Italy v Australia

[mog]

Italy were unlucky not to score in the first half, but the bottom line is that the game was settled by a soft penalty which Italy did nothing to earn. This just goes to show how it is the referees that determine the outcome of games far more than the efforts of the players. Soccer at this level is fundamentally flawed.

[diver]

Anybody who does this...
doesnt deserve to win
Look, he gets his leg down perfectly, and the other one clears the defender, then he throws them in the air to play hurt. That's equal to cheating, just like you Italians do in Serie-A, last night was not a victory for you, it was another disgrace that Italy have chalked up for world football.

[retired1212]

Originally Posted by diver

Look, he gets his leg down perfectly, and the other one clears the defender, then he throws them in the air to play hurt. That's equal to cheating, just like you Italians do in Serie-A, last night was not a victory for you, it was another disgrace that Italy have chalked up for world football.

He took the advantage of a mistake, situation and moment at the right time.

[diver]

Originally Posted by Oombongo

He took the advantage of a mistake, situation and moment at the right time.

So cheating at the right moment is okay?

[goldorak]

Originally Posted by mog

Italy were unlucky not to score in the first half, but the bottom line is that the game was settled by a soft penalty which Italy did nothing to earn. This just goes to show how it is the referees that determine the outcome of games far more than the efforts of the players. Soccer at this level is fundamentally flawed.

You got to be kidding.
During the second half it is true that australia had much more ball possession, numerical superiority but they did nothing, absolutelty nothing to take advantage of that.
The italians even in 10 attacked something like 10 times against the 2 times of australia.
From a purely agonistic point of view Italy deserved to win hands down.
Now as to regard to the penalty kick, this is were world wide experience comes in.
The italian player didn't simulate the fall in the small area.
If he did he would have gotten the red card directly. However he took advantage of a defensor's mistake (something any world class forward would have taken advantage of) and this my friends is were you distinguish world class players from "newbies" such as the socceroos.
You may not like it, but thats how it is.

[mog]

Originally Posted by goldorak

The italian player didn't simulate the fall in the small area.
If he did he would have gotten the red card directly. However he took advantage of a defensor's mistake (something any world class forward would have taken advantage of) and this my friends is were you distinguish world class players from "newbies" such as the socceroos.

No, it's how you distinguish good sportsmanship from shameful misconduct. It is indeed unfortunate that taking dives is so widespread in soccer that you would call it 'world class' instead of cheating.

You may not like it, but thats how it is.

You are right, that's how it is. That is why I said the game is fundamentally flawed compared other codes of football.