Posted on 06/26/2006 4:20:36 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
Final score: Australia 0 - Italy 1 AUSTRALIA'S World Cup hearts were broken early today when the Socceroos lost 1-0 to 10-man Italy with the last kick of the match.
With extra time beckoning at the end of a gripping duel, Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantelejo controversially awarded a penalty against Lucas Neill for a foul on Fabio Grosso.
Amid a deafening din of catcalls, superstar Francesco Totti scored past goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to plunge the dagger into Australia.
After twice coming from behind to stay in the competition in the group stage, Guus Hiddink's brave men had no time left to hit back.
The final whistle sounded before they even had time to restart the match.
But the heartache was tempered by the salute of an army of supporters, who had turned a little section of Germany into a green and gold fortress for the past two weeks.
In the end, the Azzurri -- three times World Cup winners and pulsing with pedigree -- got out of jail against a Socceroos side hampered by the loss of the suspended Brett Emerton and the injured Harry Kewell.
Playing against 10 men for almost the entire second half following the dismissal of defender Marco Matterrazi, Australia never gave their celebrated opponent a moment's peace but could not break through
Any lingering hope Australia had that groin injury victim Kewell might come off the bench as an impact player was emphatically ended when he arrived at the ground on crutches. His place went to Luke Wilkshire.
As expected, Mark Schwarzer returned to the Australian goal and blunder keeper Zeljko Kalac was replaced by No. 3 Ante Covic on the bench after being described by coach Guus Hiddink as mentally fragile after his goal-conceding gaffe against Croatia.
Italy fielded an ultra-attacking formation with three strikers, Alessandro Del Piero, Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino.
But it was Australia who pressed early, with the Italian-based midfield duo of Marco Bresciano and Vince Grella bristling with invention and Mark Viduka full of intent up front, where he had the raiding Mile Sterjovksi and Tim Cahill for occasional company.
At the back, Neill added more to his burgeoning transfer value by breaking up attacks with timely interceptions as Toni and Gilardino ran into a green and gold wall.
Then it was Scott Chipperfield to the rescue to block Gillardino's shot as the Azzurri tried to unpick Australia's defensive lock.
Despite playing with three forwards, as a mark of respect to the quality of Hiddink's team, Italy sat back and sought to hit Australia on the counter.
And it almost paid off in the 20th minute, when a flowing move ending with Schwarzer tipping Gillardino's rising shot over the crossbar.
Schwarzer then had to make a wonder stop with his feet after Toni's turn and shot seemed certain to bring a goal.
Then appeals by Grella for a foul by Toni as he burst clear fell on deaf ears and earned him a booking for dissent from the referee.
Australia came close to beating the Italian door down in the 30th minute, when Chipperfield connected with his right foot to a free-kick headed on by Craig Moore and keeper Gianluigi Buffon was relieved to hold on.
At the other end, Italy had Australia scrambling in the 34th minute before Toni headed over under pressure from Moore.
We were not defeated - we were cheated!!!!
Did you know that Al Gore invented soccer?
So much for me watching the game on tape. (I'll watch it anyway, but it's not fun knowing the final score).
Sorry, brother. I thought you would have already seen it. :-(
Don't worry, you know the result other than the pissing and moaning.
Watch the penalty call for yourself. Hardly worth the ink. It was a simple call.
No other choice.
Oz was robbed by a crooked referee.... but then again, that's how soccer works. They should call it the World Cup for Crooked Refs.
No worries. I will watch in your honor.
Tell me if you reckon the ref was crook.
Soccer has become like one of those 20 minute fight scenes in a Hollywood B-movie. I've never seen people take so many mortal blows only to get up and jump right back into the fight.
Will do.
The new "American Idol" is Taylor Hicks. ^
| Posted by navysealdad On News/Activism ^ 05/24/2006 6:59:24 PM PDT fox Taylor Hicks a small town boy from Alabama is the new American Idol...Taylor won over Katherine McPhee. |
..........
EDGAR STILES DIED (24 on Fox) ^
| Posted by HHKrepublican_2 On News/Activism ^ 03/06/2006 7:07:56 PM PST Anyone who watches 24 will understand the shock!!! This show takes over my Mondays! I cannot believe they killed him off! Comment away fellow 24 obessessed FReepers --------------------------- Left coast FReepers have to live in a cave for 3 hours if they don't want to know what's happened on any event taped delayed. |
One more thing. Go drink heavily . . . that's what soccer's all about, anyway. It's hard to getted worked-up at the Spaniards, but torch a few police cars anyway. It'll get it out of your system.
I'll grant you that the replay of the foul didn't look as bad as it did full-speed. But hey, if you really want to ruin a game, just institute the NFL instant replay rule.
It's merely confirmed in my mind that soccer is a game for sheilas. I'm back to Australian footy come this weekend!
LOL. Those are pretty bad.
Now that's a REAL game!
Big match this Sunday: Richmond V. Collingwood. Bring it on! GO TIGERS!!!!
I've always meant to ask. Are the girls in the stands at an Aussie Rules game as hot as the ones I've been seeing in Germany?
MATE, hotter!!!!
I wanted Australia to win, but when the ref gives you a gift of sending off an opposing player for half the game, and you still can't score a goal, it isn't the last-second penalty call that beat you, it's your own inability to kick the ball into the net.
Just like the 2nd game -- if you can't score in 90 minutes, neither team can claim they "deserved" anything.
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