2006 WORLD CUP - Round of 16 - ITALY-AUSTRALIA/UKRAINE-SWISS

FIFAworldcup.com ^ | 6-26-06 | FIFAworldcup.com

[soccer_maniac]

In two more days, only 8 teams will remain in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

TODAY'S GAMES: Italy-Australia (11:00AM EST) followed by Swiss-Ukraine (3:00 PM EST).

[jjbrouwer]

Do American football fans suffer from erectile disfunction because of the amount of all the Budweiser they drink?

[dfwgator]

England was lucky that Ecuador's keeper was no great shakes. Any top-notch keeper saves that Beckham shot.

[romanesq]

Well the Aussies can save their subs for a scrimmage with some French players who should be available shortly.

[rb22982]

I hate it as much as they do. I hated my teammates that did it growing up and always made fun of them in practice. It wasn't nearly the problem on my premier club team or my varsity soccer team though that I have witnessed in this World Cup. I don't think the 2002 WC was even half this bad, although I wasn't able to see nearly as many WC games in 2002 as this year due to work.

They understand what you said. We all just think its very unsportsman like.

[jjbrouwer]

'...justice is done.'

Haha! Of course it is...

[bwteim]

Just an FYI... This is a soccer thread. Don't invite negative responses from non-soccer following FR members. A thread got pulled earlier this week by the admin moderator.

And I can't wait for the fall and football. ;)

[Eurotwit]

A bit of testosterone floating through your veins at the moment? :-)

Grosso wanted that penalty, and duely received it.

[dfwgator]

The Aussies gambled and lost. It's true to some extent that they screwed up to even let Italy get that opportunity.

Just as it was the US defenders fault for not safely playing the ball out before the PK was awarded to Ghana, especially so close to halftime.

[jjbrouwer]

The football has been far more entertaining in this World Cup than in the 2002 competition.

[jpl]

Did you happen to catch the end of Italy's "win" just now? What a joke.

The reason why most of us in America can't get excited about the WC is because almost every game at this level is decided by who does a better job of falling down in front of the referee.

[romanesq]

The penalty wasn't harsh at all. It was earned by a brilliant play by Grosso into the box.

Now if Roberto Carlos had been the guy making an attack like that at the end of the game a man down, I'm sure it would have been met with applause.

No matter, Forza Italia. Well deserved.

[lainie]

Yeah, I know. It is. I'm just trying to be constructive, I guess.

[jjbrouwer]

'It was earned by a brilliant play by Grosso into the box. '

Yes, the dive deserved a perfect ten score. "Brilliant" cheating.

[dfwgator]

The reason why most of us in America can't get excited about the WC is because almost every game at this level is decided by who does a better job of falling down in front of the referee.

That doesn't stop people from watching the NBA.

[romanesq]

A tad bit of retribution and yes, call it justice.
The brilliant play by Grosso well earned.

Aussies got a gift of a ref's incompetence and did nothing with it.

[rb22982]

One other note: They didn't think the US Soccer team was bad at diving + acting so maybe they will continue to support the US team.

[Eurotwit]

btw: A unanimous board of "experts" on Swedish TV, are calling the penalty call nonsense.

[romanesq]

Worse than a poor effort by Ecuador's keeper is that he even got his hand on the ball but still couldn't keep it out of the corner.

[jpl]

You won't get much argument from me, the refereeing in the NBA is often a joke as well.

[lainie]

But, the way the US team played was terrible, so it was kinda moot. :-)