WC 2006: Group E

[AceChilla]

The Americans played rough for sure, it was a rough game in general.

But the obsolute lowpoint was the De Rossi's elbow which could have have lead to a broken nose or worse. With such a man on the pitch, the Italian team pretty much lost every right to complain about rough play.

The fauls the Americans made like the sliding tackle from behind, are as I see it more sympthoms of lack of experience on the highest level of football. Those fauls where made out of stupidity, while De Rossi's faul was simply dirty, he should be banned for the rest of the matches.

 

[woodelf]

The 2nd yellow was stupidity on his part and the coach for leaving him in. He deserved that one, but shouldn't have even been there.

 

[classical_hero]

And they talk of Australia being dirty.

Congratulations to the Ghan(i)ans or Ghanese. (Someone please tell which is correct) They played brillantly and deserved to win. That must have put a dent in most peoples tips.

 

[ThERat]

guys, relax, it's only football

Anyway, after sleeping over it one night, I have to say that the Americans showed a spirited display. It was a great game to follow. In fact all 4 games we have seen so far in this group were outstanding, with the better teams switching. Everything seems possible here, really. Which is nice (maybe not too nice for you guys supporting USA or Italy).

As for the referee, the red cards in the first half were fully deserved, the 2 leg tackle is the kind of nonsense that needs to get booted. And the elbow tackle was disgusting stuff. The second American double yellow was too harsh IHMO, but Arena should have substituted the player knowing the referee's no nonsense approach. Coming from Uruguay, the guys has seen some nasty games, I am sure.
I rather we have his approach than see horrible gong-fu tackle such as the Iranian player's against Figo not even booked.

The linesman wasn't up to it as he waved offside for every single decision that looked same height for me.

So, if the USA are so good, they need to perform against Ghana and score finally their first goal, since the Italians did if for them in yesterdays game

Personally I'd like to see Czech and Ghana through, or Ghana and whoever for that matter.

 

[volta]

I think that USA have interpreted this soccer game as an american football game. What kind of soccer is made with all these fauls, trying to damage all the best players of the opponent team? Then, it's logical that all the tactical schemes have become unuseful and Italy hasn't been able to exploit its technical superiority, despite the numerical advantage. It's been a very bed game, in terms of fair play and entertainment, but it was the only way the US could tie (a shame, in my opinion). However, it must be said that Italy's efforts were surely not the best possibe, with some evident errors too (De Rossi, Zaccardo).

Out of the 20 teams that have played two games so far, the US has the 7th most fouls. The Netherlands and Portugal, two teams I don't think need to resort to fouls because of another team's technical superiority, both have been called for more fouls than the US.

 

[Inter4]

What a bad game.. terrible.

At least today's results will keep the group very very interesting til the very last minute..

 

[TimTheEnchanter]

I think that USA have interpreted this soccer game as an american football game.

And played like if this were American football.

You folks are more clueless about our sports than we are about "association football" if you think that is anything at all like the kind of action that goes on in American Football. These frail little diving and whining players (on all sides) would be annihilated on an american football field. That's not to say they aren't great (and in many cases far better) athletes. But what went on in that game had nothing to do with an "american football" mentality.

Tim: Mastroeni charged with 2 legs (red card foul already) on the ankles of the Italian from an angle the Italian couldn't see him coming. Dark Blood red.

So it matters not that he actually hit the ball before the legs of the other player? I'll admit I don't know the rules... but as others have said, I've seen plays like that in this event get no card at all, let alone a red. Also, I question that it was an angle he couldn't be seen. I haven't seen replays, but when watching live it looked like it was from the side, not the back.

 

[Gr3yL3gion]

Great game, both of them.

Ghanaians showed a much improved display during the match, too bad they were a little bit naive in front of the goal(Pimpong should have scored the third goal.)

US have shown that they can tackle with the best, and I think most of the cards are well deserved. It again convinced me that the Italy is good only on paper, with tactics that focused more on getting freekicks, and scored from it. It's sad when one think about it, when Italy have so much attacking talents with abundance of flair.

As with the last game, I hope that Czech and Ghana go through, we already have a catenacio English, we certainly don't need another catenacio Italians.

 

[Winner]

So much for the black horse, promising team or, God forbid, favourite We're back in reality - presumed underdog has steamrolled us like a bunch of boy scouts

And I can't see any reasonable excuse for that - we got kicked not because of missing offense, but because our defense terribly sucked

Now, if we don't beat Italy ( ), it's over.

EDIT: Hitro was right.

 

[classical_hero]

a tackle with joint legs, on the opponents leg, is a red.
Learn the rules first.

I have seen some examples in this World Cup where this has not happened. This is a shame because it shoud be the same for all players.

 

[Truronian]

Now, if we don't beat Italy ( ), it's over.

Actually, if the US and Ghana draw all you need against Italy is the one point.

Thursday 22nd is gonna be interesting.

 

[Verbose]

So it matters not that he actually hit the ball before the legs of the other player? I'll admit I don't know the rules... but as others have said, I've seen plays like that in this event get no card at all, let alone a red. Also, I question that it was an angle he couldn't be seen. I haven't seen replays, but when watching live it looked like it was from the side, not the back.

Far too many great players have simply been kicked to pieces by various thugs over the years. Someone like Marco van Basten was simply taken to pieces and never made it back from injury, ending his career way too soon.

Allowing that kind of physical play is game ruining. The enforcement of the rules is to allow the good players room to do something interesting with the ball, and not just get cut down. If you're a top notch goal scorer, you can still expect to get pummeled about in every game as it is.

Which also explains the diving. They're sick of being held, pulled, pushed, hacked in the shins just a leeetle tiny bit all the time. That's what good defenders do. Just get the big star goal scorer a tad of balance all the time, and he won't look so hot. Do it right, and the ref. won't pick on you over it.

And on the receiving end you exagerate the effects because you're already off balance and have only the choice of regaining it or fall. Regain it and you'll get shoved a bit again. Fall and at least you might get a penalty out of it.

But of course FIFA also tends to become extra strict for the WC, meaning players have to adjust to a slightly different level of refereeing.

 

[Marla_Singer]

People from Ghana are called Ghanaians in English (Ghanéens in French).

Unfortunately, I couldn't watch yesterday games. There was a family party at my parents place.

Anyway, from what I've seen from the first game and the few I've seen in summaries of yesterday's games, Ghana has I think the best midfield of the Group E. However, Ghana's forwards and backwards are febrile. Actually, from the 1st game against Italians, I would say a lot more febrile than I expected. I've put Ghana as 2nd of the group in my predictions, I'm the only one who did that actually.

Let's see what's going on for the third games. And may the best win !

 

[Darkness]

The US played a great game. Fantastic intensity. Italy didn't play their best, but the US deserved that draw.

About the refereeing: Best referee I've seen so far at the WC! All cards were totally justified (I agree 100% with FredLC, Rik and MCDread). I think the ref missed on one Italian offside, but he was near perfect the rest of the game. The disallowed goal was called correctly as well. The US player clearly blocked Buffon's line of sight.
I've seen quite a few bad referees in this tournament already, but this guy called the game perfect!
Uruguay is not in the tournament, so I hope the FIFA seriously considers giving this guy the final!

De Rossi should be banned for the rest of the tournament, IMHO.

 

[Hitro]

I agree with Darkness. And it should also be mentioned that wrong offside calls are not personally the referee's fault.

 

[Marla_Singer]

I agree with Darkness. And it should also be mentioned that wrong offside calls are not personally the referee's fault.

Does the referees necessarily work in teams, or could the best field referees be associated with the best assistant referees of other games for knock-out games ?

 

[woodelf]

My only issue after sleeping on it is still the first yellow for Pope and the total inconsistency after the 3rd red. He allowed a mugging to go on over the last 40 minutes! Sure it actually helped the US, but it was simply bad refereeing to change your philosophy of fouls halfway through.

 

[kryszcztov]

I am quite aware of the rules, and have seen and played in many, many soccer games. From the time I was 7 until I was 19 I played for 2-3 teams at a time. If that rule were enforced strictly, slide tackling would be completely illegal in all but a few circumstances, and most games so far would have ended with about 7 players to a side.

Not questioning your athletic qualities, but IMHO forget soccer and try to learn football. In football, as I understand it, if you tackle a player but don't play the ball, it's a foul. If the gesture is dangerous (injury, from behind, etc...), it certainly leads to a yellow or red card. Funny to see that the USA and Australia, countries of soccer, are grown in this hard environment.

But yesterday, the USA faced the team that is associated with simulations in my mind : Italy. Two opposite approaches to football. Didn't see the 2nd half, but during the 1st half, those yellow and red cards didn't disturb me.

 

[kronic]

There was a family party at my parents place.

That surely was even more exciting than the match.

 

[kryszcztov]

That surely was even more exciting than the match.

PHOTOS, PHOTOS, PHOTOS !!!