Travesty at World Cup

habsforeverfan · Veteran Member

Travesty at World Cup

brooklynhabfan · Guru

habsforeverfan wrote:

Did anyone see the Australia-Italy game today?
It was a total travesty to have the game handed to the Italians with a penalty kick in the final 5 seconds of play. Australia was robbed after outplaying Italy convincingly.

It was disgusting... like most of the reffing in this cup....

Makes our favourite donut munchers look like angels

mperra (Admin) · Guru

C'mon, were we watching the same game? You want travesty. How about a questionable red card forcing Italy to play one man short for half the game.

As for the penalty box. look carefully, the intent of the Aussie was there. Sprawl on the floor.

The soccer gods were smiling over Italy at game's end

beakermania · Senior Member

He was the last man back making a tackle that did not allow Grosso a shot on goal from 5 yards with only the goalie left to beat. By rules it could have also been a yellow or a red card (last man back, not viciousness).

It is a foul because he went down too early, did not hit the ball, and then swung his elbow back to impede Grosso as he was jumping over him.

The ref was right there and absolutely made the right call. The only reason there is controversy is because of the fact it was such a dramatic moment with 5 seconds left. But it was the right call.

That red card earlier however, probably should have been a yellow.

brooklynhabfan · Guru

beakermania wrote:

He was the last man back making a tackle that did not allow Grosso a shot on goal from 5 yards with only the goalie left to beat. By rules it could have also been a yellow or a red card (last man back, not viciousness).
It is a foul because he went down too early, did not hit the ball, and then swung his elbow back to impede Grosso as he was jumping over him.
The ref was right there and absolutely made the right call. The only reason there is controversy is because of the fact it was such a dramatic moment with 5 seconds left. But it was the right call.
That red card earlier however, probably should have been a yellow.

I think a lot of the sensitivity comes on the heels of so much bad officiating...

Something we see too much of in hockey, but never to the extenet that this Cup has brought

Kendich · Veteran Member

I agree completely. The Aussies showed their fitness out there. Even if you're down one man in soccer, it should not be like the other team is on a power play. The Aussies really showed their fitness out there today and were deserving of the win. Grosso knew exactly what he was doing in the box, he beat the man, then purposely fell over him, he sold it well too. He could have easily gone around him. There's no way a penalty like that should decide a world cup game.

Jay1982 · Guru

Talk about a sticky situation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ScottishHAB · Veteran Member

This may be simplistic,but Aussie didn't deserve to win_ every sport is the same,if you don't score you don't win.There is nothing gained by being the better team.

brooklynhabfan · Guru

Kendich wrote:

Grosso knew exactly what he was doing in the box, he beat the man, then purposely fell over him, he sold it well too. He could have easily gone around him. There's no way a penalty like that should decide a world cup game.

It was just such a p%^&y way to win a game. I'm getting tired of the continental European (Everything south of Denmark and West of Russia, at least) culture of cheating. All these teams have the talent to win fairly, but choose not to.

Personally, I'd rather not win if it's going to nag me forever that I cheated...

beakermania · Senior Member

Kendich wrote:

I agree completely. The Aussies showed their fitness out there. Even if you're down one man in soccer, it should not be like the other team is on a power play. The Aussies really showed their fitness out there today and were deserving of the win. Grosso knew exactly what he was doing in the box, he beat the man, then purposely fell over him, he sold it well too. He could have easily gone around him. There's no way a penalty like that should decide a world cup game.

I disagree, the Italians completely dominated 11 on 11. Toni, Gilardino, Del Piero and others had numerous chances in the first 45 minutes. The final shots at goal (attempts that are wide counted, unlike hockey), and the shots on goal (same as hockey) total still favoured Italy despite playing 40 minutes with 10 men. Once Materezzi was out the Italians reverted to typical Italian football. (Its okay if the other team has possesion, but bottle everything up and defend like crazy and wait for a counterattack opportunity.) Best Hockey reference would be the Neutral Zone Trap. They played it to perfection as Australia only generated a small handful of chances in the second half despite their advantage in possession. The Italian Defence won this game for them, at the end of the day.

brooklynhabfan · Guru

beakermania wrote:

The Italian Defence won this game for them, at the end of the day.

That, and a total p@$&y move right at the end....

Doesn't matter, as they have a hard road ahead... maybe they can cheat the whole way there, who knows?