I feel so sorry for Lucas Neill and Mark Schwarzer, there isn't much any keeper can do when Francesco Totti steps up to the spot. Neill was the standout Australian player for all the games, and that's such a bad way to end the campaign. I can't believe it, the ref had done an alright job until then ... but i suppose that sums up the way Australia played ... always being ripped off by the officials!
What makes anyone honestly think that Australia was ever going to be allowed to rain on the parade of the big profitable European and South Amercian teams that draw the crowds of fanatics? Look at what happened with Brazil...25 penalties to 8, when everyone seemed to think it was a very "even" game all round? And instead of some normal referee that they would have at a lead-up match, they wheeled out the best German umpire in the world, and the general feeling was that "Brazil is an protected species", and "must be allowed through to the final". Simply put, Australia had to fight for years to even be allowed in, and now we have shown a glimmer of talent, it scared the powers that be and they wanted us out. can't have some upstarts from the other side of the world upsetting the big money teams...
****ing load of ****. yes, italy won and there isn't anything you can do, but come on, if lucas neill really did purposely trip that eyetalian bloke luca toni, then neill's legs would've collided with toni's legs....have a look, neill's legs were nowhere near toni's legs, toni's leg got caught on neill's back. i'm sure toni could've jumped over neill, but no, he leaves his leg stuck to neill's back, falls down, hoping what he's done will give him a penalty, and it did. stupid referee **** cokhead stupid bitch, decides all in a split second "oh yeah, it's the 93rd minute, perfect chance to give italy a penalty, let em score, and end the game." i bet if it was an australian player in that exact same situation, the aussies wouldn't have received that penalty. if you are brazil, argentina, uruguay, etc, you get looked after. this was a shocking way to end it for the aussies. im thankful the ref did okay throughout the match, but not that it matters, coz he ruined it for us at the end.
toni or grosso, whatever his name is, acted a tiny bit. still, don't think it was worth a penalty, especially when the dumb **** ref didn't give us a penalty when that italian ******** handballed it. that's a shockign way to end a match. the ref could've given the benefit of the doubt, and kept the game going. oh well, australia is simply not allowed to do well in a world cup, only the top teams are allowed
italy one so aussies need to re group and prepare for next world cup we did good but japan got done by us and we only just lost to brazil but not bad considering were not no 1.... Go effort Australia
well im not the only one whinging about that penalty. supporters that have appeared on the news, friends, family, peope on the radio, all complaining about that penalty. one guy actually said that australia should be banned from the world cup, because the refs **** us up anyway, so there's no point being in it. im proud of the team and the coach mr hiddink, but our chances of making the big final were ruined by a ****head referee.
I am italian and i was going for italy.... but to be honest that was not a penalty i would of rather have seen italy win proply not from a stupid decession from the ref... it is really a discrase how aus cop all the **** because there a no name team.... fifa is to blame!!!
yeah i would of liked the game to go into overtime and then penalties if need be. its a shame the two countries i was supporting had to play each other so soon and to end in such a controversial way. Alot of italian supporters in australia have supported italy for many years through many worldcups and euros.. Now that australia comes on the scene why would you abandon your team to support another, why cant you support both? i am one of them supporters who was happy either way. should be proud that australia have left their mark on the international scene. well done Australia and forza Italia
i really dont mind losing to italy, if they outscore us, or beat us in extra time or a penalty shootout. But the way that italy won just sucks.
If I was Italian I would be ashamed of my team, just like if Australia behaved like the Italian team I would be ashamed of them too.
Anyone see the Old Italian guy they spoke to after the game? He said that as far a he was concerned the World Cup was over for Italy as he was ashamed of the way they won. Only one person, I know, but he certainly felt strongly about the situation and was near tears. The Clip at the top of this page is Doctored, watch it closely, it differs from the one shown yesterday in the thread that vanished. Oh well, it's over and I'm proud of our team. We can try again in four years.
Did anyone seem to pick up on the italian player in the 2nd half it think, where he handled the ball in the penalty box! That should of been a penalty at least. It was an absolute disgrace of refereeing and honestly didnt reckon that italy deserved to win.:bang:
my dad is italian and i normally go for italy in the WCup because the aussies aren't there. but i wanted australia to win on monday night and i was disgusted with the result, which was the referee's mistake not italy's. players dive, it's the ref's job to let them fall to the ground. i was in lygon street for the game and there were a lot of australian-italians barracking for italy. to be honest i didn't really like it but everyone has the choice to support who they want, even russia.
Funny, every nations media has called the deciscion 'dubious' or 'questionable' except the italian media which just go on about the red card they received. F***ING LOAD OF CRAP!!!
