a sports lover, i am going to give an honest opinion on how i saw the game. It may be slightly biased, but this is going to be my truly honest opinion. Disagree with me if you like that is no problem.

Australia vs Italy.
What an occasion for Australian soccer. After years of heartbreak of just trying to qualify for the world Cup, we were finally there. After an amazing roller – coaster ride through the tournament, where i experienced some of the greatest feelings of euphoria i have ever felt, we found ourselves in the round of 16, against the powerhouse of Italy.
Instantly i was worried about this game, not necessarily because of the form that Italy had shown, but due to our best 2 players Emerton and Kewell not being available. These two are the heart of Australias team, and without them our attack would surely be extremely limited. Unlike Italy, we do not have the depth in our ranks to cover 2 world class players such as them, and it was obvious as we just lacked that bit of quality, that cutting edge.
The game finally begins. Im in England at this time, and i ring my Italian mate for a bit of friendly banter. As kids we had dreamt of this situation. As a kid, i went for any team but Italy. I had so many Italian aquaintences that it was natural to be the odd one out. I can assure you they did not take to kindly to this.
Anyway the game begins, and Italy come out firing. They are all over us. It seems like a drubbing could be on the cards, but Schwarzer keeps us in it with a couple of amazing saves. Whilst Italy are the dominant team and look much better on the ball, Australia themselves have a couple of shots themselves, most noticeably from Chipperfield who is denied by a solid Buffon. Chipperfield really should have put it away.
A dominant first half display from Italy, but it was quite obvious that the Australians had seemed to weather the storm towards the end of the half.
The second half, and Italy dont look as solid as they did in the first. Australias superior fitness is starting to show a little bit. Im not saying at this point that Australia were dominant, but they were certainly holding their own. And then the red card. Personally i felt a bit empty and disapointed that the red card was shown. At this point Australia were the favourites, and we all know Australia always perform better when they are the underdogs. I was genuinely worried. But was it really a red card. I believe if you go by the technical laws of the game it was a red card. It was a tackle at high pace, studs showing that denied Australia a potential clear shot on goal. But i also believe that common sense should have prevailed, and should have been shown a yellow. (there was an apparent lack of common sense, from referees the whole tournament. FIFA the most unbelievably incompetent governing body out there). At this point the game fizzled out a bit. Italy were forced to defend deep, whilst Australia controlled possession, but not doing a whole lot with the ball. I honestly belive if Emerton and Kewell were playing we would have won from this situation, but without them we lacked the class to cause the Italians to many problems. Whilst Australia were controlling possession, when Italy did get the ball they looked quite dangerous, and sure enough a sweeping move down the left hand side spelt absolute panic from the Australian defence, however as Grosso gets the ball in an extremely dangerous position, he cuts inside. Obviously knowing himself, that he has no right foot at all (he can only use his left foot) he takes a quite obvious dive, next to the sliding Neill who clearly does not touch him. The referee falls for it hook, line and sinker. From this moment I feel the same way i felt when Iran put that second goal on us trying to qualify for 98, basically i could not talk for 2 days. I knew the penalty was going to go in, and i didnt even look. Credit to Totti, perfect penalty.
Sorry its been a bit long but im trying to give you all an insight what this game meant to Australian people such as my self.
Its quite obvious it was a dive from Grosso. But in saying that Neill should never have left his feet, especially in the box. Its easy to say, you cheating Italians or whatever, but the fact is Grosso took advantage of a situation that many other people would have. Really it was up to the referee to see there was no contact, and he failed us. It was a tough way to go out especially as it was the last kick of the game, however take away the penalty and Italy were the better team overall, if the game was subjective, Italy would have won on points. Australia and all Australians can be so proud of their country. Not only because of how we played, but also the way in which we conducted ourselves during the tournament!

Look, you fail to understand something.

My family has been in Australia since 1955.

Not 1980, not 1985.

We are more Australian than most. But Im not going to sit there and pretend that Australia were any good in the World Cup.

Yeah the Socceroos gave it a good go. I was proud that they made it.

I bought the whole squads jerseys from 1 to 23. I have an autographed socceroos jersey framed worth quite a bit.

DOESNT MEAN THEY DESERVED TO WIN ANYTHING.

Australia was lucky to beat Uruguay on penalties. Im glad they did. I flew to Sydney just for the match.

Australia should have lost against Japan. Cahill brought down a Japanese player in the box at 1-1. It would have ended 2-1.

Brazil 2-0 standard. Just not enough class in our team. As for Croatia, Kewell’s goal was offside (scrutinised by umpteen replays – remind you of anything?)

As for Grosso’s penalty. It was a penalty before he even made contact with Neill. Anyone that knows football just knows.

They (English speaking sooky media) interviewed 20 referees. EVERY ONE OF THEM SAID ITS A PENALTY.

What did anyone say about Henry’s penalty against Portugal for 1-0? or Malouda’s penalty in the final? NOTHING.

You talk of respect. None of the Australian players show any respect except for Bresciano and Schwarzer.

Cahill is an arrogant sook that mouths of at everyone. Just look at us in the Asian Cup. Disgraceful. Is this what you call Aussie?

The Italians are traditional favourites and respect all. From the first world cup to now.

This is why all other countries (besides England and Australia) respect Italy and Italian football.

You wouldnt know coz youre obviously a Leaguey – a sport lacking any skill and addicted to one-dimentional play.

A sport that is only popular to the yobbos in Sydney and Brisbane and a few northern English pommy towns.

There is no tradition nor respect. Its a sport for the unskilled that just love a “biffo”.

Atleast Rugby Union is a sport of tactics, patience and skill.

You’ve been going for anyone but Italy your whole life coz they always have a winning team in something and you hear about it from your mates. Great.

Thats your problem. When Lebos start doing the same you can too. Until then, unlucky.

Italian Australians are a proud people Johny. And we wont take crap from a few sooky biased knacker-scratchers who know nothing about football tactics.

You can cry about it being the worst world cup or USA should of whatever.

Italy won. Youre cut. You wanted whoever Italy played to beat them.

UNLUCKY.

You win some, you lose some.

But dont ever have a go at me about slagging off Australia.

I slag off on uneducated ignorant losers in Australia who have nothing of worth to say.

You want to know what a true champion is?

an Italian.

Siamo Campioni del Mondo.

David, I think your last posting was so full of shit and so out of touch with reality, that its not really worth arguing about. But i will anyway. Congratulations your family has been here since 1955, who gives a shit i certainly dont. You claim that you supported Australia,and that you are an Aussie, but all i have heard from you is a complete lack of respect for the country in which you live. It is a bad habit to shit on your own doorstep David.
You have made many assertions about me, and now i will come up with one for you. Have you ever even been to Italy ? You seem like any other Italian who with their forza italy attitude, brag about their homeland where they have never actually been before. I have been to Italy a few times, and lets just be thankful that Australian people are more welcoming than Italian people. Im just thankful, that in Australia i dont have to carry all my possessions in a money belt, for a fear of being mugged.
Soccer is a simple game David. But unfortunately you have these people in life who have nothing else to do with themselves but over analyse a sport that by its very nature is simple. Its why soccer is the world game, because it is so simple that the whole world plays it. I enjoy both forms of rugby, and these are sports that real men play. I laugh at the prospect of these soccer players competing in a game of rugby. They would get smashed. I could say what i like about soccer. I could sound like the most technically proficcient person on the so called art of soccer. I could come up with shit like you do and sound really smart on the subject, but you know what, i have better things to do with myself. Those people involved with the sport are deluded. FIFA are deluded, the supporters are deluded, David you are deluded. The winner of a game of soccer especially at this last world cup, was about who were the best cheaters. On this occassion it was Italy. Italy cheated the best hence they won it. Any person who says that was a penaly, is deluded. Those 20 referres interviewed is a little white lie, i think. It has been well established around the world, that it was not a penalty. The only people who i have ever heard say it was a penalty are the delusional Italian people. You are so quick to claim a penalty at whatever cost, (even your DIGNITY), that when a penalty is given against you, you will come up with every excuse in the book to say it was not a penalty. Your attitude is laughable.
I do wish that Italy did not win the world cup, I do wish that Zidane headbutted that Matterazi fagot and then stomped on his balls when he was on the ground. But life is full of facts, and the fact is Italy did win, but you know what ? there is always going to be that stigmata attached. Italian people in their own minds will be happy, but the whole world knows what a bunch of cheating scumbags the Italian team were. Does the world respect their performance?
NO.
This is the last thing im ever going to say to you David.Dont say your more Aussie than most, because you are not. I know alot of Australian-Italians who whilst still love their families homeland, would never even dream of saying some of the things about Australia that you have. Honestly if you hate Australia that much, then fuck off. Whilst i have some family from Lebanon, i also have some family that came over on the first fleet, to sweat blood and tears in establishing this country, so that we could allow people like you into what is the greatest and most free countries of them all. At least the Lebanese, who have gone through years of war and pain have a valid reason for being here, what reason do you Italian people have for being here, apart from claiming how great it is back home and how shit it is here. So David fuck off. Italian people have played an intergral part in Australian history, that is a fact. however these italians respect the land they are living in, and some Italians choose to call themselves Australian. Some choose to remain Italian and that is fine but they wouldnt disrespect the country they are living in. You are a scumbag David, who is out of touch with reality. You obviously have nothing to do with your life but over analyse a stupid game. Congratulations to Italy once again, YOUR ITALY david. Dont claim you are Aussie because you are not. You dont have to have British descendents to be called an Aussie. You can be from anywhere in the world. But aussies are proud. Proud to be an Australian, proud to live in the greatest country of them all. So David fuck off mate. I dont care about your stupid narrow minded opinions on soccer. I dont care about your textbook cut and copy responses, and David i dont care about you. You are a twat.

Johny, you are just a gold diggin lebo wanker.

Why dont you go back to Lebanon (or senegal or wherever the hell youre from) and scrape up the body parts while we celebrate our dominance of the World for another 3 years.

Ive been to Italy, and represented both my countries in different things.

Meanwhile your kind come here to Australia and steal and gang rape.

We should introduce more foreign policies (yes Italians are in our Federal and state governments unlike you filthy ali barba and the forty thieves) to ban your refugee asses or send you back home on your 3rd gangrape offence.

Suck it up. Italians are great. We win everything.

And as for being Australian. Ive represented at state level. Thats Aussie enough for me.

I have both passports. You got your lebo one? Thats if they still have an consulates. Maybe Israel took them over.

You should check. Go back and watch your league dickhead. Try and be as ocker as you can coz thats the closest youre ever gonna get.

My family’s been here for generations unlike yours. We made this country great.

It wasnt built by itself.

I dont need to tell white lies. And as for comparing football players to rugby players and getting smashed…just shows what a league watch fuckface you really are.

Its like comparing rugby players to axe murderers. Two different things dickhead.

Like I (and many other Aussies who’ve had enough of your lebo-dominant bullshit)… YOU FUCK OFF.

From the ITalians to you…we pity you.

Unlucky,

SIAMO CAMPIONI DEL MONDO….poh popopopo poh pohhhh.

Seeya later Hanneh (if you actually know what your lebo name is). Jerk Off,

You got nothing. You never will. Stop claiming youre something youre not and pretending that Im against Australia. Im against dickheads like you that are racist against Italians coz we won the world cup.

Buongiorno, Da Noi.

And ps, its your kind that steal and mug in italy. the gypsies that go there from arabia and africa that break and enter.

Italians in Italy arent safe anymore coz of your kind.

Just coz you cant be civilised in your own country. Stop bringing it to Australia, and stop it in Italy too.

From the 2 best countries on earth,

David

In fact the only Aussie resemblance you have is your ability to slag off foreign culture, because of the fear of the unknown.

You obviously spent too long in England. You even steal their words. “Twat” is word for loser pommies.

The funny thing is that even though many Australians (who dont know a thing about football as its relatively new to leagueys like yourself) despise the Italian football team only because Italy beat them – this is nothing compared to…

the fact that ALL Australians (and I mean all) ACTUALLY believe that lebos in Australia are gang rapists and drug dealing floor burning scum.

But I guess that’s “Mad” and “Sick” to you isnt it Johny.

Personally Im a little more broad minded. I dont think that you’re ALL like that. I have some leb mates (which are all good blokes – in my Aussiest voice I can think of) but even they know of the shonkiness.

It’s just how it is. Anyone celebrating Boxing Day at Cronulla beach this year? Perhaps a shish-kebab on the barbie with all the Aussies Johny?

Mmm better yet. I will just watch replays of the bashings you copped on 60 minutes…after you all tried to bash US Aussies.

Feeling singled out now? The truth hurts aye?

Like I said. Learn to slag off at Italo-Australians and Italians when you’ve all cleared YOUR names.

Leb-Australians exist. Most are nice (that I know of personally).

Unfortunately, this is how it is.

I guess you will reply with either “You’re racist jand Italians are blah blah” or “Me and my 20 cousins are gonna beat you up”.

Please dont go for the beat you up comeback. Remember what happened at Cronulla?

Anyways, as im running late for Sunday night caffe at one of the many Italian cafes in Australia, I bid you “Buona Serata” Giovanni.

With a smile, thats all from the world game.

Siamo Campioni del Mondo.

Haram

Im sure you are running late David. You still have to spend another hour and a half doing your hair and make up. I wont keep you because i realise you take longer than a woman to get ready.
Your right everybody knows the reputation lebos have. i know the reputation lebos have. Alot of them are dickheads. But then again alot of Italians are dickheads to. But i really dont even know why i am discussing this with you. I have a little lebanese blood but thats as far as it goes for me. Italy for you is obviously a passion, i respect that, but why is it such a passion if you have never even been there before ? I could always enlighten you on Italy if you ever need me to David. I was there for a few weeks David, i must say i quite enjoyed it. I was even seeing an Italian woman whilst in London. I can now see why after talking to you why all the Italian women are so keen to keep away from Italian men.
I think you know the truth hurts. That is why you constantly use these lies and contradictions to emphasise a point of yours. I dont think every Australian thinks that lebos are drug dealing rapists, but hey it sounds good and insulting so lets use it anyway
You think you know it all but i can tell you dont know as much as you think you do. I hope you have a long and prosperous life in your own little world. Enjoy the beauties of Australia as im sure you already do. The point i was essentially trying to make from the start is this David.
E la vostra vita in australia realmente quello difettosa ? Risponda a questo problema quindi abbia uno sguardo a che cosa sta continuando in questo mondo. Im sicuro troverete che lo abbiamo buon grazioso qui, un paese che tutto puo essere thankful e fiero di. Not even you can disagree with this David, or then again maybe you will.

Dear Jonhy, let me say that I’m using violence to myself to reply all stupid things you have been saying on this blog about 1. WC results and specifically 2. the game Italy vs Australia 3. italians in general. My Grand Father use to say if you play with kids you become a kid. But despite I’m reluctant I have to reply.

I do not understand how you can argue about the final results of last WC, Italy did not lose a single game, scored with 9 different players and got just 2 goals resulting the best defense. Buffon judged the best keeeper, Cannavaro the best player, 5 italians part of WC best team (BTW how many aussie?) Data are self explanatory and no further comment needed. The game against Australia: did you forget that Materazzi was sent out for a fault that did not exists? Did you forget that Aussie played about 70 minutes with 11 vs 10 w/o building a real chance to goal? did yo forget the first 20 minutes how many chances Italy had to score? Yes you can argue against the penalty but this is the soccer, do you remeber how Italy lost against France in Euro 2002? do you remember how Italy lost the final against Brasil in WC’94? do you remember how Italy lost against France in WC’98?

Nevertheless, from what I’m writing you can understand that Italy is always there at the big events and this already answers why Australia lost against us, Italy is used to play this type of match while Australia not, do not forget that recently you lost against Iran that for sure is not one of best team of the world.

Last but not the least even the funniest one, you said that italian women are escaping from us!!! oh my god where are you living…in Australia???

Azzuro, if you read one of my blogs from earlier you will see my honest opinion of the game where i did state that despite the dodgy penalty, i believed Italy did deserve to win. Once again congratulations.
This has been going on for a while between me and David, and to tell you the truth it isnt really about soccer anymore. There have been lots of shitty stuff said by both of us and im sorry if you were offended. I just feel i had to defend my country about the things being said, and it has turned into a petty war between us.(i must admit its quite fun though)
Anyway azzuro i want to thank you. You have admitted the penalty was questionable, and basically thats all i was after. You are right azzuro we did have a man advantage but did not have the class to break down the Italian defence. And your right, Italy did have many chances in the first half but could not score one (this also is soccer), it does not take a rocket scientist to work that out. Anyway congratulations once again, and lets hope Italian soccer can take this success and move forward in cleaning up a sport which is obviously a national passion.

Johny, let me clear a few things up.

Firstly congratulations on getting it on with an Italian woman. You cant go wrong.

Secondly, regardless of how many times Ive been to Italy, I dont have to justify anything to you.

Did you not read that Ive represented Italy before? Which obviously means Ive been to Italy a number of times.

Im also going to Europe again to support both my countries at the Rugby World Cup. Watch out for my on TV with my “Johny still lives with his parents in the spare room and sneaks boys into his room” sign.

As for your little Italian translator website – if only you knew a different language…that was a shite translation and are rarely accurate.

All Italians understood from that was that you love syphoning the goo from baby donkeys in the streets of Beirut. Seriously get yourself a dictionary next time.

Thirdly (being a leaguey you wouldnt know this), What penalty is NOT questionable? Grosso’s penalty was ONLY questionable on the umpteenth replay (by only English and Australian commentary)

Type in – Italy vs Australia highlights – into youtube. Then – Italy vs Australia World Cup 2006 – This is a 2 piece flick.

You will see that even the American commentary agrees with the non-English speaking commentaries (which all thought it was a penalty).

Ive tried to link the specific youtube page in this blog but it wont let me.

As for your laughable comebacks about Italians and hair and whatever – please youre just embarrassing yourself.

You have no facts. You just have insults. Atleast I can incorporate insults aimed at YOUR kind with actual facts.

Did i mention – Siamo Campioni del Mondo?

Type that into your dictionary to see what the meaning is.

Your right it probably was a dodgy translation website. I dont pretend to know any Italian i just thought it might be something you can relate too. I think over all you have to agree with it, if in fact you understood any of it al all.
Ive been slating the Italians off, and you are right they are baseless insults and general sterotypes. Im sorry. However some of the so called facts that you have stated are not only false but quite offensive. You might think they are correct but they are not. And you certainly are not scared to throw a stereotype around yourself.
You seem like an intelligent bloke, and you obviously love your football. You are obviously both passionate about Italy and Australia, and at least Australia will be able to get one over the Italians in the Rugby world cup. You have represented Italy and that is great, i have also represented Australia in Basketball and it was one of the proudest moments of my life.
I guess i am just a proud Australian, that loves his country. I thought it was my duty to defend my country when all these things were being said about it, whereas the best way to defend this country was to explain the good and positive aspects of Australia rather than focus on the negative racial side of things which does not really exist. Australia is a multicultural country and for me really the Italian influence on Australia is second nature. By that i mean, italians and Australians go hand and hand with each other. I know so many Australian Italians, and have so many Italian friends that race for me is never, ever an issue. (except for now). Really i dont give a shit where you are from, or where you are going, but i dont want to get into a racial war when there is no reason for a war to exist. When i was in Europe, people were fascinated with me because i was an Aussie. It is most people i speak to dream to come to Australia, and see what all the fuss is about. You often hear of racial tension in Australia, but in reality everybody gets on fine. Sure it has its issues but what country doesnt. The cronulla riots were a religious thing, between muslims and christians. I was in Spain at the time and didnt hear to much about it. But i do know there was tension building up for years probably since 9/11. The surfing “aussie” community think cronulla is theirs, and the “lebos”, well they have every right to be there but usually they will go to cause trouble. I believe it all started over a lifeguard being bashed, and then esculated into a racial war. It was a shitty thing to happen, an incident this country can do without.
Anyway David, just because im a dumb aussie it doesnt mean i am ignorant to the art of soccer. Just because our opinions are different, it doesnt mean i dont know what im talking about. I believe it was not a penalty you believe it was. A couple of points i will make is this, when i was in england people were constantly coming up to me and telling me how we were robbed. This is English people(contrary to your beliefs English people dont really like aussies) and European people. All the commentary and experts were saying it was not a penalty, in fact it seemed the whole world deemed it not a penalty apart from the Italian coach. When i first got back into this country i asked my Italian mate(who also supports both countries) what he thought and he said whilst he did not think it was a penalty, he said any player in the world would have done what grosso did because Lucas Neill recklessly slid across the box in Grossos direction. I think the Australian public have jumped on this fact and made more of it than probably was necessary, and David you are right it is these people with a lack of knowledge of the sport. Even if there was no contact Neill should have got a red card for being a dickhead. I know about this sport plenty David, i have played it and followed it my whole life. Italy were by far the better team, and did deserve to win, in fact i cant take anything away from them at all over the tournament. Yes Italy are the champions, and after what has happened to them in past tournaments this victory is more than deserved. You were the most consistent team, and i was told to bet on them before the world cup by an Italian customer and stupidly i did not.
Anyway David i think you should stop on your personal crusade against Lebanon.Get over it David, im Australian, these lebanese jokes dont offend me because that is a differnet world to me. like i said earlier the country is going through difficult times and i think it is quite disrespectful what you are saying. If you knew anything about the situation at all you wouldnt be saying the things you are.
Anyway take care, i will be interested to see if you can post a comment that is not aggressive and one that is not racially motivated.

Racially motivated comments began when you started on how arrogant Italians are this and that.

I never had a go at Australia, but instead at people (much like yourself) that were saying that Italians should fuck off back to their “own” country.

You know this. So I dont see why you keep trying to imply im against Australia.

Messed Up probably is not against Australia, but instead cant stand the ignorance of Brit-Australians who proclaim Australia is theirs and the rest of us without British blood can be told where to go.

Well Italians in this country have earned the right to claim Australia is theirs too. We’ve done more for this country than them.

The only thing British about this country is the English language (and even that was Shakespeare – born in Messina and escaped the inquest and fled to London).

Above all, getting back to football, Bresciano-Grella-Aloisi and so on got Australia to the world cup.

Instead the ignorance and stupidity of the “Aussie” people were threatening Italians in Australia after Italy beat Australia.

For a country that is supposedly a rugby league country (to the brainwashed meat pie eaters) it was interesting to see how many unknowing bandwagon jumpers were supporting the roos by the thousands in city squares etc.

I mean this just proves the ignorance. People that call Italians poofters for playing football and then as soon as Australia is in the World Cup they pledge allegiance to a cause they have ridiculed for decades.

Italo-Australians are the SECOND LARGEST ethnic group in Australia. We are not a minority.

You want to say something against them then there better be a reason for it. We are in the millions here and to criticise a whole race over a game of football is just ridiculous.

Grosso earned that penalty fair and square. To those that have not qualified as a referee, you can NOT (without making contact with the ball) block (including if a player has to go over you) a direct passage to goal, ESPECIALLY if the Keeper is the only one left to beat.

Lucas Neill (who should be ashamed of himself for that utterly disgraceful attempt of a block or tackle or whatever it was) was attempting a tackle by sliding TWO METRES before Grosso was near him.

Therefore, without attempting to get the ball, blocking the path to goal. Grosso, on purpose, made slight contact with him. Who wouldnt? Neill has already quoted “No one in Australia would have complained if Cahill did it down the other end”.

Regardless, Chipperfield was coming over toward Grosso (assuming Grosso had a one-on-one with Schwarzer, leaving Iaquinta FREE and UNMARKED in front of goal for a tap in that Nonna Maria could put away.

I really hope you searched youtube for that flick.

Like I said. You obviously ONLY SPEAK ENGLISH – therefore, being in ENGLAND, and seeing how England is trying to out-do Italy and Italian Football (which it has no chance in reality) they want to cry wolf that Italy cheated, just to jump of the bandwagon of the referee-fixing episode in Italy prior to the World Cup.

And as for the Australian media (if you can call them that) they of course will cry foul because it was Australia that lost.

I mean, I have heard from people here that Australia would have won the World Cup if it were not for match-fixing referees and match-fixing Italians – connecting the referee episode in Italy to the world cup.

People should realise, it was not a match fixing scandal in ITaly, it was a referee placement issue with Juve influencing more leanient refs for themselves and allocating the harsher refs for rivals.

This also happened in Germany at the same time. How much of it did the English speaking world hear about that?

Hardly anything. You know why? Coz its Britain trying to bring ITalian football down and using the language of English to fuel their propaganda.

You people are oblivious to it.

And then people in Australia (including Emerton) tried to reckon that because Italy beat Ukraine that Australia would have.

Australia cant even beat Oman, let alone a team with the worlds best striker in it such as Shevchenko.

Its time to face reality here people. Australia are no better at football than the next country so stop pretending we are the best just coz we win cricket, rugby and swimming (and the latter 2 no more).

The people of Australia should be ashamed of themselves for singling out Italians the way they have.

You know when you said that people shouldnt shit on their own doorstep.

Well the people of Australia already have.

Siamo Campioni del Mondo.

And to address racial slurs.

You know how that started Johny. I am not against Lebanese at all.

But I found it ironic that you can single out Italians for their behaviour in Australia and world wide without first analysing your own blood.

We all know the reputation of Lebanese in Australia. Not because of what theyve done for the country, but instead what theyve dont TO it.

I personally do not have any qualms with any other nationality in this country. Every one deserves a chance.

But when you want to slag off ITalians in Australia, after all theyve done for Australia, I will administer a relentless flogging to your own kind until I see fit.

Italians build this country and continue to. This is through hard work and self-respect, aswell as abiding by the laws set in what was once their foreign country.

When Im in Australia Im Italian. When im in Italy Im Australian. Ironic huh?

I cant wait for this country of Australia to become a Republic and smear off the stain that monarchy left and abandoned over 100 years ago.

Forza Australia, Forza Italia – Siamo Campioni del Mondo.

David you are a waste of time. We wont become a republic any time soon. We had a referendum recently to become a republic and surprisingly it failed.
I have given you a chance to segregate from the racial issues and still you insist. And no i did not start this David, i think its quite obvious you started this , and you know what there are more important things to worry about in life. I see you as a typical aussie basher, war monger. And if you want a stereotype i will give you one. The worldwide opinion and stereotype of the Italian football team is !!!Find this out David and come back to me.

Johny, that doesnt make sense.

Like Ive said before, you’ve got nothing.

Blow away and smear that shit that comes out of your mouth in some other bowl.

Forza Italia – Siamo Campioni del Mondo

I think it does make sense, and unfortunately you know it. if you want me to clarify it for you, a couple of words that come to mind are cynical, boring cheaters. But hey its a general stereotype and not my opinion. Congratulations to Italy and commiserations to you David for being such a poor human being.

Zidane is the only real hero to emerge from the World Cup. He stands head and shoulders above the cheats, divers and play-actors who disfigured so manygames. It was entirely appropriate that Italy won as they exemplified everything that stank about the tournament They only beat Australia through a penalty gained by diving – and then they manouevred Frings out of the German team before their semi-final. The British press reaction has been the usual censorious humbug. Rooney’s little misdemeanour – tramping on an opponent’s testicles (much more serious than a head-butt to the chest) has been excused, while the real villain of the piece turns out to be another foreigner (surprise, surprise!), Cristiano Ronaldo. Zidane reacted like a proper man, protecting his honour and that of his family. A football field should not be an environment that protects sleazebags from the consequences of actions that deserve punishment in any other part of life. ALLEZ ZIZOU!

wazza wake up and face reality…Do you think what you’re watching is real. It’s all a show to make money. I wouldn’t be surprised if the headbutt was staged for our amusement but what shocks me even more is idiots like you that over-analyze everything. I’m sorry the world cup didn’t meet your expectations you BIG BABY. There are other people who enjoyed the tournament for what it was. I can’t remember any tournament in the past being anything remarkable. It all depends on who wins…BOO HOO ITALY WON is it the f**cking end of the world or something. GET A LIFE PEOPLE There is a world outside of football you know, go outside and find it and for God’s sake stop these petty bickerings and accept the way things are.

Quote from French coach Domenech

“It’s not about insults, but provoking someone until they boil over. It happens in every sport, even volleyball across the net. On the pitch any way you can unbalance the opponent and exploit their weaknesses benefits your team.”

“Whoever provokes shows strength, whoever reacts shows weakness.”

Smart man.

I do not know what world you live in Dick, but i do not think it is a sign of strength racially abusing a mans mother and sister, to gain a reaction. If one chooses to win this way then thats their perogative. Another smart man once said that its not about if you win its how you win. And Italy won in a matter that was disgraceful.

I detect a little bit of bitterness from Wazza.

I think the way that Italy won was far more consistent (apart from Argentina) than any other team in the World Cup.

Italy beat the host country in front of a packed stadium full of Germans – convincingly.

Italy then should have won that final 2-0.

Malouda’s penalty was never ever a penalty. Same with Henry’s against Portugal.

Italy thrashed the Ukraine and taught a lesson to Australia.

As for the Czech’s – Italy put 2 past Buffon’s only competition as worlds best keeper.

USA was a non-event after the 24th minute. Zaccardo’s own goal took the emphasis off a fantastic Gilardino header.

Italy defeated Ghana with a consistent all round performance.

Overall – 12 goals for, 2 against (Malouda’s penalty and Zaccardo own goal) from 7 games.

10 different goalscorers for Italy from 12 goals – a true team performance. Every outfield player got game time at the World Cup which shows the true depth and class of the Italian game.

7 Italians in the FIFA AllStar team, and Cannavaro should have won the Golden Boot.

Take nothing away from Zidane (and Materazzi did not RACIALLY abuse anyone – it was sexist) he is the best midfielder of all time.

Cannavaro then went on to win the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year – im speechless.

We are not talking about a mediocre team here – this team dominates World football.

Whatever you critics say is out of anger and frustration that the Italian team beat yours.

AC Milan won the Champions League and Italian players are sought after world-wide for big dollars.

Italian coaches are THE best in the world and the junior teams have dominated for decades.

If only Australia could learn from these things – woops, theyve started – Aloisi, Bresciano, Grella, Valeri is a very good start.

All we need in Australia is Fabio Capello to guide us ;)

Forza Italia, Siamo Campioni del Mondo

No not really bitter David, just disillusioned with this so called great game of football. The game is in such a farcical state that its not even worth watching. Argentina and Italy are two teams who have perfected the art of cheating, Portugal and Holland are learning quickly from these two great role models. As i said ZIZOU is the only real hero to come out of this world cup with credit.

Youre obviously either French (or African) or English or a convict,

Have a nice weekend Wazza

“No not really bitter David, just disillusioned with this so called great game of football.”

WHAT A DRAMA QUEEN!!!!

Oh and by the way you can add France and Germany to the list of cheaters if you want to be fair about it.

I wouldn’t consider Zidane a “hero” He had one good game against Brazil and the other games he was pretty ineffective. His presence is so hyped up in this game he could have sat on the bench the entire tournament with his finger up his butt and he would have still won the golden ball. The truth is the legend surrounding this player is bigger than the actual player. There are literally a dozen players better than him but they don’t have the media hyping them up so they’re basically forgotten. I’m not saying Zidane is not a good player but what I am saying is that he definitely is not what I would consider a “Hero”. He had a mediocre tournament at best he gave France a boost phychologically but physically they could have done better without him.

To be fair, Zidane was good against Brazil and effective against Italy for a header and the so called “Malouda penalty”.

Besides that there were better players in the tournament for sure.

Pirlo created more, Cannavaro was definitely the most effective player of the tournament while the player with most “impact” was Marco Materazzi.

C.Ronaldo was great in this cup, as was Riberry, Maniche, Zambrotta, Ze Roberto, Cambiasso and Maxi Rodriguez.

But unfortunately for football politics always wins and Blatter wanted a non-Italian to win the golden ball and Zidane was really the only player that could pass for sentimental reasons.

This was typified by his failure to award Italy the cup. His German-French-non Italian heritage lost out and he was pissed.

That’s Karma Sepp for fixing 98.

Forza Italia – Siamo Campioni del Mondo

OMGZ
I have just been through all this, and I cant stop laughing.
LEbos that wanna b aussies, aussies that wanna b italians.
Get over it, if u were born there, ur a dam shkip.
Let go of ur italian, ego crap. If they didnt win, and Australia won, how many italians would be cheering ???? Alll of u traitor cunts.
I know, I was on lygon, I watched all the matches, I saw all these little kids in Italia shirts sitting there and had no idea who to go for.
Make up ur fucken minds people, u cant b both.
I lived in Australia for 15 years, and thank fuck I now came back to Italy, where, by the way, if u check ur statistics, the crime late is 184%lower than Australias. In Aus 1 in 3 ppl are victims of some type of crime, so I guess, its only cause u dirt fucken arabs rape our sisters and mothers that u feel safe walking around.
Anyway, from a PURE BLOODED SICILIAN to the rest of the world.
Noi siamo i campioni
Ma chi cazzo siete voi???

Caro Siciliano,

Io posso fare tutto che voglio. Sono Italiano E Australiano, c’e lo due passaporti e tifo per sempre L’Italia e L’Australia.

Vuoi dire che noi Italiani in Australia non siamo piu Italiani?

E tutti altri all’estero? Cretino.

Tutti noi siamo diversi.

Stai tranquillo e scrivi quando c’hai qualcosa buona a dire.

Forza Italia, Siamo Campioni del Mondo

Thank you Dick. Yes i would add France and Germany as well as Ivory Coast, Serbia, Croatia, Spain, South Korea, Togo to name a few to the list of cheaters.

Its unfortunate that despite the skills that football players world wide posess, they continue to resort to these simulation tactics, conning the ref into a penalty or a foul, wasting time and feigning injury, pleding with the ref to have an opponent yellow or red carded, constant cheating via pulling opponents shirts. You name the method of cheating in football and it will exist. A DRAMA QUEEN ???????? I think a realist is more appropriate. People around the world are laughing at these pathetic excuses for men. Every year something apparently is going to be done about it, but every year the problem gets worse, culminating in the joke that was the 2006 World Cup. Argentina vs Italy would have been the perfect final. It would have typified the farcical state that the game is in and it is here we would have witnessed some text book cheating. As a result France and Italy did themselves extremely proud in this department.

Whilst violence is never to be condoned in normal situations, ZIZOU can always know he acted like a man when the honour of his mother and sister was jeoperdised, hardly a normal situation. And David, who gives a fuck what nationality i am. Who cares if i am French, English, African a convict an arab (we all know how much you people like arabs, dont we?) or Italian. The point is that it is not your business so dont come at me with your racist comments and pretend it is!!!!!!!!!

Geez louise. Finally a little bit of common sense on this forum. U Pazzu Sicilianu talk alot of sense and i totally agree with your comments. We are skips, and its just unfortunate we get criticised in our own country for being so. I dont necessarily agree with the point that it is one or the other, as you are allowed to have pride and passion for your parents or grandparents background.
We have these people in this country that go out looking for trouble. People who call aussies “fucking skips” or “stupid aussies”, and then claim to be Australian themselves when they need benefits from the government. “Wogs” and “skips” exist together. In the school days there would always be banter between the two groups. But as you get older you get over this shit, and we all accept the fact that we are Aussies. Well most of us get over it.We have “aussies” that can be racist, and we have “wogs” who just cannot accept their lives are in Australia. Some choose to go on with it and will continue to bad mouth the country they were born and have called home for their entire lives. The fact Australia is a relatively new country means that we cant really give a definition for what a pure Australian is. If we wanted to we could dig up the past of every country and race and we would find things that all nationalities would not be proud of. Get over it, move on. Life is to short to worry about stupid things like this. We are skips, be proud.
As for you Wazza, well you are just pure class mate.

Its gotten to the point in this blog where one has to question if other people in it can actually follow and know the game they call football.

Unfortunately in Australia (and embarrassingly so) it seems nobody can take the good and the bad of the game.

If you call playing football “cheating” then what do you call any sport played at a competitive and professional level?

In rugby there are head high tackles, deliberate holding the man down etc.

In cricket you can sledge, bowl bouncers, beamers and be ruled out lbw (when its not).

I would call most of these “cheating”.

But you dont hear anyone in Australia complain when we win in these sports…no cheating…nothing.

If your way (and the normal way)of doing things is to bash people or headbutt then you I truly wonder what kind of people this world has produced.

Its ok to spear tackle someone (or bite testicles – rugby league/AFL) but to fall over after youve been fouled is not?

You people make the true football fanatics laugh. Why dont you stick to your Rodeos.

And as for your nationality I really dont give a damn Wazza and Johny – Im very satisfied with mine :) as you probably well know.

Im proud of my countries. I live between both and will call both home.

I couldnt care less about Arabs or French or whoever. Australia is multicultural and this is the point that im stressing to idiots who DO NOT REALISE that Australia is full of Italians and the Socceroos do to but these people still insist to mock Italians – especially after ITalians have done so much for Australia whilst they have done nothing (and sometimes cause trouble).

But this doesnt mean that I have to be one-eyed about why Australia lost to Italy.

There was no cheating. Just disgraceful defensive errors that made Australian football resemble school-boy football.

Australia couldnt even get a shot on goal in that knock out match against 10 men, and when Italy attacked they were dangerous and should have won by 3.

Its just the way it is. Nothing you do or bitch about is going to take that away from Italy.

You can go on about Zizou being great (which i agree on) but dont act like Italy did not deserve to win that cup.

By far they were the most consistent.

If England or Australia (laughable) won that cup it would be “the greatest world cup of all time”.

But because ITaly won it you have to bitch and moan about cheating etc. You are just showing what sore losers you really are.

Get over it. Italy are the best team. Italy won the World Cup.

AC Milan are current UEFA Champions League holders. Italian style of play is the best overall and Italian football is the best in the world overall – keeper-Defence-midfield-attack.

The best goals (grosso, del piero, zambrotta, pirlo, materazzi) were on show for the world to see. Only Argentina’s goals equalled (Maxi Rodriguez, Cambiasso, Tevez) Italy’s.

The most consistent team was Italy. It was not luck. Best defence hands down in the world.

Midfield genius with Pirlo, Totti, Perrotta, Zambrotta and Striking depth with Toni, Gilardino, Del Piero and the rest.

Australia are lacking in every department but over time will grow into a better team with better coaching and I cant wait for that day.

One day (not to far away) Football will be the major sport in Australia.

Siamo Campioni del Mondo.

Another thing. I am far from racist.

I merely point out that you people only have grudges with Italy becuase you are NOT ITALIAN and are Leb, English background, non-Italian – which actually implies that you are the people that are racist.

It would be like me complaining about Brazil winning in 2002 – mainly because they were the last team i wanted to win because of bragging rights and the fact they have won more cups than Italy.

You are only belittling Italys triumph out of spite – which is a racial view point more than nuetral.

And to call Italians ‘you people’ is just another point you should look at.

Italians were labelled first in this forum by so called nuetral Australians that held grudges against Italy.

So what did you say about defending your nationality and being a man guys?

Oh maybe I should head butt someone (that would make me such a man right?) or perhaps label Australians?

Well I wont. I will simply ask you what YOUR nationality is because I bet your non-Italians and that you are either Anglo-Aussie or just like Johny – A Lebanese Australian combo with a grudge against Italians.

Wazza – leave your opinions in the toss pot blog.

Although its probably Johny using another ID to back up his own points :) or a mate with similar interests like …geez, i dunno – DISLIKING ITALY.

Siamo Campioni del Mondo

Get a life my friend.
This is the first time i have seen you write something nice about Australia. I think you are finally starting to come around. As your friend said, “let go of your ego italian crap”. Your a skip mate.

Italy 1 – Australia 0

FACT.

Every thing else is fiction.

Johny, you are just a bandwagon jumping dickhead that refuses to admit that he didnt even like football until he saw EPL on tv and Australia in the World Cup.

Before that (and now that Australia’s Socceroos are not so popular) you want to say that footballers are not real men and you compare them to rugby players.

Everything you say has no substance.

Ive never ever degraded Australia in any of my responses.

If you actually read them you will find that Ive unleashed upon dickheads that claim that Italians (including Italians in Australia) are cheaters and arrogant – without looking at their own kind.

What you have now proved is that you are even more ignorant than how you first came across.

Im Australian, and Italian.

You are a skip.

I have Italian blood and always will.

Italians built this country of Australia.

Stop putting down the people that got the Socceroos to the World Cup.

Stop degrading Italy’s World Cup win.

BASTA DICKHEAD.

Ive always said that I love Australia – just not the people here that put down Italian Australians.

Especially those who do it purely because Italy taught Australia a footballing lesson.

Why dont you put your rugby league channel back on and watch something mildly entertaining to the whole 2 million people in the world that are actually stupid enough and ignorant enough to sit through 80 minutes of one-dimensional crap – or one of those rodeos.

You know? something you might know something about. Youre in the wrong blog.

Is there anything of substance you can actually say about Italy vs Australia?

Youve already admitted that Italy gave Australia a pounding and that you hope that Australia will do better in the Rugby World Cup. What else?

Siamo Campioni del Mondo – 4 Stars of Glory

Fair enough David.
But lets get a couple of things straight shall we. The only real reason i came on here was because of your stupid generalisations about Australians. Stupid comments such as “just because you have nothing but bread and butter pudding and your pay to piss up against the wall”. An aussie tells you you to fuck off and you react by continually reffering to us as convicts and uneducated pissheads. Mate get over it. If someone told me to fuck off i would laugh at them, tell them to grow up. The only defence you have is to attack. First im a blue eyed blonde haired convict, then i tell you ive got a little lebanese blood so im now a dirty lebanese rapist. Im sure according to you if i was German i would be a stupid nazi scumbag or if i was Asian you would call me a slanted eye prick or something like that.
There is a word in the dictionary diplomacy, look it up and see what it means David. We live on planet earth not planet David. And people are allowed to disagree with you. You talk to me as if you are a football expert, and that i know nothing. Let me tell you David i know for a fact I KNOW MORE THAN YOU, and i would skin you alive on the football pitch. You are an armchair critic that has probably never played a game of football in their lives. If someone disagrees with you, your only response is to say that we dont know anything about football. Yes i like Rugby League, but not that much really, but my main love is golf. A sport which requires a great amount of hand eye co-ordination, patience and skill. But you will probably criticise it in some way. And David give me the premier league any day of the week for its passion, pace and agression over the boring, cynical serieA(as stated by Marco Bresciano who wants to leave the serieA for these reasons, and come to the premier league). It may not be as technically proficient but it is sure better to watch.
My last point David is that you are quite arrogant. as i stated before get over your Italian ego and learn to embrace the country you live in. I have never heard you stick up for Australia but any sign of criticism of Italy and you jump all over them like its the end of the world. You know what racist dickheads can be like, but dont bite the bait. Your constant referral to Italy building this country is a joke. Italian Australians played a major, major role in the development of this country but so did every other race that migrated to Australia equally as much as the English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh descendants. Also when my Lebanese grandparnts arrived to Australia in the early 1940s they felt nothing but love and were treated as an Australian. I realise racism did exist in those days, but like today it is a minor few that gave a bad name to the community.
So David your generalisations are boring and make you look quite sad really. I made a few generalisations about italians, which i retracted and admitted that. Dont say you have never degrared Australians because that is clearly bullshit. You have constantly poured scorn over us, and you claim to be an Australian yourself. I know your Australian David, in fact i know your an Australian-Italian maybe you can show a little bit more pride for the Australian part. And that is all im asking. Mark Viduka was asked if he felt bad or had any mixed feeling after Australias draw with Croatia. His answer was “well no, im an Aussie mate”. Ask these Italian Australians such as Bresciano, Grella and Aloisi what their nationalities are and they will say Australian, not Italo Australians but Australians. Obviously they have italian backgrounds, but they are aussies. You claim you are both and thats fine mate. Your an aussie im an aussie, so lets get over all this shit and start acting like aussies.
p.s im always prepared to talk about football. However it might not be worth to hear because it is obvious we have differing opinions. But like i said we are allowed to have different opinions. It doesnt make one of us right and one of us wrong.

P.S. Again David.
I posted my thoughts on the Italy v Australia game and you know my thoughts on the game. I never said Italy gave Australia a pounding however i did state that Italy were the much better team. Obviously much more technically gifted. Australia more than held their own however and in the end were unlucky. Despite the Italian dominance in the first half, despite Australias man advantage and lack of creativity it all came down to a dubious penalty and in the last second of all times to happen. GUTTING. I dont know what you think but no Kewell and emerton really hurt us in the creativity department.
And David i promise this is not a swipe at you im just quite interested. Did you feel any sadness when Australia lost?

Firstly, youre opinions are not well enough informed.

Secondly, you like to presume things. You think youre the king of the sporting arena.

When you play cricket or football at national level – come talk to me.

A great sportsman appreciates skill and tactics in sport – your preference for the EPL is proof that you are not a great sportsman or that you dont know anything about team play.

If you were being serious, without being biased against Serie A as its Italian you would atleast proclaim the Spanish league as a preference – which is 10 x better than EPL.

But then again – its your opinion, and most of Australia’s – purely for the fact that youre told in English that the English league is actually good. And all you understand is English so you just follow the games that are televised in English.

The Manchester derby last night was at best A-League standard. But Slater and the foxtel crew kept going on like it was Maradona vs Baggio.

The EPL is a glorified A-League. The only thing different about it is that it has the money to attract big players to its richest clubs.

As for Bresciano going to Man C – well I can tell you now that he wont start many games for Palermo if theyre at full strength.

Im sure that he would love to go to the EPL – the pay big bucks for mediocre players.

Bresciano is good, but he should wait til hes 33 before retiring to the EPL.

As for Aloisi and Grella and the crew saying theyre Australian, it doesnt take a scientist to work that out – they play in the GOLD shirt.

But they all have Italian passports and thats how they play in Italy – as Italians.

If they were given the choice they would all have chosen Italy, obviously for career paths and history.

As for Viduka – well i would rather play for Australia too.

As for your stab at me about being racist – Im not racist, I take the piss out of everyone including Italians.

But seeing as youre half british and lebanese then I will tell you just how your kind is. Why cant I? You seemed to think you could tell me what Italians are like.

If you genuinly think there is any such thing as a pure Aussie then you are living in dream world.

And NO – YOU DONT KNOW MORE THAN ME, and I will go as far as to say you dont know more than many other people that enjoy football.

Im not an armchair critic. My thoughts are appreciated by readers.

YOU johny seem to think (and this is normal for most people) that everyone knows as much or less than you. This is because of a thing called mental capability and its limits.

But thats ok little buddy. You keep on keeping on.

And might I ask what I had to defend Australia about? If it were a mis-informed non-Australian putting Australia down then I would put them in their place just like I have you.

Ive had many arguments with Italians in Italy, pointing out to them that Australia is better for some things rather than Italy.

Its like what most people will tell you. When theyre in Italy – theyre Australia. When theyre in Australia – Theyre Italian.

At the point in time when that match was being played (Aust vs Italy) we were hosting 25000 people in front of big screens.

I myself was wearing both the ITalian shirt and Australian shirt.

It was like choosing between your wife and your mistress (hypothetically). In the end (in this case) the wife won.

Of course I felt sadness when Australia won. I flew into Sydney just to watch them qualify against Uruguay.,

I followed every game during the WC and was not happy when they were drawn to meet ITaly as this would be the end for them.

Its like a cobra vs a mouse. Italy was always going to win that game.

And as for other people in Australia choosing to support Italy for that game – you people must understand this …

Theyve been following ITaly for decades through World Cup finals, qualifiers, Euro cups and the rest of it, while Australia has never been involved in anything.

A team that theyve supported for 20-30 years atleast.

So just because they live in Australia doesnt mean they will give up their sense of reality.

Australia were not equipped to win the world cup. Italy was.

Its like putting down a terminally ill family pet to save a healthy one. Italy was the chance for the world cup.

If you have any sense of sporting knowledge you would know this.

Siamo Campioni del Mondo

Heres the equation everybody. If you like the premier league, you just dont know football. And if you dont like serie A then you should follow the spanish League.
There is a reason that people outside of Spain and Italy do not like the national leagues of these contries. Players that will fall over at the first sign of contact, and referees that continually fall for these tricks. You believe David my opinions are not well enough informed. Well i can tell you that i am relaying a world wide sentiment.
Players, fans, officials believe that all the antics that these players get up to are just part of the game. Sportsmanship they will say. Using the rules to their advantage. Well i can tell you that they are not. Italians and the Spanish tend to just accept this behaviour, turn a blind eye and hope the problem will go away.
David i grew up watching the Serie A. In fact i know more about the Serie A than i do the premier league. Going to school with so many Aussie italians, i was even in a serieA tipping comp each year where i would out score the so called italian experts every year. I would watch the serieA wrap up on SBS every Sunday morning without fail. I would go to a mates house every time Juventus were playing and watch live Italian games every week without fail. I also keep a close eye on the SerieA and the Spanish Premiera for betting purposes, and follow, watch and scrutinise Italian matches at work all night every night. Being a betting man you have to weigh up all the factors, and David i analyse EVERYTHING in a match, because basically i dont want to lose my money.
David, my job is to analyse sport. I am forced to stay up and watch the Serie A when it is on and i can tell you i am absolutely dreading another season like the shit i had to put up with last year. The premier league i can tell you is not much better but it is watchable and the fans are passionate about it so i like it.
I was watching a game of Serie A last year for five minutes and there must of been 8 fouls. If a defender goes anywhere near the attacking player then they will go down. Its absurd. UNWATCHABLE to the normal folk , but to brainwashed fuckwits like yourself its obviously ok. But hey ive got an idea! i will write all this stuff so it sounds really smart, and emphasise my points with blatant bullshit like ive represented my country, and then use arguments that others have written alredy. Who are you trying to fool mate.
lol. Did you know im the president of the USA David.
So in conclusion Football is a simple game. Get the ball into the back of the net and try to stop the other team scoring. Like i have said before it is not rocket science. it is just that some countries are better than others at doing it. some countries have a proper fooballing culture and are taught the right ways from the start. Any Australian who says we had a realistic chance of winning the world cup is deluded. We are simply not good enough. Its just some people read too much into what is essentially a simple game.
So David heres the thing. I am sorry for using Italian stereotypes and using them to put you down. Because like i said i really do like Italians, fuck i almost married one. But instead i should of exposed you for the sad bastard you are. Your inability to have a rational conversation is quite disturbing. The arrogance of you is something ive never really come across before. Your contradictions and harsh words just so you can sound intelligent. Well David i will leave you in peace in your little world from now on and as long as you are happy than thats the main thing isnt it. Good luck to you mate.

Like I said before – when youve represented your country in something come and talk to me.

You know the main similarity between you and the president of the US is that you both know sweet fuck all about the game of football.

If you honestly believe that Serie A is the only league where there is diving and strict regulations you need to watch harder and learn more.

You must have lost thousands of dollars by now. You wouldnt even know anything about any other teams besides the top 6 of any league.

Your so called World Wide Sentiment is Your DUMB FUCK I ONLY SPEAK AND UNDERSTAND ENGLISH sentiment.

You, like many other uneducated losers, only understand English and believe what is told to you.

Ive expressed this point before, but seeing as though youre once again proving your ignorance its not surprising that you cant understand that you just believe what the English speaking media want you to believe.

I bet in the 90’s you only knew about Italian football because thats all they showed here in Australia.

The only english soccer was on the ABC at 11pm and you new as much about EPL then as what you do about the world game now – NOTHING YOU FUCKFACE (yes even I can swear too toughboy)

Whoever is paying you to watch football is wasting their time and money.

Football is a game of tactic. Not a game of simplicity.

Let’s learn something from your school of sport education johny.

Tennis – a game where someone just has to hit a ball and hope it drops over the net – SIMPLE HEY DICKHEAD? No tactic and no skill?

Basketball – a game where ya chuck a ball into a hoop – SO simple aye?

Rugby – a game where you just pass a ball and run over the line – SIMPLICITY.

You know – its embarrassing that a so called Australian sports nut like yourself knows as little as you do.

The non-English speaking “world wide sentiment” johny believes that the EPL is a dumping ground for has-been players.

A league where anyone whos rich from any part of the world can cruise on in and buy up a team.

There is nothing English about the English Premier League.

If you call trucking the ball down ground and toe punting a ball in the general direction of goal and hoping entertaining and good football then youre one deprived and biased wanker.

Serie A survives the test of time because it has eveything going for it – the BEST PLAYERS and YES – MOST OF THEM ARE ITALIAN.

The best coaches, the best tactics and the most class.

Why dont you compare your own league against mine? LebLeague is going nuts these days aye?

Unfortunately for your sorry ass im not one to make up job desctiptions.

Your job is probably as a barman who watches football while its on in the background. hang on – you bet money for charity right?

Seriously johny, i dont believe that youre like all the other people around that believe that Australia should have won.

I actually believe you are closer to reality.

But your arguments have no back up except for personal opinion and that of a tabloid english newspaper looking to attract readers that think paris hilton is of interest.

Its apparent that people who speak english only support the EPL. Its all they know. Its all they understand.

Just like youve admitted before you were hoping that ITaly wouldnt win because of bragging rights.

Thats fair enough. People have there allegiance. But you let this affect your judgement.

Even non-biased football analysts in Australia think that the EPL lacks everything except publicity.

We see shit highlights of bolton vs wigan here on the late news but you cant catch great goals and skill from Serie A, Argentina, Spain or anywhere else that is not an english speaking country at all unless its on sbs.

Rooney could fart in public and we here about it. Pato to Milan…who is Pato? Figo to Inter…nothing. But Phil Neville moves to Everton and we here about it for a week. A disgrace.

If you cant see this – the fact that youre just another supporter of a bandwagon ready to stumble over – then I do feel sympathetic.

Otherwise Im quite happy watching great football week in week out. I nearly threw a brick through my friends tv during the Manchester derby last night and as for Malouda’s penalty against Liverpool… and you say that the EPL is good and that Serie A is boring.

Atleast the teams even in the Belgian league can put 3 passes together. The EPL is just a haven for players from countries that cant get a run in Serie A or La Liga as the money is just as good and you dont have to be good – just fit and know how to toe punt like Mal Meninga.

Its like just how Jorge Valdano said – “Football is made up of subjective feeling, of suggestion – and, in that, Anfield (Liverpool) is unbeatable. Put a s*** hanging from a stick in the middle of this passionate, crazy stadium and there are people who will tell you it’s a work of art. It’s not: It’s a s*** hanging from a stick.”

“If Didier Drogba was the best player in the first match it was purely because he was the one who ran the fastest, jumped the highest and crashed into people the hardest. Such extreme intensity wipes away talent, even leaving a player of Joe Cole’s class disoriented. If football is going the way Chelsea and Liverpool are taking it, we had better be ready to wave goodbye to any expression of the cleverness and talent we have enjoyed for a century.”

You sound like youre just NOT A FOOTBALL Fan and more a Rugby Leaguey.

Seriously – find a new job. You dont deserve football.

Maybe if you had the balls you would be your own boss and find something youre qualified at. Perhaps you could try one of those home cleaning car investments.

As for whatever kind of human being I am – this is not a blog on you or I but a blog about Italian or Australian football which can be expanded to a wide variety of things.

I feel as though Ive proved my points against your empty comebacks.

Italians in Australia will always stand proud. Italians will always stand proud and there is nothing you and your mates can ever do to stop that.

From an Italian Australian point of view you are just a misguided but interested football fan who traded his Lebanese identity for whatever tasted better.

If you actually had some points of worth instead of mere racial generalisations to begin with then you would not have come across like a racist Aussie who only knows rugby league (which incidently is the only sport that is simple and lacking any form of entertainment other than violence).

As a fellow Australian I congratulate you on giving it your all in this blog. If you were not biased against Italians and Italian football then obviously things would have been different.

On ya little buddy. You keep on keeping on. But next time get yourself into a League blog.

Siamo Campioni del Mondo

Your comebacks are boring and have already been said. Sometimes i wonder how long it must take you to write one of these blogs.
And David i never would have said a word about italians if you never said anything about Australians in the first place. Dont give me an essay to explain your point because its fact.
I dont need to make up my profession unlike your good self who has to spread shit like they represented their country.
Won plenty of money from Serie A last year. Certain patterns happen in the Serie A that if you follow can be very profitable.
I do like soccer, i like the Serie A, but its dickheads like you that make me say the shit i do. Stupid stereotypes you make about Australians, Lebanese or anything that Sir David disagrees with.
If you deny diving exists you are a fuck wit, and yes Davis it happens all over the world even in the premier league. Personally there is no team i hate like Chelsea. They typify the petulant arrogance that the over paid modern day footballer stands for. I just think you should get a life, get off your fat arse and go for a jog, there is more to life than football.

I think youve been searching through that thesaurus you borrowed from your little sister for big words.

You have no idea. About me or even yourself, let alone to comment on anything else.

The funny thing is that you are just a failed sportsman who ended up resorting to betting to pay the bills.

What are you? like 24? Even though you come across as 19-20.

You know, just because Johny never represented doesnt mean nobody else did.

You should learn to pay credit instead of leak jealousy. But thats ok – the idiots never understand.

As for diving of course it exists – kewell is one of the worst in the world along with malouda, henry, inzaghi. Why would I deny it exists especially when ive just bitched about malouda and henry in the world cup…you logic (and lack of) astounds even me.

And it doesnt take long to reply you. I dont type with one finger.

In fact just to know that youve been educated with all my facts – its well worth it, even if you pretend otherwise for the sake of being contradictory.

Though you wreak of the ignorant Aussie anglo wanker syndrome from time to time.
You are one notch off from being a rodeo contestant.

At the end of the day – people like you NEED to class themselves in a majority group just to feel of worth – “youre Australian”. great – atleast you dont totally feel worthless.

I myself am more than satisfied with who I am and my achievements and whatever nationality I am doesnt really matter. Being Italian and Australian were just the bonuses that were handed to me.

And being part of pioneering Australia as part of the Italo-Australian culture is just another bonus.

You on the other hand…well dont get me started. You seem naive but slowly you seem to be self educating.

You keep on saving up for your bets and goodluck. Maybe if you win enough money you can shout yourself Italian lessons or Spanish lessons and be able to understand the commentary of the greatest leagues in the world and rid yourself of that American-British disgracefel stigma and way of life.

Good luck to you and all the other people like yourself.

Siamo Campioni del Mondo

Keep dreaming David. As long as you keep telling yourself how good you are and how buggered everyone else is, everything will be just fine. My Italian mates feel Australian when they are in Australia and Australian when they are in Italy. David well you are obviously an outcast and have a chip on your shoulder. Lacking feelings of self worth you have to ridicule other peoples thoughts and opinions just to give yourself strength.
You obviously have no life, and are a glory hunter, idolising these football players, dreaming you could be one yourself. Well keep trying mate you might get there one day. As for myself, well David i am more than happy with my life, more than happy with my self worth and more than happy with my sense of belonging. So i hope all the suffering and torment you have suffered at the hands of us terrible Australian people and this horrible country of ours will one day subside.
Why would i pay credit to a low life faggot like yourself who obviously has no life but going to bed at night dreaming they could be just like Baggio. You are a puppet that farts facts at people and thinks they are smart because of it. Mate football is football. Why cant we all just be football fans with our own opinions on the game. But NO its the italian wat only or more realistic its the David way and the David way only. Look Italian football is pure class. They are technically brilliant and clinical in what they do. However unfortunately they have a reputation, and this reputaion is something that i myself has not made up. Its a reputation that has been aquired from disgruntled football fans around the world. What can i do about that? Whilst i can acknowledge this you still can not realise that your views are almost fascist like, and your lack of reason stinks of a troubled boy.
So David fuck off back in to the hole you crawled out of and only come out when you can speak some reason. Admit that there is more to life than your stupid views. Admit you are a brainwashed racist puppet, and admit you are a blatant contradictory liar. Until you can admit these things i dont really want to talk to you, because you are almost robotic. A robot with a big chip on their shoulder. Poor boy. Keep dreaming and maybe one day you can achieve half the things i have. Good luck with that.

Words of anger, words of hurt. Looks like a reached a nerve ending called johny’scutcozthetruthhurts.

Im sincerely glad that you are happy with your life. And im glad that you admit to the fact that Italian football is pure class amongst all of the insults youve spat out against Italians and Italian football.

My work is done :)

Siamo Campioni del Mondo

Anger is such a bad word. I would say i am extremely happy whilst you are obviously sad lonely and miserable.
I suppose both our work is done. I have admitted that Italian football is class but you have also admitted that Italian footballers are cheats.
Good luck with your hopes, your dreams. Keep trying and you might achieve them. Or maybe you wont. You have every chance. You live in the greatest countries of them all.

Thanks. Its amazing how people can hope that others are sad and miserable. Is this because you want people to be where youre at?

Its also amazing that youve resorted to using only personal attacks now. You dont even mention football much. Looks like youre looking for a revenge substitute after the intense pounding youve copped for the past few weeks.

But thanks. Some of my dreams have already come true but many more are coming.

Siamo Campioni del Mondo

Then keep dreaming mate.
Personal attacks are quite fun and is the only way when it comes to you. Talking to you about football is like talking to a blonde about econimics. You get nowhere and its a waste of time. It just seems appropriate that after all your personal attacks you can maintain this moral high ground.
I seriously feel sorry for you
and just wonder to my self which one of your fathers abused you as a child.
Anyway good luck with finding that acceptance you are after, maybe one day you will find it and come to realise what the big bad world actually thinks.

Shouldnt you be in the ricky lake blog johny?

Youve got nothing…about anything…

Its embarrassing for yourself. Anyone that reads this page would be laughing hard at you.

You got told in every department and youve got nothing but name calling left.

You are actually impressed with yourself…pity no one else is.

And you actually think that your words of tripe could insult someone.

Please. Italians are the kings of insults and are born and bred in a world of insults and hidden meanings.

Go back to that village in Beirut and scorn someone else about something actually bad like rock hurling, sister-killing or dog-raping (only gangdog raping for you and your cousins)

Youre right, its fun but there is no significance in insulting you. For you its actually the hurtful truth.

All you have to vomit at me is some crap youve made up in your head thinking its worth a shot.

Please, to save embarrassing yourself further maybe you could murmur out something to do with rugby league. Seeing as this is your forte.

Perhaps table tennis, seeing as you are the ideal sportsman.

Maybe Italy could play Lebanon…no wait.. a combined Leb-AntiItalian team in any sport.

I think you could place some of your hard won money on Lebanon at 2-1 in the wife beating or perhaps the cronulla beach run.

What do you think?

Siamo Campioni del Mondo

Great response David. I think it sums you up perfectly. A racist prick. Its funny that you maintain this pride when even your so called fellow italians have labelled you a traitor.
You keep paying out the lebs and i will keep laughing. Whilst i will keep knocking the Italians pathetic behaviour on the football pitch and you will continue fuming.
Your pathetic excuses for an insults is embarassing, and its obvious you can give but you cannot take.
I was probably being a bit kind to you yesterday. Talking to you about football or having a rational conversation with you is like having a rational conversation to Hitler about the Jews. You are a fool and have these inbuilt thoughts in your head that were obviously installed at a young age. You have no hope. But just like Hitler you think you are right embarrasing. Everybody is laughing at me ? lol. Mate if you are going to give an insult learn to take one.
Good luck once again with your warped dreams, maybe there will be hope for you one day.

Insulting you is not too difficult. But you have to make up whatever comes first to you to insult me.

Like I said. Something like the Jerry Springer blog is what you need.

I dont fume at you. Merely frustrated at the ignorance of so called educated people in a civilised country.

But then again most Australians think the American way and English ways are normal.

Hope for me? Probably none at all. Youre right.

I should become an ignorant Aussie that believes that convicts are the reason for Australia’s economical success and success in the world cup.

Oh how I wish I was Lebanese so I could ditch my heritage for a wombat genital filled meat pie.

Oh how I wish I could bet all my pay on sporting events.

Oh how I wish johny could teach me and other Italians more about the good life and his football knowledge.

If what you crave is to insult without getting any back then youre dreaming.

You can call me racist – whatever you like. If you wanna give me shit personally or as an Italian then fine.

I have so much ammunition on your kind that I could sit on this blog for years.

As im sure there will be plenty more Leb moments.

You can claim your separation from being Leb all you want. No matter what you say youre still leb.

If you wanna keep on having a go at me im more than happy to keep pounding you like the red headed step child you are.

Talking to you is like masturbating with a cheese grater (thats if you and your cousins havent already gangraped the cheese grater) – slightly amusing but mostly painful.

Keep calling me non Australian or racist – whatever gets you through. I dont blame you – youve got NOTHING else.

Ive taught you a lesson in every department. Maybe you could win the “poohead” name calling contest.

Yallah Johny – Onya cobber.

Siamo Campioni del Mondo

Im sure you could sit on this blog for years as it is obvious you have no life. Nothing really better to do, so waste your life away on here, thats fine to me.
Its obvious the truth hurts you. Whilst you throw insults at me that are so far off the mark it is actually hilarious , you are obviously pissed off because the truth hurts you. Deep down you know you only won the world cup through cheating, and deep down you know you are a tosser.
Again and again you have proved my point by your stupid (funny) but stupid comments. You are a racist egotist that has nothing in their lives but their football and their Italian pride. Quite sad really.
I think my point has been made, and i didnt even have to say anything. So thankyou David. Thankyou for making it to easy. Basically David, Fuck off to where-ever it is you call home. Hmm where is that i wonder? Its not Australia and its not Italy , so maybe you could go back to the gutter where you came from . Maybe if i see you there one day i will drop you a few cents. Fuck off and leave us people that support you and your family alone. Because when you need the Australian government to help im sure you will milk it for all it is worth.
Oh and David. Good luck against Hungary tonight.

You know, I re-read your posts to see what truth im supposed to be hurt by?

Champions of the World dont take advice from petty losers that cant even qualify for the Asian Cup…and that gutter – its called Maroubra…or Bankstown, or wherever your fat ass may be – could be tripoli or beirut.

Unlike you you cheap thief, Italians and their descendants ruled the world for centuries, and now we merely influence the civilised world in every innovative way.

You on the other hand, and your kind, are just the lazy fat slouches that pretend to be European and pretend to have culture.

The argument that you and your kind pose about Italy vs Australia was never about the actual football game.

All of you were just jealous. All of you were just spewing that Italy ONCE AGAIN leads the world.

That’s why you people jump on bandwagons that oppose us, like the EPL or you laugh when there are crowd riots in Italy or a cop killing.

You have nothing else to do but wait, just like the English speaking tabloids, to lay shit on Italy.

I know you personally dont have anything against ITalians in Australia. I know youre not the typical “Aussie wanker”.

But I can still tell you hang for the moments to bag an Italian failure – like a friendly match loss training run against Hungary.

You have nothing else to look forward to. Where you heart broken when England lost to Germany or when Argentina lost to Norway? Probably. Coz youre a bandwagon jumper.

You follow Rugby League just because its the popular thing to do in your city. You have none of your own thoughts except those of which are washed into your brain by English speaking press.

You have no foreign education or qualifications and will always be condemned to being the limited pezza di shit that youve become.

You will never know what its like to be an Italian or to possess the gift and innovation of one.

This is why our kind is successful world wide. Even after Italy was wiped out after World War 2, Italians continued to re-build and maintain world dominance in innovation and everything that the world knows thats Italian.

But you already admitted to this being second nature. Its like youve claimed that as part of your own heritage. Coz thats what you are – a bandwagon jumper.

Its unfortunate that your kind does not even have the civilised nature to stop killing each other, but neither the resilliance to come out of it and rebuild.

Instead Italian and Australian soldiers have to go and clean up nappies for you.

You gloat about making money her in Australia. Well its the Italians who built this economy up to what it is.

Its the southern Europeans who made this country that you claim as your home.

How does it feel to be living in a country that is influenced by the kind you claim that are cheaters and that you cant stand?

Deep down you know Italy didnt cheat. You just say things to get a reaction.

Youre just looking for anything to insult. You have nothing left but to create a situation that you can claim youve won something from.

Your pyschology is so predictable that my 7 year old cousin could beat you in a battle of wits.

You wouldnt know this from being who you are – but Italians dont take anything that you people say to heart.

We are the strongest race. We have had to put up with all your skip insults for decades. And do you know who prevailed dickhead? US. Italian Australians prevailed. Your kind continues to piss up the pay againt the wall and you know it.

Its people (I wont say Australians, because there are people like you in every country) like you that are that ignorant to the realities of the world that you are basically pathologically lying to yourselves to pretend that you live a life that you really dont.

I dont claim to be Baggio or Michelangelo or anyone but myself. I dont have to. Italians are proud of other ITalians.

Who the fuck do you have to be proud of? Suicide bombers and rednecks with mullets.

Thats the harsh truth. I count myself as a respectable Australian with Italian values – good values and a good way of life.

Go back to MacDonalds for your value meal you low life scum and stop using our tax payments to fuel your gambling habits.

Yes everyone else in Australia knows that your two races are the ones that bleed our Australian government dry.

You try and have kids just to get a child bonus and allowance, and the people of the middle east (whilst they are dealing pills) are claiming cash money and the doll.

Then its our Australian government that has to rescue your sorry asses from Lebanon when youre all stuck there while Israel bombs you (after you say Australia is shit and death to the west and rape our sisters and invade our beaches).

Ironic hey.

But then again Im typing in vain – youre ignorant. You probably dont believe a word im typing. But thats what im expecting from your ignorant ass.

You are not intelligent enough to comprehend the place you were terming “the big bad world”.

You are that much of a pathological liar that you will deny all this too. Thats who YOUR KIND is.

And dickhead, seeing as though i write for part of my living, yes i check your comebacks. You are a break away from the “big bad world” when im not training or writing.

So, do a google search and read the census of Australia for some insight into the scumbag that you really are and those you come from – when your redneck dad shot his load all those years ago.

The world I live in and you – is dominated by Italian innovation. Its called Italy, and Australia.

Siamo Campioni del Mondo.

Johny, seriously you should read your comebacks.

Theyre all based on insults at some guy on the internet called David.

You dont even know him but you pretend to so you can lay insults.

This is because you have nothing else to rebutt with regarding anything else.

Thrown the white towel in the ring.

Youve got nothing else but insults with any fact to back it.

Youre accusations against Italy are all personal opinions without fact to back them up.

To put it mildly – you suck at this.

I refuse to converse with you anymore and I will wait until someone else comes along unless you actually have football to talk about.

Just like every girl asks you -

“can you please leave?”

Blah, Blah, Blah. You are a boring fuck arent you. Get a life my friend.

Oh yeh David, as you might have seen, I dropped the whole Italian racial thing quite a while ago. Your insistence of using this racial hatred shows what ignorant, racist pricks you are.
My only hope for you is that there are genuine Lebanese people reading this. Maybe then you will see first hand what lebos can be like.
Type all the boring so called facts you like, but the fact is you are boring, and you twist my arguments into your own words, and then use them against me. Sad really.
Anyway David i am sick of you. You are boring, cynical(alot like your soccer team really) and like i said you have similar attitudes to hitler. (hail hitler, hey David). And no you are wrong. Our Australian Government helps fat cunts like you whom never leave the side of their only friend mr computer to lose weight.
And David, if you were anything like the intelligent, sophisticated man you claim to be you would realise i am winding you up. I throw out the bait and you keep biting. Your responses prove my original point, and the funny thing about your comments is that you actually do believe what you are saying. That tells me you are a troubled soul in need of immediate attention.

TABLOID TV – the English Way

An article written recently on Channel 4.

TV tantrum
The Champions League group stage has only just got underway and already British coverage of the Italian teams has enraged Steve Wilson

The wise old owls on Sky Sports were once again quick to dismiss the Italian challenge in the Champions League, although I say this as if it should be a shock to anyone. Following Milan’s fairly efficient start to the competition with a 2-1 win over Benfica – a team who have upset Liverpool and Manchester United in recent seasons, clubs from ‘the greatest League in the world’ – the pundits were dismissing the chances of the Rossoneri retaining the prestigious silverware.

“Too old!” were the cries from the assembled pack, and admittedly it is an allegation that Milan cannot defend. With seven of the men who started against the Portuguese outfit aged over 30 the simple fact is that Carlo Ancelotti’s squad relies heavily on experience over youth. But is that such a bad thing? In Europe’s top club competition you need players who know how to cope in games where one slip up or one missed chance can be the difference between a win and a loss.

Due to Milan’s stale summer spending it goes without saying that the majority of their team have the medal to prove that they have trodden this path before – Clancy Seedorf on four occasions. And with a group that should pose no real threat – and that’s hard for me to say as a Bhoy – the real test for the side won’t come until after the January transfer window. By that time teenager Alexandre Pato will be installed – although it is perhaps asking too much to expect Sky’s Anglo-centric panel to have taken that fact into account before writing Milan off.

For a team that has won seven European Cups it would be churlish to reject them as potential winners even if they had been drawn in a group of death and forced to play their reserves. Somehow they are just always there or thereabouts at the end. You can’t imagine Andy Gray and friends disregarding Real Madrid quite as quickly – the Galacticos after all are the greatest team in the world, picking up the mantle in the evening after Manchester United have finished using it during Super Sunday.

Which brings me to the precious Manchester club, who could forget their magical victory in the Nou Camp in 1999? Seriously, if anyone has forgotten then just tune in to ITV’s Champions League coverage and Clive Tyldesley will fill you in within two minutes of kick-off. The average age of United’s players was 28. Milan’s 14 against Benfica averaged out at just under 29 and a half-years-old. Can an extra 18 months per player really put a club out of contention? The years between 26 and 30 are a player’s prime after all.

United had Peter Schmeichel who reached 36 in 1999, a 34-year-old Denis Irwin and needed a goal from 33-year-old Teddy Sheringham that night. And they certainly didn’t have anyone who could claim to be the world’s best ‘a la Kaka’ in their side. I’m not saying that Milan will definitely be crowned in Moscow next May – for what it’s worth my money is on their blue and black neighbours – but to chalk them off the contenders list on the cliché of age is ludicrous, but then what more do you expect from Tabloid TV?

Italy’s Euro 2008 qualifier victory over Ukraine has seen the Azzurri regain their place on top of the FIFA World Rankings.

My God David. You are back and you are more boring than ever.
What point exactly are you trying to make with this article ? Maybe there is a good reason why this reporter writes for a useless media source such as 4. A source that has a reputation as sound as a homeless bum.
You wanted analysis David so i will give you my analysis of this article.

Who says AC Milan cannot win the Champions League this year ? (this twat of a reporter). Nobody in their right mind would honestly believe that AC Milan did not have an outstanding chance of winning this years champions league. Sure their league form has not been great to date but we all know this counts for absolutely nothing in Europe. David it is obvious that when this article was written there was a severe lack of sporting news headlines. But it is obvious you believe everything you hear. This article goes along the same lines as many of your arguments. SOUL-LESS arguments which have no spine. You have an attitude that the whole world is against you, where really it is your inability to take jokes which is your downfall.
David my friend. The English media is not the Italian hating organisation that you may believe. Do you not think that it is quite obvious SKY would choose to concentrate on British teams ? especially in the first few rounds where sky are merely giving the British public what they want. Sure there will be a few disgruntled Italian football fans, but hey David in business it is normally the most feasible option to go with the majority. David like every year in the champions league there will be a natural progression in showing more Italian and Spanish sides as the tournament progresses, but you would not know this because you have no idea. You have heard an argument that sounds legitimate, and have jumped on the bandwagon. I think this sums you up perfectly.

Dipshit, the English speaking media is not the whole world.

Why don’t you learn another language you uneducated fuck. Then perhaps you could understand what Im talking about.

Example – If Australia’s first language was Farsi then we would more than likely be watching Iranian football instead and would be told that this is great…because the crowds are good… and stuff.

Instead we speak English. Therefore we are unfortunate enough to have to be “educated” into learning the ways of the EPL. Shin kicking, toe punting, shoulder charging and through ball truckings from your own half. Oh, this sounds like Mal Meninga’s final seasons with the Canberra Raiders – just what you losers look for in Football – rugby league tactics.

This article from Channel 4 is just an example from a non-Italian about the politics and hypocrisy of the English SPEAKING press (not just the English press you moron – English is the first language of many other countries).

I mean, its like saying that Melbourne Victory dont have a chance in hell to defend its A-League premiership. No other nationality would be so stupid as to discount any reigning champion apart from someone so cock-eyed and brain washed such as the “believable” English speaking press.

Perhaps the Americans actually walked on the moon…and perhaps it wasnt the Bush admin that didnt bring down the towers… As a whole youre a gullible faction.

Another point – Once again, I was never referring only to the British media, but also other English (the language) speaking countries such as Australia.

Another point – If I believed everything I read, wouldnt I be just like the rest of you gold digging tryhards and be supporting the EPL? MORON. Contradiction is your art form.

Another point – everyone of my points and arguments are backed up by fact. Just like youve previously admitted – you knew nothing and were making statements out of anger.

Out of pure boredom I reply to you. But thanks for brushing up on your English. It now appears youve learned grammar, puncuation and spelling.

Siete cretini, ma Noi Siamo Campioni del Mondo.

And seriously, with that, I retire from this dead blog. You offer no real argument.

From the world game, goodnight.

Siamo Campioni del Mondo

After all my time chatting with you David i feel i have developed quite an understanding of you and your psychological state. I would liken you to an AC Milan goalkeeper. Brilliant at times but makes critical errors. And when all seems lost cheat, steal, feign, backstab, mislead. Whatever it takes to swing the tide in your favour. Whilst us uneducated pricks in the english speaking world do not accept this behaviour, it is obvious the sophisticated non-english speaking world not only condone this behaviour, but they defend it.
David i find it quite amazing that you choose to continue on your crusade when it is obvious you are way out of your depth. If you did not notice i was actually agreeing with some of the points you made about this article, but was just pointing out having spent four years of my life in Europe, that basically this article serves no pupose than to stimulate the senses of egotistical pricks such as yourself. Just what is the point of the article? You say it is to highlight the politics and hypocrisy of the English speaking press. Just where does it do this? And i dont want to listen to the opinions of this reporter, who if had any credibility at all would not be working for channel 4. Now i could go through the entire article and highlight the contradictions and errors, however it is obvious trying to explain something to you is as difficult as pushing shit up a hill.
Poor old David. Probably a struggling reporter who has nothing better to do with himself than slag off his own kind. A man with obvious deep Italian roots. Some would say a little too deep. Even Italian people on this very forum have slagged you off, and you claim people respect your comments. It was so wrong of me to criticise the Italian people after your disrespectful comments about Australians. Like i have said ,i like the Italian people. It is you i do not like.

With the Italian Serie A officially labelled a joke and a disgrace by their own people, it is no wonder the English Premier League is now the Premier League of them all. Italian football it seems has not learnt a thing from their successes at the world cup. If anything they have gone backwards.

A part of me feels the upcoming European Championships would not be the same with Italy not in it, but bugger them. They had enough luck in the last world cup to attone for all the self proclaimed bad luck in previous cups. All roads lead to Scotland. I believe next month Scotland will be taking the high road to glory and Italy will stumble on the low road that will lead them back to the shambolic Serie A.

SHAME, SHAME, SHAME on the Italian game. More mindless Italian thugs causing trouble and violence over a stpid game. When will these ultras realise their is more to life than football. This tragic death will only give these Italian football hooligans more stimulation to cause violence and blatant thuggery. But then again DAVID i am sure you will defend this behaviour.