Do you think that the Italian fans go to far (throwing flares at players on the pitch)?
344388
of course but english supporters cant condemn people too much.itwas not so long ago they were banned for years for their thuggery and nothing else
1030232
I believe one of the players from the Argentinian team ran across the pitch and thumped one of the officials from FIFA. The players also from both teams got involved in a rumpas. Not good really,they are making themselves as bad, if not worse than football hooligans! Shocking scenes on the news.
1174055
Yeah, I was rooting for Italy, but my allegiances almost shifted with them making the goal for the other team and then Di Rossi's display. It's that Latin heat that got juiced when they screwed up.\nIn general, it was an all around disturbing game from many aspects, including the ref, etc. But yes, I agree with you that his behavior lacked class and sportsmanship.
1183611
From the match Australia v Italy, what a disgusting display of refereeing. All games so far have had bad calls. I hope the final is a clean game, for the game itself. How many soccer fans are let down by bad calls right now?
881934
I live in Italy and I'm half Italian and I can tell you why. I've been disliking Italian attitude for the past 10 years, there's a lot of "vittimismo" here, people feel as if everyone is against Italy, everyone is envious because Italy is the best country in the world (which is not true, come live here and you'll see for yourself). I'm talking about this on an Italian blog on msn (go see for yourself if you're interested www.msn.it and then look for blog sports and find my comments under faerie poet in the news related to zidane or golden ball award) and you'll see how much I've been insulted and mistreated morally. It's that horrible Italian attitude of feeling that they are the best people on Earth and everyone else is always trying to say something bad about them. Well see what so many Italians said about the French, the Germans, the Ukrainians etc.
1025311
Sifting through all this anti-American rhetoric only brings out the patriotism in me (and anyone who knows me knows how critical I can be of my own country, especially its political leaders). Keep it up, Eurotrash, you're making enemies of friends with every nasty utterance you make. \n\nIn answer to your question, you are absolutely right to be concerned about terrible officiating determining the World Cup champions. That referee in today's US-Italy match was a bloody disgrace! He bought into every single dive the Azzurri made (which were just endless), calling fouls on the Americans and doling out red and yellow cards like candy. It was by far the worst officiated match of this World Cup -- so far.\n\nI very definitely share your concerns about what is to come, Francis, as I vividly recall the rubbish calls that dictated the outcomes of several critical matches in the 2002 Cup. FIFA really needs to get on top of this situation before it gets completely out of hand. We watch these competitions to see the players on the opposing teams decide the match, NOT the damned officials!
1099891
Im for Italy, born and raised there, and ive also lived in Oz. It was a GREAT game, the aussie's gave it their all and italy played a good game. I think the ref was ok, better than ones we've had in this WC, i think the PK was ligit, he came in cleats up and didnt get ANY ball
1045268
Hooligans are an embarassment but you're right, England fans do have a bad rep but you can't tar everyone with the same brush can you?!
1137897
No I DON'T agree.\nNot all English football fans are hooligans lots of the are great.\n\nIt's not fair to wish a team loses just because you/we don't like some of their fans.\n\nYou/We can wish they lose for any other reason, But this one is not acceptable.
1160349
Keep your head on, don't let you be impressed by those bad jokes. They're usual, especially if British press is involved. Remember the trick they deserve to Sven (linked)!!!\nNever trust a columnist!!!\nHaving own team criticized isn't fair, but, as Italian, I've seen something going really too far:\n\n"There was outrage in Italian newspapers on Wednesday after German news weekly Der Spiegel published a satirical World Cup-related column on its Web site about the Azzurri entitled `Oiled up and greasy' which referred to Italians as 'parasitical forms of life'. \n\nThe article was later withdrawn and an apology posted on the Web site but that didn't stop the daily La Stampa declaring - `Italian parasites - that is how Der Spiegel prepares for the semi-final'."\n\nSo, don't be in anger. Their is definitively a dirty job...
92459
Fans do not have a right to express everything they feel, especially if it leads to violence. Throwing objects that hit players or rioting is unacceptable. So, at times, yes, games have to be played behind closed doors to punish clubs whose fans behave in an unacceptable way.
945041
I do!\nItaly is one of the strongest teams, we could win this year too.\n\nMoreover, I'm from the same city [Messina, Sicily] of one of the players, Vermiglio.
989633
BEIJING: Chinese TV commentator Huang Jianxiang has apologised for his pro-Italian anti-Australian rant to an audience of many millions at the end of the World Cup match between the two teams on Monday. \n\nAfter Italy’s controversial last-minute penalty, which saw them through to the quarter-finals, Huang gave vent to his love of Italian football and his disdain for an Australian team he said was packed with players who lived in Europe. His remarks sparked a huge debate in China and rumours spread through internet chat rooms all day Tuesday – that a group of Australians had protested at the foreign ministry, the Australian embassy had complained to CCTV and Huang had been sacked. \n\nThe initially unapologetic Huang, who was backed by 50 percent of voters in one online poll, reconsidered his position and a letter was posted on the website of state-run CCTV. “I am familiar with Italian football and I hoped that the Italians would gain a berth in the last eight, to make the matches more exciting, but I have mingled my feelings and the role of my job. “It is not a standpoint that a TV commentator should have. I will apologise to those fans who express their dissatisfaction.” he said. Reuters\n\n\nPenalty! Penalty! Penalty! Grosso's done it, Grosso's done it! The great Italian left back! He succeeded in the glorious traditions of Italy! Facchetti, Cabrini and Maldini, their souls are infused in him at this moment! Grosso represents the long history and traditions of Italian soccer, he's not fighting alone at this moment! He's not alone! \n\n"Goooooal! Game over! Italy win! Beat the Australians! They do not fall in front of Hiddink again! Italy the great! Left back the great! Happy birthday to Maldini! Forza Italia! The victory belongs to Italy, to Grosso, to Cannavaro, to Zambrotta, to Buffon, to Maldini, to everyone who loves Italian soccer! Hiddink ... lost all his courage faced with Italian history and traditions ... He finally reaped fruits which he had sown! They should go home. They don't need to go as far away as Australia as most of them are living in Europe. Farewell!"
1129221
i dont remember but Italy plays dirty!
1185272
Well, I wouldn't take it quite that far. But based on their deplorable performance against the US national team, today, I agree with you that the Italian national team should be ashamed of themselves. I've rarely seen so many dives, fouls and repeated acts of unsportsmanlike conduct. They were disgraceful and deserved to lose the match. But that referee -- quite literally the worst I've ever seen in all my years watching football/soccer -- personally guaranteed the US team could not win by handing out endless red cards (they had only nine players on the field for most of the 2nd half). That wanker bought into every cheap dive and faked injury the Italians foisted upon him. Just disgusting.\n\nAnyway, at least Team USA is still (barely) alive, contingent on their defeating Ghana and those Italian actors beating the Czechs on Thursday. Keep your fingers crossed!
1110976
People mainly Aussie fans are sore loosers Most do not see or realize that slide tackling your opponent inside your own goal area is not a good idea and yet aussie fans make false statements like the ref was bought out or Italy took a dive..\n\nThat's bull... In 1990 diego maradona took more dives in one game than any player I have seen
1108396
No, and its not because I'm not rooting for them. It's just that they appear unorganized on the field. They remain on their turf for a majority of the game and when someone takes the offense and takes the ball 3/4 of the way there, they've got no back-up to help them score the goal. I think they did well during the Italy game, just a case of bad luck and a quick handed referee.