World Cup 2006

[ENVY-T]

Even after a few hours sleep, I still feel like someone has ripped my left arm off!

Being of Italian heritage, I thought I was in a win/win situation, but all I feel now for the Italians is contempt. They are known to and have always been the biggest actors in soccer.

Yes the red card was not warranted, but what a way to even things up. If only he had of choked on the whistle as he blew it.

[jetute]

what an absolute siht way to decide a game what was the ref thinking

However, there were bad calls both ways... including the red to the Italians... But to give a penalty with only a few seconds left

They should introduce the third umpire for these sorts of situations... only for the in-goal area though... that way the games would be decided fairly and the refs wouldnt look like tossers

[ENVY-T]

Spot on Jetter. But while Hollywood is still involved with soccer, then it will never be a fair game.

As Johnny Warren once said, "Soccer is the only sport where the best team can loose"

And the Aussies were the better side out there tonight.

[MRDOHC]

The fact that Neil was on the floor and his arm moves was reason enough for the ref to pull that call, Neil didnt touch him for sure and I think it was a joke pulling such a game altering decision on the 3 minute extra time point.

The Italians are notorious for making life miserable for attacking sides like Australia, it has to be said that after that stupid decision to bring Italy to 10 men Australia couldnt capitalise on the numbers advantage.

Italy played their usual bull*hit everyone defend tactic but they usually pull that when they are AHEAD... just goes to show how scared they were playing and how they were hoping it went to penalties.

The ref should have waved the penalty on and let it go to extra time and even penalties to decide it, I dont say it was totally ridiculous call from the ref cause Neil's arm does move but when in doubt dont give such decisions on extra time, that's just crap.

[Guest]

as the name says I do have italian in me as well but as to contempt nope none there I was barracking for the wogzzies I even wore an auzzie top to lygon as a stir

I'm of the opinion that the ref's should be shot and if we got the free kick we would have taken advantage too!

I'm yet to see any teem say nahh that's a bum call I'm not taking the penalty shot!!!

[ENVY-T]

The fact that Neil was on the floor and his arm moves was reason enough for the ref to pull that call, Neil didnt touch him for sure and I think it was a joke pulling such a game altering decision on the 3 minute extra time point.

The Italians are notorious for making life miserable for attacking sides like Australia, it has to be said that after that stupid decision to bring Italy to 10 men Australia couldnt capitalise on the numbers advantage.

Italy played their usual bull*hit everyone defend tactic but they usually pull that when they are AHEAD... just goes to show how scared they were playing and how they were hoping it went to penalties.

The ref should have waved the penalty on and let it go to extra time and even penalties to decide it, I dont say it was totally ridiculous call from the ref cause Neil's arm does move but when in doubt dont give such decisions on extra time, that's just crap.

←

Watch the replay. He moves his hand and arms back above his head as to ensure there was no mistake.

I think that ref is just FOS and needs to be bent over a barrel and have an xr6 driven up his arse! dry too no vaso

I have not been so emotional after a sporting event ever. Even after Essendon has won Grandfinals I didn't feel anything like the emotion that was engulfing me at the end of this match.

Well done aussies. And come on the Poms, if italy win this thing I will be so pissed off, they do not deserve to be playing the Ukraine, they should be starring in George Lucas' new film. Farkin actors.

[Buf-Phoon]

Guys we can all sit and cry in our beers and say we were stooged , but the fact remains we had an extra man for 40+ minutes and to be honest we really did not look like scoring.

Kept trying to go throught the blue wall up the middle.We did not create enough genuine chances and the Italians defended marvellously.

Agree that it was a terrible and unbelievable way to lose, but we should have won the game before that IMO. That said the Aussies did us all proud and games should not be decided by a poor refs call.

Anyway well done the the Socceroos , we will just have to go one better next time

[Guest casgeroth]

A video ref is WAY overdue for this game.

For the world's "most popular sport" it sure is bloody stupid to rely solely on the 3 guys out there. Just about every other major sport on the planet has made good use of the technology available to make fair and justified decisions... why not Soccer/Football?

I'm not saying it's necessary for *all* penalties, just the ones severe enough to require yellow/red card consideration and penalty spot kicks.

I reckon both the red card for the Italians and the penalty spot kick in the dying minute were crucially bad decisions, and that this ref should lose his job.

It was almost as bad the Australia V Croatia match where that Simunic guy practically rugby tackled Viduka in the penalty box and we got nothing... then later he got 3 yellow cards and 2 reds (effectively). Surely that's got to be a first in FIFA World Cup history.

Anyway, it's all over now. We can whinge all we want and it's not going to change anything. Hopefully this will spur on the hopeful aussie players for the next world cup to do even better.

+ There's rugby still to watch

Edited 26/06/06 11:51 PM by casgeroth

[Goldbullet]

All I can say is that Italy have cheated thier way to the next round, nothing to be proud of and fair sportsmanship does not exist in thier team.

Dave.

[Cro]

Well done Australia!!

I am so damn proud of the boys, and I can't wait till the street parade in Sydney or the game against Kuwait!

I've sort of jumped on the band wagon, I haven't followed the Oceania cup, but have followed all the Qualifying games since they played Iran in Melbourne.

I for one vow to watch every Aussie game, and also try get into the A-League games.

I will wear my scarf proudly today, and every other day the Aussies are playing football

They have done so much for football in Australia, and I think we can look forward to Africa.