Hey Socceroos...you guys missed it...just!!

[JJ Irani]

Hello to all my Aussie friends,

In what was a very exciting and well played game, the Aussies just missed out to the Italians who eventually won 1-0 at the very end with a penalty shot.

Unfortunately, the refree's decision was all

The "foul" commited by the Aussie player was NEVER a foul. The Italian player tripped over the Aussie guy and then took a "dive". Horrible decision. There was absolutely no need to have awarded a penalty to the Italians for that!!

Frankly, I think the match should have gone into EXTRA TIME and then perhaps the Aussies could have won with their superior dominance and ball possession.

Bad luck, guys....but very well played. You fellas can hold your heads up high. You certainly gave the Italians a run for their money and, more importantly, showed the world you guys can play SOCCER!!!

Cheers - JJ

[Goodwatch]

This is the part I hate most in football. Academy Award winning performance by kings of the 'Schwalbe'. Figo is a master at this game as well. Very, very poor arbitration in this World Cup, a bloody shame!

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

This is the part I hate most in football. Academy Award winning performance by kings of the 'Schwalbe'. Figo is a master at this game as well. Very, very poor arbitration in this World Cup, a bloody shame!

Agreed! Looks like more yellows and reds were issued in this World Cup than all the previous World Cups put together!!

[Uncle-AJ]

They should have sent the Italian off for diving, the Aussies were robbed................but that's football.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Uncle-AJ

They should have sent the Italian off for diving, the Aussies were robbed................but that's football.

Agreed, Adrian. It was a rather sad end to an otherwise exciting game in which both sides attacked and counter-attacked. The Aussies showed true grit and determination....like they do in all their sports, be it cricket, rugby, swimming or tennis!

Good on ya, Aussies....but I feel for ya on this one!!

And now I shall sign off, guys, to catch some LIVE action between the Swiss and the Ukranians!! May the better team win and then kick some Italian butts in the quarters.

[mailman]

WTF do you expect a ref to do, go against an italian? You know the consequences of that.

[AJC]

Originally Posted by mailman

WTF do you expect a ref to do, go against an italian? You know the consequences of that.

Aaron

[silverman]

Absolutely robbed..... no way in the world that was a penalty.The aussie guy was on the ground,didnt raise his arms or legs and the italian guy fell over the top of him.

The refs in this tournament have been pathetic.The ref was 5 feet away from the tackle and he couldnt see it for what it was... unbelievable.

[dman]

Great show by the Aussies!

Showed alot of heart, guts and class. Maybe the USA can borrow their coach and players next go around.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by mailman

WTF do you expect a ref to do, go against an italian? You know the consequences of that.

Yes, Don...I beg your pardon, Don!!

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by silverman

Absolutely robbed..... no way in the world that was a penalty.The aussie guy was on the ground,didnt raise his arms or legs and the italian guy fell over the top of him.

The refs in this tournament have been pathetic.The ref was 5 feet away from the tackle and he couldnt see it for what it was... unbelievable.

Agreed, Rick. That was a terrible end to a superbly fought contest. The Aussie goalkeeper did bring off at least THREE stupendous saves and I was getting all ready to watch some EXTRA TIME action and then....the tragic anti-climax.
Some of these refrees themselves need to be shown RED cards!! PERMANENTLY!!!

[silverman]

Here here !!!! Was out watching it in the city,i too was getting ready for extra time and then........ well you know the rest.Aussies would have had a great shot at it if it went into extra time because the italians had 1 man down.The aussies lacked a bit of fire power upfront and no game breaker.
O well they did very well to get to that stage and showed plenty of guts and aussie determination.

[Gedanken]

Originally Posted by mailman

WTF do you expect a ref to do, go against an italian? You know the consequences of that.

Horribly poor call by the ump.

Sure, sure, he avoided being garotted or blown up in his car, but Little Johnny Howard's just approved plans to Kylie the poor bastard to death with backing vocals by Jason Donovan, a penalty reserved in the Australian constitution for the most heinous of crimes.

Lucky, lucky, lucky.