2014 World cup qualifiers

[Pride_Of_The_Midlands]

Awfully easy? He'd just changed direction and there was entire huge bloke right in his path.

 

Doesn't mean it was a penalty.

[Kitchandro]

Doesn't mean it was a penalty.

 

I think you'll find it does. Fouling someone in the box is a penalty nowadays.

[Jimothy]

I think you'll find it does. Fouling someone in the box is a penalty nowadays.

Think you need to watch it again. Not only is there not a great deal of actual contact, the Aussie is on the floor for quite some time before Grosso decides to run into him rather the go round, chip the ball over him or another option other than lamely run into the prone Aussie and fall over like he's been snipered. I don't think laying on the floor 5 feet in front of someone is something that usually ends in a foul, I think an honest player would usually just not run into them.

[Bert]

Awfully easy? He'd just changed direction and there was entire huge bloke right in his path.

Does that mean the opponent has to move out of the way then if the other player changes direction? He ran into him more than he was fouled.

[Harry - LCFC]

Watch Grosso's left leg very closely, clearly sticks it out to make contact.

[Pride_Of_The_Midlands]

I think you'll find it does. Fouling someone in the box is a penalty nowadays.

 

He didn't foul him though.

 

He was stationary on the ground and Grosso ran into him.

 

No penalty.

[Dan]

Not to mention with New Zealand having a pretty decent cup last time around.

 

Only unbeaten side in the whole thing.

[shen]

Just thinking about it, and you're right: There have been some games at recent World Cups where Italy has been big favorites, only for the games to descend into chaos. In 2002, Italy should have dealt with South Korea, but lost on Ahn's late winner. Perhaps this was karma for Italy playing an unnecessarily defensive game, but they were victims of an abjectly terrible job by a ref that later was convicted of drug smuggling charges.

 

South Korea shouldn't have got past Spain either. Brilliant video that depicts just how ridiculous the Italy - S.Korea game was

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4iW8pDnft8

[OzFox]

If you think that Grosso dived then you're a complete idiot

 

Yeah sure. Here's a Grosso quote from 2010. “In this instance when Neill slid in, maybe I accentuated it a little bit.

However you must remember it was the last minute of an extremely difficult game and everyone was tired.â€

 

Haven't you ever seen the old trick of leaving a trailing leg until there's contact, then going down like a sack of spuds? Very soft penalty, but also a bit gormless of Lucas Neill to put himself in that position.

 

That tackle just confirmed to the "soccer" hating Aussie media that the game is played by diving pansies. To some extent I agree with them, having had the misfortune to watch Italy at a world cup match. They scored in the 9th minute then spent the next 81 rolling around and time wasting. Awful to watch.

 

Just thinking about it, and you're right: There have been some games at recent World Cups where Italy has been big favorites, only for the games to descend into chaos. In 2002, Italy should have dealt with South Korea, but lost on Ahn's late winner. Perhaps this was karma for Italy playing an unnecessarily defensive game, but they were victims of an abjectly terrible job by a ref that later was convicted of drug smuggling charges.

Italy-USA in 2006 was a farce. Italy blew its early lead with Zaccardo's ridiculous own goal, then De Rossi tried to kill McBride and got sent off. USA then got a pair of red cards for itself, and almost snatched the win if not for Beasley's goal being ruled out because McBride was offside on the play. And to think Italy went on to win the whole thing that year!

 

There's an amusing article in the Guardian listing Italy's world cup defeats to North korea, Haiti, Ireland and South Korea

 

Italy may traditionally be the suave sophisticates of world football, bestriding the scene with an imperious elegance and in a suit so sharp that it should be illegal, yet when it comes to the World Cup they have a peculiar habit of creating a huge wet patch around the business area of their £4000 cotton slacks.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/20/world-cup-2010-italy-new-zealand-live

[Munshi]

South Korea shouldn't have got past Spain either. Brilliant video that depicts just how ridiculous the Italy - S.Korea game was

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4iW8pDnft8

Disgrace 

[Fox42]

Can anyone confirm who in the Asian qualifiers can no longer qualify? Iraq fan, here

[Amin]

Qatar, Lebanon and Iraq cannot qualify. 

[OzFox]

Can anyone confirm who in the Asian qualifiers can no longer qualify? Iraq fan, here

 

Well, Iraq have definitely blown it. And by the sound of it, they are sending most of their youth team to face Australia in the final group game next Tuesday. Not that the Aussies are complaining.

[Feed The Yak!!]

Yeah sure. Here's a Grosso quote from 2010. “In this instance when Neill slid in, maybe I accentuated it a little bit.

However you must remember it was the last minute of an extremely difficult game and everyone was tired.â€

 

Haven't you ever seen the old trick of leaving a trailing leg until there's contact, then going down like a sack of spuds? Very soft penalty, but also a bit gormless of Lucas Neill to put himself in that position.

 

That tackle just confirmed to the "soccer" hating Aussie media that the game is played by diving pansies. To some extent I agree with them, having had the misfortune to watch Italy at a world cup match. They scored in the 9th minute then spent the next 81 rolling around and time wasting. Awful to watch.

 

 

There's an amusing article in the Guardian listing Italy's world cup defeats to North korea, Haiti, Ireland and South Korea

 

Italy may traditionally be the suave sophisticates of world football, bestriding the scene with an imperious elegance and in a suit so sharp that it should be illegal, yet when it comes to the World Cup they have a peculiar habit of creating a huge wet patch around the business area of their £4000 cotton slacks.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/20/world-cup-2010-italy-new-zealand-live

You think you can go throwing yourself around the box when someone has the ball and not expect to concede a penalty?   

Your clear hatred of the Italians clouds your vision.

[OzFox]

You think you can go throwing yourself around the box when someone has the ball and not expect to concede a penalty? 

Your clear hatred of the Italians clouds your vision.

 

So you're admitting he dived then.

 

I love the Italians...I'm married to one. Just not a fan of their often negative football.

[Feed The Yak!!]

So you're admitting he dived then.

 

I love the Italians...I'm married to one. Just not a fan of their often negative football.

No, I'm saying that he tripped over him because he was in his way. You can't just obstruct players and complain when a penalty is given. 

 

Negative football is one thing although I would call that defensive but you say they dive and cheat all game which I'm afraid is absolute nonsense. If you want to find a team that wins by cheating, just have a look at Spain's road to winning the 2010 World Cup. 

[OzFox]

No, I'm saying that he tripped over him because he was in his way. You can't just obstruct players and complain when a penalty is given. 

 

Negative football is one thing although I would call that defensive but you say they dive and cheat all game which I'm afraid is absolute nonsense. If you want to find a team that wins by cheating, just have a look at Spain's road to winning the 2010 World Cup. 

 

That's why I put the words "lucas neill" and "gormless" in the same sentence

 

Anyway, I'm obviously not the only one who thinks the Italians have a reputation for diving and cheating

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcCw9RHI5mc

[Feed The Yak!!]

That's why I put the words "lucas neill" and "gormless" in the same sentence

 

Anyway, I'm obviously not the only one who thinks the Italians have a reputation for diving and cheating

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcCw9RHI5mc

Completely unfounded I'm afraid.

[shen]

Completely unfounded I'm afraid.

 

What's with you and defending Italy then? It's a very common perception that all this diving charade was mastered and perfected by the Italians throughout the 90s and 00s.

[Fox42]

Well, Iraq have definitely blown it. And by the sound of it, they are sending most of their youth team to face Australia in the final group game next Tuesday. Not that the Aussies are complaining.

It's a shame, we've just lacked that bit of meat in our squad. In all our games we've conceded 2 or less and no more than a two goal difference. Ah well, might as well play our youth and see if any are decent enough to play for the AFC Championships.

[Feed The Yak!!]

What's with you and defending Italy then? It's a very common perception that all this diving charade was mastered and perfected by the Italians throughout the 90s and 00s.

There's a big Italian community here in South Wales, I happen to be a part of that.

[Kitchandro]

What's with you and defending Italy then? It's a very common perception that all this diving charade was mastered and perfected by the Italians throughout the 90s and 00s.

 

Actually most people acknowledge that it was the Germans who were most responsible for spreading it around the world. The likes of Beckenbauer, Klinsmann and Voller were very famous for it, and in Italia 90 it was they who got a lot of stick for it as it wasn't as common then.

 

Italians do have an unfair reputation for diving, not because they don't do it, but because they aren't (nor ever have been really) any worse than the likes of Spain, Portugal, France and the South Americans. These days I'd say the South Americans are the worst culprits, they really do make the most of everything.

 

Of course, nowadays it is rife in any country.

 

Anyway, I've seen that penalty plenty of times and I'm still not having it that he dived or Australia were really hard done to. He commited himself to the tackle, Grosso tried to come inside and at best was obstructed by the reckless challenge, he had nowhere to go.

[OzFox]

Completely unfounded I'm afraid.

 

And you reckon my vision is clouded

 

If I mention diving, cheating, match fixing, corruption etc to my Italian family, they don't get defensive but laugh and shrug their shoulders. I worked with a guy who was a pro in Italy...same reaction. It's been a part of their game for so long they accept it as normal. Like kitchandro says though, these days they're probably no worse than anyone else

 

It's a shame, we've just lacked that bit of meat in our squad. In all our games we've conceded 2 or less and no more than a two goal difference. Ah well, might as well play our youth and see if any are decent enough to play for the AFC Championships.

 

Iraq have been a bit of a bogey side for Australia. There is a thought that they'll be fielding a young, energetic side with a lot to prove so you never know...could be a shock on the cards.

[Feed The Yak!!]

And you reckon my vision is clouded

 

If I mention diving, cheating, match fixing, corruption etc to my Italian family, they don't get defensive but laugh and shrug their shoulders. I worked with a guy who was a pro in Italy...same reaction. It's been a part of their game for so long they accept it as normal. Like kitchandro says though, these days they're probably no worse than anyone else

 

 

Iraq have been a bit of a bogey side for Australia. There is a thought that they'll be fielding a young, energetic side with a lot to prove so you never know...could be a shock on the cards.

Match fixing goes on at club level and you were talking about how the national team dive and cheat their way through games - that's never been the case.

[Finnegan]

There's a big Italian community here in South Wales, I happen to be a part of that.

 

They come for the weather.