[mgist]

We had great games this weekend. Somebody explain about the US soccer team being fouled so much.

[Gaetano]

The US Fouled Italy nearly twice as much as they fouled the US. Arena had his men fighting for every ball and succeeded in disrupting the flow of Italy's game.


Italy (ITA) Statistics USA (USA)
10 Shots 8
3 Shots on Goal 0
13 Fouls 24
7 Corner Kicks 3
1 Free Kicks (shots on goal) 1
0 Penalty Kicks 0
11 Offsides 1
1 Own Goals 0
2 Cautions 2
1 Expulsions 2
54% Ball Possession 46%
29 Actual Playing Time 25

[timsbella]

All those cards--must have hired an NBA ref ;)

[jjbrouwer]

I don't think the USA team was fouled any more than the Italian team. However, the Italians are drama queens who exaggerated their injuries to get the Americans sent off.

When Brian McBride was elbowed in the face, he calmly walked off the pitch, received treatment and came back on later. When the Italians were fouled, they collapsed to the ground as if they had been shot dead and had to be stretchered off.

The referee was a disgrace and I'm glad USA managed to get a draw with only nine men.