i'm totally sick - how pathetic can underdogs be?

1 Let me be very clear it was not a penalty, but that is not a fault of the italians. italians , spanish, french all these players have always had the tendency to go for penalties, its their game like it or not. why blame them only ? anyone remember Rivaldo against Turkey in 2002 group league, he faked to get a penalty. Brazilians do it too !!! It was the refs fault why blame italy ?

2 Aussies played very very well, but they have to accept the fact that their finishing was pooor , & they created very little despite having a man advantage. They never looked like scoring & winning the match. On the contrary Italy had better openings.

3 Ref was poor , but again Materazzi's red card was harsh, 11 against 11 would have been a different game.

4 Italy did defend very well, give them credit for that.

5 I agree there has been a mess in Serie A but you can never undermine the quality, Italian clubs have won European competitions more than any other country , check the records.

Italy hve won 3 WCs, they are the first & only european country to win back to back WC. Also they have the 3rd best record in WC next to brazil & germany, better than Argentina or England, you have to accept that they are good.

Some people say they have little sucess in recent times well check this

1978- 4th

1982- champs

1986 - quarter finals

1990 - 3rd

1994 - 2nd

1998 - quarter finals

2002 - 2nd round

they have not last a WC knockout match in normal time since 1986, and have reached semifinals in 4 of last 7 WCs, they have played 16 Wcs which is 2nd to Brazil.

They may not win the world cup but that is what competition is all about. ITaly maybe the overall better team but the Aussies put up a good fight that deserves an applause. And it was not a fair ending to the game. WHo knows Italy may have prevailed anyway, but it had to be played out. As far as the Americans go they are pathetic. By the way I am not an Aussie.

So is the whole point to football now not about the rules, but in fact how to exploit and manipulate the interpretation of them. Well that is not sport nor is it backing your ability without resorting to theatrics.And yes as an Aussie I have stated from the beginning that the red card was not warranted. I am a good sport and yes, would have felt the same about the referee had the decision been the other way around. That penalty decision was overly hasty and incorrect. It is not a healthy attitude to see others as pathetic. Australia had chances and did not capitalise, true, but at least the majority of us can admit our side is not perfect and we support them win, lose or draw.

Well I don't know about the Australia game, but the penalties in the Italy/US game were so bad that one Italy player was not only red carded and removed from that game and made to sit out the next game, but the powers that be in the World Cup decided that the penalty was so blatant and intentional that the player for Italy was penalized three more matches. Now say what you will about people complaining and crying fowl when their team loses, but the World Cup officials would not add extra penalties to a player unless it was warranted. So don't act like the players from Italy are innocent and played a fair game, for atleast one of the Italy players got caught playing way out of bounds and got called on the carpet for it.

100% with you + the penalty kick WAS legittimate (obstruction in the penalty box is awarded with penalty kick).

If ppl understand soccer they have to admit that even tough Australia played a good game, they were never dangerous and Italy had more chances on scoring goals. If you really watched the game without being biased, you should have noticed that Viduka should have been substituted as soon as the (illegitimate) red card was given to Materazzi. Hiddink continued to play with five midfielder (against three of Italy) that had superior possession of the ball, but they were too slow and not efficient on penetrate the Italian defense, because the only striker (Viduka) was perfectly controlled by Cannavaro. Hiddink should have replace Viduka and allowed even another striker to be on the field.

"whatelks67" ---> you are the typical example of a n incompetent person about soccer!!!

In the USA-Italy game there were 26 (twentysix) fouls called on USA players! Also 4 (four) offsides were called against Italy and they WERE NOT offside.

De Rossi was punished with 4 games suspension (and NOT three months)... in meantime, MASTROENI (that was red carded) was punished with 3 games suspension: his foul was intentional and dangerous... but ppl like you (incompetent) still think the referee was bias to Italy!

Before talking about something you don't know, learn, learn, and learn!

Again, this is soccer... not whatever other sport you have in mind (carpet... out of bound)... gosh!

Australians are angry because we lost to Italy who DIVED to get that last penalty. And before anyone has a go at me saying Italy are not cheats, how about the fact that 4 of Italy's top clubs are being investigated for match fixing? If you won fair and square, I wouldn't have a problem, but Italy cheated and will be remembered as cheats.

We just don't like the way the italians dive and cheat. Look at your league, your clubs match fix games. It is in your mentality to cheat. You are a disgrace to football. The only good true Italian football player is Gianfranco Zola and youre country doesnt even appreciate him. And yes i wouldnt like to win they way the Italians did because it would be a very hollow victory but i suppose Italians dont care how they win.

PLEASE!!!

Italy was so pathetic ""THERE WAS NO PENALTY""

England was nothing without Beck "and they had to waste time to win against ecuador??? SO PATHETIC

GERMANY JUST WINNING CUZ THEY R HOSTING "fifa never change"

THE EUROPEAN TEAMS ARE PLAYING SO LAME!!!

The southamericans are gonna win anyways

Argentina or Brazil

CONMEBOL "Confederacion sudamerican de Futbol

"THE BEST SOCCER ON EARTH"

I'm with you 100%,glad to see that there still are people that understand soccer.

DJ_Netmen you're a perfect example of what he's talking about!!

Forza Italia