4021 Italy Vs Australia

Italy of course!!!

I think Italy will make it through to the last 8.

Dawn.

And to think Italy drew with Scotland in the qualifying rounds!!! Sad!!!

2-0 to Italy

[LEFT][quote=turtle]And to think Italy drew with Scotland in the qualifying rounds!!! Sad!!![/quote]

Watch it!! :mad:

Derek (big, gruff caber-tossing Scotsman who lives in Ireland)

... and precisely why they won't get past the quarter finals
[/LEFT]

It was the BBC that said yesterday Scotland drew with Italy ..... in one match and yes Italy did beat Scotland in the next one. Here is all the facts from Italy's Qualifying Group copied and pasted from a website!!! Enjoy!!!

Wed, October 12, 2005

Belarus 0 v Norway 1. Norway is in the playoff.
Italy 2 v Moldova 1. Italy squeaks past tiny Moldova and into Germany.
Slovenia 0 v Scotland 3. Too little too late for the Scots, but a solid win.

Sat, October 8, 2005

Italy 1 v Slovenia 0 Italy do enough to qualify as Zaccardo's second half goal takes them through.
Norway 1 v Moldova 0 Rushfeldt on target just after the break.
Scotland 0 v Belarus 1 An early goal for the visitors ends Scotland's World Cup hopes.

Wed, September 7, 2005

Belarus 1 v Italy 4
Moldova 1 v Slovenia 2
Norway 1 v Scotland 2

Sat, September 3, 2005

Moldova 2 v Belarus 0
Scotland 1 v Italy 1. Unimpressive, Italy still is on course to qualify. Down a goal, the azzuri pulled back even in the 76th minute.
Slovenia 2 v Norway 3

Wed, June 8, 2005

Belarus 0 v Scotland 0

Sat, June 4, 2005

Belarus 1 v Slovenia 1
Norway 0 v Italy 0
Scotland 2 v Moldova 0 Scotland's first win of the campaign with goals from Dailly and McFadden.

Wed, March 30, 2005

Moldova 0 v Norway 0
Slovenia 1 v Belarus 1

Sat, March 26, 2005

Italy 2 v Scotland 0

Wed, October 13, 2004

Italy 4 v Belarus 3 : Italy scrape past Belarus. Totti (2).
Moldova 1 v Scotland 1
Norway 3 v Slovenia 0

Sat, October 9, 2004

Belarus 4 v Moldova 0
Scotland 0 v Norway 1 : Penalty.
Slovenia 1 v Italy 0 : Totti returns from spitting ban, falls down in penalty box.

Wed, September 8, 2004

Moldova 0 v Italy 1 : Del Piero.
Norway 1 v Belarus 1
Scotland 0 v Slovenia 0 : Scotland lack guile.

Sat, September 4, 2004

Italy 2 v Norway 1 : Revamped Italy overcome Norwegians.
Slovenia 3 v Moldova 0 : Acimovic hat trick.

[QUOTE=turtle]And to think Italy drew with Scotland in the qualifying rounds!!! Sad!!![/QUOTE]

i'm wondering why thats sad? is it to belittle Italy? or do you think scotland
are that weak ?

is it sad that england lost to northern ilreland?

is it sad that both argentina and brazil lost to paragruay?

this could go on and on... its football and anything can happen.

rather italy were playing the croats next, but maybe they have learnt from
the us game and will play well enough to beat the aussies.

still remember, no one has scored against them YET {usa own goal}

and to have gone over 20 games unbeaten! well its not that bad.

HERES AN INTERESTING FACT.
If italy do get by the aussies, they will face the winners of the switz v ukrane.

So whats interesting about that? name the last two teams, italy played in friendlies.?

do you think they know something we don't.?

[LEFT]
I think this could be a tough game for Italy. I'm going for an Italy win but only after extra time or even penalties.

I'm still reeling after that Portugal-Holland match. I've never seen such a display of blatant cheating - players trying to get other players sent off. Figo was a disgrace. Holland were woeful but Portugal weren't much better.
I hope England knock them out, but I'm not too hopeful.
The curse of Scolari! :(

[/LEFT]

----------------------------------Buffon----------------------------------

-------Oddo---------Cannavarro-------Materazzi-------Zambrotta----------

------Pirlo--------------------------Perotta----------------Gattusso------

-------------------------------------Totti--------------------------------

-----------------Gilardino---------------------Toni/Inzaghi-----------------

[LEFT]
Australia's starting line-up...

----------------------------------Bruce---------------------

-------Bruce---------Bruce-------Bruce-------Bruce----------

-----Bruce----------------------Bruce----------------Bruce------

-------------------------------- Bruce------------------------

-----------------Bruce---------------------Bruce----------------

;)
[/LEFT]

Not at all to belittle Italy. I love the Italian fooball team and any other Latin bloodied teams!!! What I meant was it's sad that Scotland having drawn with Italy didn't make it into the finals. I'm Scottish ..... !!!

[QUOTE=giovanni]i'm wondering why thats sad? is it to belittle Italy? or do you think scotland
are that weak ?

is it sad that england lost to northern ilreland?

is it sad that both argentina and brazil lost to paragruay?

this could go on and on... its football and anything can happen.

rather italy were playing the croats next, but maybe they have learnt from
the us game and will play well enough to beat the aussies.

still remember, no one has scored against them YET {usa own goal}

and to have gone over 20 games unbeaten! well its not that bad.

HERES AN INTERESTING FACT.
If italy do get by the aussies, they will face the winners of the switz v ukrane.

So whats interesting about that? name the last two teams, italy played in friendlies.?

do you think they know something we don't.?[/QUOTE]

Italy aint too good with penalty shoot outs!!! As for England they are boring!!!

[QUOTE=derekL][LEFT]
I think this could be a tough game for Italy. I'm going for an Italy win but only after extra time or even penalties.

I'm still reeling after that Portugal-Holland match. I've never seen such a display of blatant cheating - players trying to get other players sent off. Figo was a disgrace. Holland were woeful but Portugal weren't much better.
I hope England knock them out, but I'm not too hopeful.
The curse of Scolari! :(

[/LEFT][/QUOTE]

[LEFT][quote=turtle]Italy aint too good with penalty shoot outs!!! As for England they are boring!!![/quote]

I wouldn't say they're boring, more like they're simply playing s**t.
However if they can get get to the quarter-finals playing like that, who knows how far they can go. If they don't raise their game by next weekend, though, they'll be finished.

Argentina, the team everyone [confusingly] has been raving about, were made to look very ordinary by Mexico. Ok, they got through with an amazing winning goal but they should only have had 10 men on the field for most of the game. Heinze should have been sent off in the first half but the referee bottled it.

Germany, can't fault them. Their defence is slightly suspect but they look good otherwise. Their quarter-final tie against Argentina should be a cracker.

[/LEFT]

Italy all the way!!they could meet england in semi final 3rd place play off what a match that would be!!

and would beat them (England) of course!!! Yippeeeeeeeeee!!! By the way I'm Scottish ..... !!!

[LEFT]
Ok, time to stick my neck out...

semi-finals:
Germany v Italy
England v Brazil

Final:
Germany v England
A repeat of the final exactly 40 years previously. Germany win this time. :(

Italy lose to Brazil in the 3rd place play-off.

[/LEFT]

[LEFT]
Heavens, the standard of refereeing is just shocking.
That was never a sending-off and it was never a penalty! :rolleyes:
[/LEFT]

[QUOTE=derekL][LEFT]
Heavens, the standard of refereeing is just shocking.
That was never a sending-off and it was never a penalty! :rolleyes:
[/LEFT][/QUOTE]

yes i am biased, but this is the world cup, not british football.
It was a penalty, as the player slid in, missed the ball and stopped a clear
attack on the goal. thats why the ref gave a penalty.

as for the sending off, well i have seen some stay on, but not surprised to
see him sent off. its part of his normal game...

[LEFT][quote=giovanni]yes i am biased, but this is the world cup, not british football.
It was a penalty, as the player slid in, missed the ball and stopped a clear
attack on the goal. thats why the ref gave a penalty.[/quote]

Biased? You don't say!!
Were you watching the same match as me?

BBC report...
[I]With the clock ticking down, Fabio Grosso marauded down the left flank and worked his way into the box before falling over Lucas Neill's prone body.[/I]

Grosso took the opportunity to intentionally fall over the defender in an attempt to get a penalty. And it worked! Simple!

[/LEFT]

But to balance that wrong penalty decision, the Italian should not have got a red card ..... I'm so pleased that Italy got through!!! There were Italian and Slovanic sounding names though in the Australia team. No Aborignines .....

[QUOTE=derekL][LEFT]

Biased? You don't say!!
Were you watching the same match as me?

BBC report...
[I]With the clock ticking down, Fabio Grosso marauded down the left flank and worked his way into the box before falling over Lucas Neill's prone body.[/I]

Grosso took the opportunity to intentionally fall over the defender in an attempt to get a penalty. And it worked! Simple!

[/LEFT][/QUOTE]

But Neill shouldn't have been prone! He was leaving himself wide open to the penalty. And tell me any player in any team at 94 minutes, wouldn't do the same. :cool: Technically it was a penalty and above board :)

What is the Italians say "furba", I am pleased they are through.

Dawn.

Maybe thats why the ref gave the penalty to balance out the harshness of sending materazzi off?

[LEFT][quote=suzanne & jeff]But Neill shouldn't have been prone! He was leaving himself wide open to the penalty. And tell me any player in any team at 94 minutes, wouldn't do the same. Technically it was a penalty and above board :)[/quote][/LEFT]

[LEFT]Pants! Why shouldn't he have been prone? :confused: So any defender, prone in his own penalty area, is fair game for attackers to fall over him and claim a penalty? Why didn't Grosso go round him in that case? And no, only [B]some[/B] players in [B]some[/B] teams would do that.

I think I've been mistaking bias here for a distinct lack of footballing knowledge! Why is every professional football commentator saying the penalty was questionable but here you say it was a clear penalty?
My 72 year old mum is an avid football fan and loves Italian and Spanish football [match at the Bernabeu last season and the San Siro the year before]. Even she thinks it was a dodgy penalty!

After England, I'd like to see Italy do well. But not like that. It's a bit sad when the great Azzurri have to cheat a little to get past Australia. At the very least, Australia deserved to have the game taken into extra time.
Did they, perhaps, also get to this referee?? :confused:

I love the game and the reason why this is annoying me so much is probably because it's another clear example of the cheating, play-acting and general lack of fair-play which is so common in the game at the moment and something which, I believe, is ruining the game. Some players are so good at it, so adept at hood-winking the referee it's incredible. In addition, the euphoria and celebrations at the award of a dodgy penalty and the clapping when an opposing player is sent off [did you see the German player patting the referee on the back and clapping when the Swedish player was sent off? - pathetic].

In major competitions like this, a 5th official is definitely required, with access to video replay. Any decision to be made inside the box should be reviewed [Italy's 'penalty']. Any other controversial incident can also be reviewed if required [e.g. Figo's head-butt and his acting which lead to the Dutch player being sent off ].
The most common argument against the introduction of video-replay is that it will take too long and slow the game down. Well, if you look at the amount of time wasted by players' play-acting; the 'writhing in agony', the trainer coming on to tend non-existent injuries, the arguing with the referee - I personally think time will be saved. Players will think twice about 'falling down' in the box [or anywhere else]. If they do, straight red card.
There! :) [/LEFT]

I doubt the referee gave the penalty because he had earlier shown a red card to Materazzi. I would imagine he gave the red card because in his view the tackle merited it. The same as in his view, Neill blocked Grosso, causing him to fall down. It would have been a foul at any point on the pitch and no one would have said much about it. The incident only receives so much attention because as a penalty, coming at the time in the match it did, it allowed Italy to win the game.

Overall, Italy deserved the win. They were the better team even with 10 men. I expected more from Australia, and they failed to deliver. Despite their superior numerical advantage for almost half the game they failed to utilise their possession of the ball. They created little and seemd content to play for extra time and maybe even penalties. Italy created more chances, and had more shots on goal than the Australians. The game should have been wrapped up long before the penalty was awarded, and would have been if not for some very poor finishing from Gilardino and especially Toni.

[LEFT][quote=Jay3gsm]I doubt the referee gave the penalty because he had earlier shown a red card to Materazzi. I would imagine he gave the red card because in his view the tackle merited it. The same as in his view, Neill blocked Grosso, causing him to fall down. It would have been a foul at any point on the pitch and no one would have said much about it. The incident only receives so much attention because as a penalty, coming at the time in the match it did, it allowed Italy to win the game.

Overall, Italy deserved the win. They were the better team even with 10 men. I expected more from Australia, and they failed to deliver. Despite their superior numerical advantage for almost half the game they failed to utilise their possession of the ball. They created little and seemd content to play for extra time and maybe even penalties. Italy created more chances, and had more shots on goal than the Australians. The game should have been wrapped up long before the penalty was awarded, and would have been if not for some very poor finishing from Gilardino and especially Toni.[/quote]

No-one expected more from Australia. They weren't expected to get past the first round and they did very well. At the end of the day Italy, a far superior team, could not score in normal time against an inferior side. Numerically, the sides were equal for 51 minutes. Whether they 'should have wrapped it up before the penalty' is neither here nor there. They didn't. There's nothing wrong with playing for extra time when you're under pressure.

Forget the technicalities. Every out and out Azzurri fan will always say it was a clear-cut penalty. I expect that. But every neutral who saw it knows it was never in a million years an intentional foul and Grosso made the most of it. Any idiot would know that in a game locked at 0-0, extra-time looming, one side down to 10 men, in the last few minutes - someone is going to try and fall over in the box. Obviously, the referee is a bigger idiot than most. Absolutely diabolical decision to make in, what was, the last few seconds of the match.

[/LEFT]

It was a penalty why did he go to ground there was no need for him to go on the ground he was delibratly blocking Grosso's route on goal which can be deemed as stopping a goal scoring opportunities if he had gone over and he was neill was stood he wouldnt have got it its the fact that he went to the ground to block him.

And everybody apart fom azzurri Supporters want Italy Out of the world cup because they 'cheat' imo i think that 90% of all players would have gone to the ground if given that opportunity to win a penalty in the 95 minute. even England fans want Italy out of the wWOrld Cup Why? italy have never done anything to England (on sporting terms) and people dislike other Countrys for the sake of it and i dont think imo it should be that way.

[LEFT][quote=Forza Milano]And everybody apart fom azzurri Supporters want Italy Out of the world cup because they 'cheat' imo i think that 90% of all players would have gone to the ground if given that opportunity to win a penalty in the 95 minute. even England fans want Italy out of the wWOrld Cup Why? italy have never done anything to England (on sporting terms) and people dislike other Countrys for the sake of it and i dont think imo it should be that way.[/quote]

Of course England wants Italy to go out... and Germany, Argentina, France, Brazil, Portugal. Anyone who might pose a threat. Same for every other team.

Have a look at this....

[URL="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mb606/F4441083?thread=3196044&skip=0&show=20"]http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mb606/F4441083?thread=3196044&skip=0&show=20[/URL]

[/LEFT]

the penalty was correct. that's the 1st thing you learn as a defender; when you are down, don't move anymore. But that guy lifted his arm and of course the italian is smart enough to take advantage out of it.
australia had nothing to lose. they were stars in australia allready by reaching the next round. so why they didn't attack more ? why they didn't shot more ?
italy play's great defense. but it's not attractive at all. so that's why I wrote a few weeks ago that I don't like them. To much suffer for the fan's to follow them. It's a shame what they showed until now. I hope UKR send's them home. Also if I'm an italian. Sorry. The only convincing team's are ARG and GER for now. All the other's ? Bad football. Incl. ENG and BRA.
Ciao.

No the penalty was fair Neill was rolling round on floor like a snake Grosso had no chamce of getting owt of way actually why was Lucas Neill on floor in first place?

can i also please note that from my previous point that all the people posting on BBC anre english and hate all italian footballers

also what did they expect Grosso to do instead of falling over FLY! :D

[LEFT][quote=Forza Milano]also what did they expect Grosso to do instead of falling over FLY! :D[/quote]

Err... not fall over?
Go round the defender [as attackers normally do] and....
a) try and score a goal?
b) Pass to a team-mate who might score a goal [or fall over]?
c) Kick the ball out of play and ask the defender if he's ok?
d) fall over the goalkeeper?

Note:
Not all English people hate the Italian team. Look at this forum!
The BBC forum is used by fans all over Europe.

[/LEFT]

for a start i have seen tractors with more movement than Grosso and hes defender also the defender made it too easy for him HE shouldnt have gone on the floor imo 90% of all players in 95 minute in the same circumsatnces would have fallen over. :cool:

[LEFT][quote=Forza Milano]for a start i have seen tractors with more movement than Grosso and hes defender also the defender made it too easy for him HE shouldnt have gone on the floor imo 90% of all players in 95 minute in the same circumsatnces would have fallen over. :cool:[/quote]

You're wrong but I think we'll need to agree to disagree. Ok? :D

[/LEFT]

Yes i agree everybody should have opinions. truce! :) :D

[QUOTE=derekL][LEFT][/LEFT]

[LEFT]Pants! Why shouldn't he have been prone? :confused: So any defender, prone in his own penalty area, is fair game for attackers to fall over him and claim a penalty? Why didn't Grosso go round him in that case? And no, only [B]some[/B] players in [B]some[/B] teams would do that.

I think I've been mistaking bias here for a distinct lack of footballing knowledge! Why is every professional football commentator saying the penalty was questionable but here you say it was a clear penalty?
My 72 year old mum is an avid football fan and loves Italian and Spanish football [match at the Bernabeu last season and the San Siro the year before]. Even she thinks it was a dodgy penalty!

After England, I'd like to see Italy do well. But not like that. It's a bit sad when the great Azzurri have to cheat a little to get past Australia. At the very least, Australia deserved to have the game taken into extra time.
Did they, perhaps, also get to this referee?? :confused:

I love the game and the reason why this is annoying me so much is probably because it's another clear example of the cheating, play-acting and general lack of fair-play which is so common in the game at the moment and something which, I believe, is ruining the game. Some players are so good at it, so adept at hood-winking the referee it's incredible. In addition, the euphoria and celebrations at the award of a dodgy penalty and the clapping when an opposing player is sent off [did you see the German player patting the referee on the back and clapping when the Swedish player was sent off? - pathetic].

In major competitions like this, a 5th official is definitely required, with access to video replay. Any decision to be made inside the box should be reviewed [Italy's 'penalty']. Any other controversial incident can also be reviewed if required [e.g. Figo's head-butt and his acting which lead to the Dutch player being sent off ].
The most common argument against the introduction of video-replay is that it will take too long and slow the game down. Well, if you look at the amount of time wasted by players' play-acting; the 'writhing in agony', the trainer coming on to tend non-existent injuries, the arguing with the referee - I personally think time will be saved. Players will think twice about 'falling down' in the box [or anywhere else]. If they do, straight red card.
There! :) [/LEFT][/QUOTE]

All for video evidence, so agree with you on this.

but back to the penalty.....
bit bewildered here derek, why should the italian player go round an opponent
who is quite clearly trying to use illegal tactics to stop the attacker going on
onto the goal?

He didn't cheat, the position arised because the british [thats right] brought
in the sliding tackle some 40 years ago, before that it was rare for a player
to go to ground or slide in. its deemed to be ok now, so long as the player
gets the ball. this he clearly didn't and he[the aussie knew what he was doing, so if there is any cheating labels to be handed out, start looking
closer to home.
want to see more goals, better games, then ban the sliding tackle, it is a tool
used for defending, not attacking, and every player knows he can stop an
attack by doing so, legally or illegally... so whos really cheating.....

[LEFT][quote=giovanni]All for video evidence, so agree with you on this.

but back to the penalty.....
bit bewildered here derek, why should the italian player go round an opponent
who is quite clearly trying to use illegal tactics to stop the attacker going on
onto the goal?

He didn't cheat, the position arised because the british [thats right] brought
in the sliding tackle some 40 years ago, before that it was rare for a player
to go to ground or slide in. its deemed to be ok now, so long as the player
gets the ball. this he clearly didn't and he[the aussie knew what he was doing, so if there is any cheating labels to be handed out, start looking
closer to home.
want to see more goals, better games, then ban the sliding tackle, it is a tool
used for defending, not attacking, and every player knows he can stop an
attack by doing so, legally or illegally... so whos really cheating.....[/quote]

even more bewildered here, giovanni. The guy was on on the ground, ok, but it wasn't a sliding tackle. He didn't tackle him. He was at least 1 metre away. Grosso had to take a few steps to get to him [and fall down]. Also, it was almost on the by-line, not right in front of goal. It was a very dubious penalty decision in the last seconds of the match. Period.

Yeah, you're absolutely right about banning sliding tackles. So what if it makes the game faster, more physical and more exciting. Lets go back to the way football was played in the 40s and 50s. Far better. :rolleyes: Give the players long shorts and woollen tops while we're at it maybe?
The game would complately die if this was introduced. You can still play good football and be physical at the same time. Some players would never have existed in the professional game without this. Claudio Gentile for example?
[/LEFT]

[QUOTE=derekL][LEFT]

even more bewildered here, giovanni. The guy was on on the ground, ok, but it wasn't a sliding tackle. He didn't tackle him. He was at least 1 metre away. Grosso had to take a few steps to get to him [and fall down]. Also, it was almost on the by-line, not right in front of goal. It was a very dubious penalty decision in the last seconds of the match. Period.

Yeah, you're absolutely right about banning sliding tackles. So what if it makes the game faster, more physical and more exciting. Lets go back to the way football was played in the 40s and 50s. Far better. :rolleyes: Give the players long shorts and woollen tops while we're at it maybe?
The game would complately die if this was introduced. You can still play good football and be physical at the same time. Some players would never have existed in the professional game without this. Claudio Gentile for example?
[/LEFT][/QUOTE]

let me see, in international matches, b4 they brought in penalty shoot outs,
only once was a game decided on a toss of the coin! before penalty shoot outs, there was never the need for them! yet they still brought them in!

so what happens now, well top games go to shoot outs... boring...not football
just a lottery. so it isn't progress, nor was the fact that slowly sliding tackles
have become acceptable in parts!

as for my man gentile, lets not even go there, just take a look at rooney!
talented he is,dirty loud and rude too. he pushes, shoves and swears!!!!!!
and you would call that progrees.
why am i not surprised.......

Ahhh what passions!! Reading this thread is much more fun than most matches I've seen so far this year... :D

Agree on the video evidence, Derek! I'm getting thoroughly fed up with all this acting going on as well. Spoils the whole thing! I've supported Portugal for several years now but what I saw in their last match didn't really impress me! Very sad...

Well, looking forward to the next round later this week! As we'll be in Germany by then, we'll see what the atmosphere is like...

... just making sure my other half has packed his Scotland shirt!!! :D

Still hoping for a 'may the best team win'... ;)

In Germany poor you!!! I would advise your partner not to wear his Scotland shirst. That's another rad rag to The English!!! Better he's in an England shirt!!! Much safer, well from English"Fans" .....

[QUOTE=derekL][LEFT]

No-one expected more from Australia. They weren't expected to get past the first round and they did very well. At the end of the day Italy, a far superior team, could not score in normal time against an inferior side. Numerically, the sides were equal for 51 minutes. Whether they 'should have wrapped it up before the penalty' is neither here nor there. They didn't. There's nothing wrong with playing for extra time when you're under pressure.nds of the match.

[/LEFT][/QUOTE]

I don't like being pedantic, but I'm gonna be. :) The goal was scored in regulation time, any injury time is allocated as addtional time to the match.

It matters not whether a goal is scored in the first seconds of the match or the last, they are all valid. It may have been a generous decision from the referee but it's worth remembering he gets one view of the incident and makes his decision on the spot. My first view of the incident I was 100% sure it was a penalty. Subsequently, I can see it was fortunate.

For me it wasn't a penalty. For every Italian it was....
Italy have been pretty poor in my opinion apart from Buffon, Cannavaro and Zambrotta.Very boring to watch (yes - I know England too!) and generally an unpleasant team of personalities that it's difficult to like. I think people in every other country want them out because they don't bring anything positive to the World Cup. The fans too - 99% are 2nd-3rd generation emigrants from Belgium and Germany! No atmosphere or colour in the stadiums compared to the majority of teams. England have 70,000 fans over there! Also the World Cup experience here in Italy is terrible - people simply stay at home and watch the game on tv - no great party at all. Very dull. I miss a decent English pub packed out with 500 people cheering and singing.

[LEFT][quote=turtle]In Germany poor you!!! I would advise your partner not to wear his Scotland shirst. That's another rad rag to The English!!! Better he's in an England shirt!!! Much safer, well from English"Fans" .....[/quote]

:confused: :confused: :confused:
Sorry, completely confused by this post....
Can you explain why:
1. It would be so bad to go to Germany
2. Why a Scotland shirt would be a 'rad rag' to an english fan
[/LEFT]

[LEFT][quote=Jay3gsm]
It matters not whether a goal is scored in the first seconds of the match or the last, they are all valid. It may have been a generous decision from the referee but it's worth remembering he gets one view of the incident and makes his decision on the spot. My first view of the incident I was 100% sure it was a penalty. Subsequently, I can see it was fortunate.[/quote]

Ok, pretty much agree with that. The descriptions [B]generous[/B] and [B]fortunate[/B] aren't bad [I might have stuck 'extremely' in front of them, however]. :)

The inconsistent decision making and dithering by referees are probably the real cause of these arguments. But I wonder, now, whether we're being fair in expecting them to come up with the right decision every time.
They [B]need[/B] video replay.

Saying that...... Bring back Collina!! :)

[/LEFT]

[LEFT][quote=giovanni]let me see, in international matches, b4 they brought in penalty shoot outs,
only once was a game decided on a toss of the coin! before penalty shoot outs, there was never the need for them! yet they still brought them in!

so what happens now, well top games go to shoot outs... boring...not football
just a lottery. so it isn't progress, nor was the fact that slowly sliding tackles
have become acceptable in parts!
[/quote]

You can't compare the game now with the game 50 years ago. It's a completely different game; greater degree of fitness, faster, higher level of skill, better pitches, different tools [we no longer use a sheep's bladder as a ball - great in the wet!].
On top of that, the consequences of losing are greater.
Tactics stifle games, not sliding tackles!!
Besides, I quite like the penalty shoot-out. It's exciting [unless your team is taking part of course] and certainly less of a lottery than tossing a coin! Bad memories of USA 94??

[quote=giovanni]
as for my man gentile, lets not even go there, just take a look at rooney!
talented he is,dirty loud and rude too. he pushes, shoves and swears!!!!!!
and you would call that progrees.
why am i not surprised.......[/quote]

Yes, lets go there! Gentile single handedly cancelled out a young Maradonna by kicking [and slide-tackling] him all over the park for 90 minutes. The lesson of all lessons on how to stifle a game. To this day, I don't know why he was never sent off.

Rooney swears?? No. I'm not having that. Never! :)

[/LEFT]

[QUOTE=derekL][LEFT]
Sorry, completely confused by this post....
Can you explain why:
1. It would be so bad to go to Germany
2. Why a Scotland shirt would be a 'rad rag' to an english fan
[/LEFT][/QUOTE]

Derek,

I think turtle meant all the stuff that's going on over there with 'fans' (i.e. idiots) being arrested. There was a stand-off between German & English guys at the weekend, which wasn't very nice for families who were also gathered in that same area. :mad:

But overall, from what I've gathered on German yahoo, it's not actually the English who are the majority trouble makers. They seemed to have caught all those prior to travelling... Good news!

Turtle,

I'm visiting family & when I planned the journey, I didn't take the footie into account. With Heidelberg being a rather international city anyway, I don't think he'll have problems with his Scotland shirt!! :) Well, perhaps not on an England or Germany match day anyway... :D

Auf Wiedersehen!! ;)

does it really matter if it was a penalty now or not because its happened and Italy are through! so whats more to be said we shouldbe discussing Italy vs Ukraine.

[LEFT][quote=Forza Milano]does it really matter if it was a penalty now or not because its happened and Italy are through! so whats more to be said we shouldbe discussing Italy vs Ukraine.[/quote]

Forget that, we [B]have[/B] moved on..... now we're on sliding tackles, penalty shoot outs, dirty players and swearing on the field of play! :)

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well thats half o portugal squad in those few catogries listed there! :)