Italy vs. USA

[JaMaiCa]

Discuss the game here, too early to tell but it looks evenly matched so far.

Edit: Totti got a yellow card for a tackle just a second ago.

[whocares]

What's there to discuss... Italy is going to win.

[1iNcHWoNDeR]

What's there to discuss... Italy is going to win.

It looks pretty even, besides the face that United States has about 9 fouls, and Italy has about 2.

[JaMaiCa]

What's there to discuss... Italy is going to win.

USA has been getting alot of kicks on net so I'm not so sure about that.

[whocares]

It looks pretty even, besides the face that United States has about 9 fouls, and Italy has about 2.
Italy plays defensive... is not that surprising.

[1iNcHWoNDeR]

Italy plays defensive...fetcnot that surprising.

I know, but you said there is nothing to discuss like Italy is going to rape United States. USA just almost made two goals.

[whocares]

I know, but you said there is nothing to discuss like Italy is going to rape United States. USA just almost made two goals.
I never said that Italy is going to "rape" the US, but it's going to win. Well, most probably...

2-0, or 2-1... my predictions.

WEll, yes, USA just had a close shot...

[JaMaiCa]

I never said that Italy is going to "rape" the US, but it's going to win. Well, most probably...

2-0, or 2-1... my predictions.

You must be watching a different game, USA is holding up well enough to win the game.

Edit: Okay, maybe not, haha. They're down one now.

[whocares]

No, I'm watching the same game. And Italy just scored...

[ThaiTanium22]

Italy just scored, it was a nice header. I think this is my first post ever in this section.

EDIT: whocares beat me to it.

[1iNcHWoNDeR]

Wow, USA was looking so good untill now. 1-0 Italy.

Even though I live in United States I knew they weren't going to win. I just wanted to fight for them.

Tied WHoooo HOooo!!

[ThaiTanium22]

Wow, what a goal by USA...

EDIT: Actually Italy knocked it in.

EDIT #2: And Italy gets a red card.

[whocares]

Well, the USA is playing really good... nice goal

1 - 1

Rossi got a red card!! :eek:

Wow, well, the USA has a chance.

[JaMaiCa]

Haha, 1-1 on an own goal. Too funny.

[scratch]

Own goal :bigwink:

[kawi825]

haha, Italy scored on themselves.

[1iNcHWoNDeR]

Wow, what a goal by USA...

We suck, we had Italy hit it in for us. Great turn of events, Italy just got a red card too.

[JaMaiCa]

Red Card!!! My god this is getting interesting. What's going to happen next?

McBride is bleeding pretty bad.

[kit kat]

Best own goal ever and a red card :eek:

[ryan41]

wow what a fucking turn of events..........i never thought i would see blood in soccer :)


USA USA USA

[1iNcHWoNDeR]

Italy has to play with 10 now, so if USA is going to lose. We suck.

[scratch]

I've seen some dodgy red cards given out, but that was beyond doubt..dirty foul.

[whocares]

I've seen some dodgy red cards given out, but that was beyond doubt..dirty foul.
Yeah, Rossi really fucked up.

However, 1 man less for Italy... well, they still play counterattack style...

[scratch]

Italy has to play with 10 now, so if USA is going to lose. We suck.

I must admit, USA is unlikely to be a major threat to the regular world cup teams, I mean that in a constructive way, you guys got a lot of different sports that get way more funding and interest etc.. but I would like to see you beat the italians :)

[whocares]

Woa, Italy's coach took Totti out, and Gattuso is now in.

This is getting really interesting.

[ThaiTanium22]

Red card for USA, damn.

[1iNcHWoNDeR]

Holy shit, now USA gets a fucking red card.

[whocares]

Mastroeni got a red card too!!

Well, things are level in number of players. again

[bobtheflob]

Man, this is why I'll never get soccer. Half the game is decided by flopping and shitty reffing.

[1iNcHWoNDeR]

Man, this is why I'll never get soccer. Half the game is decided by flopping and shitty reffing.

It is shitty reffing, but the world cup is fun too watch.

[JaMaiCa]

That was a nice attack by USA, shame about the red card though.

[Watusa]

Thank god it's back to 10 on 10, once Del Piero and Inzaghi come on we're scoring another goal and winning this. Fucking Zaccardo, thanks a lot.

[1iNcHWoNDeR]

Thank god it's back to 10 on 10, once Del Piero and Inzaghi come on we're scoring another goal and winning this. Fucking Zaccardo, thanks a lot.

We have an Italy fan in here now, this should get interesting.

[csite]

i am pulling my hair out, wtf is wrong with the teams today... these are world class teams not playing world class football. Italy better win, thankfully the usa hasn't yet had the pleasure of their foot or head actually scoring the goal, so they are still not that confident, come on italy.

i learned my lesson, never bet on football, stick with poker.

[Mount_Happy]

That red card may have been a bit extreme, a yellow would have been a little more appropriate.

But who cares, i hate the US team, GO ITALIA

[navid]

i want usa to win this so the group gets more intresteing with everyone with 3 points. man its a dirty drama affair, 2nd half is gonne be SICK!

[JuliaAguilar]

I don't know about that second red card ... seemed like it should have been a yellow and a stern warning. Although I guess at midfield there was really no need to tackle in such a way, there was no real danger of Italy scoring at that particular point.

Either way, Mastroeni really fucked it up for the US with this card, I hope we can at least just hang on and get the draw.

[Watusa]

We have an Italy fan in here now, this should get interesting.
Italian citizen too:cool:

[USB]

HAHA another red!!!

I have Italian Blood too!

[ThaiTanium22]

Lol, red card. This match is messed up.

[JuliaAguilar]

Mother fucker! Another red ... :mad:

[1iNcHWoNDeR]

Another fucking red card. Holy shit, pope. This fucking ref should get a red card.

[JerkyMyTurky]

Very interesting first half. Lots of crazy things happening. The own goal was a godsend for the U.S. The red card on De Rossi was another blessing, but they couldn't capitalize on the man advantage. Then the whole advantage was lost on the bonehead tackle by Mastroeni. The announcers were saying it should have been yellow, but as JDH said, there was no need for such a wreckless tackle that far back in play. It was straight tackle on the ankles, the ball had been passed already. I can't blame the ref for shoddy judgement. Mastroeni should have played conservative there, they were up a man and now that is gone. It will be interesting 2nd half, I wont be surprised if the Italians prevail, unless the U.S. somehow get a 3rd gift in this game. Even with the own goal, the U.S. were playing much better in this game than their first. Back to the game...

[JaMaiCa]

Apparantly if you tackle and hit a foot on the way down you're liable for a red card. :rollseyes

[KakUMei]

This referee is fucking rediculous...

Don't plan on seeing him reffing anymore world cup games.

[Snowy]

wow, i just saw a statistic and it was like 22 fouls for USA and like 8 for italy

[ThaiTanium22]

Omg, offside on USA goal.

[Ganster-T]

Shit thats gay.

[scratch]

Gotta say, for it's entertainment value... this game rocks :)

[kit kat]

Decisions in the world cup have been good, but in this game they have been shitty :mad: . The offside goal was in, as the player never interfered with play. I now want USA to win

[Dyno152]

These announcers are really bashing the refs. Go italy! The offside goal was in, as the player never interfered with play. I now want USA to win He was standing right in front of the goalie thus blocking his view hence the correct call

[mx6driven]

NACHOOOOOOOO I cant wait to scream that on the next goal

[Snowy]

USA is getting so robbed this game, they should be up 11-10 player wise, but instead there down 9-10...

[ThaiTanium22]

Damn, it ended in a draw.

[mx6driven]

USA GOT ROBBBBEEDDD, and I wasnt even rooting for the usa, USA got Robbed!

[JaMaiCa]

There you have it, 1-1. America held on pretty well!

[Watusa]

Thanks a lot Zaccardo, costed us the fucking game...:banghead:

USA GOT ROBBBBEEDDD, and I wasnt even rooting for the usa, USA got Robbed!

Got robbed? Haha, PLEASE! We gave you the goal for your tie...

[Snowy]

the USA should have been holding on to a draw and not a tie

while i agree our second goal was interference(he was infront of the goalie and the ball went 2 inches from him) the USA should have been ahead a man for most of the game, not down a man

[Dyno152]

The whole first half was bull shit. They call stupid fouls and completely miss the accurate ones.

[kit kat]

He was standing right in front of the goalie thus blocking his view hence the correct call

He never came in contact with the ball, the decision could have gone either way

[MooCowzRock]

Alright....so USA still has a chance of making it to the next round...So long as they beat Ghana, and Italy wins their next game...If so, then the US will be through.

[whocares]

The "second goal" of the USA was not goal, yes, I know it's ridicolous that the ref marked offside, but it was... that's the rule...

The player didn't interfere? No, he didn't touch the ball, but it surely interfered with the goalie's vision.

Nothing wrong with the ref, really. USA fucked up with those 2 red cards.

The second red was because that player got two yellow cards.

[Snowy]

its just extremely unfortunate that this match was decided by the ref, with the way the USA was playing they DESERVED to win, but were handicapped tremendously

and even then they didnt let up a goal when down by a player and even scored one(it was taken away... gay)

[KakUMei]

Poor fouls were called on both sides. The only legitimate call was Zaccardo's red card.

The US must beat Ghana and Italy must beat the Czech Republic to advance to the round of sixteen.

EDIT: Whocares you are telling me that those two red cards were legitamate? You obviously do not know how physical soccer is and what warrents a foul, a yellow card and a red card..

[whocares]

Poor fouls were called on both sides. The only legitimate call was Zaccardo's red card.

The US must beat Ghana and Italy must beat the Czech Republic to advance to the round of sixteen.
Or Czech Rep could beat Italy as well while the USA defeats Ghana and there's still chance...

And the first red card of USA's was totally legitimate too... that foul was totally uncalled for... and it was a strong foul.

[Snowy]

Or Czech Rep could beat Italy as well while the USA defeats Ghana and there's still chance...

no, only way is US to be ghana and italy to beat czech

[Dyno152]

He never came in contact with the ball, the decision could have gone either way

He was offsides and blocking the goalie. If it wasn't one, it was the other.

[troutofdoom]

Is Beasley useless, or is Beasley useless?

Refs fucked up that game. It's good to know the US still has a chance to get past groups though..

no, only way is US to be ghana and italy to beat czech
It would come down to goal differential, right?

[Quiet_Riot]

And the first red card of USA's was totally legitimate too... that foul was totally uncalled for... and it was a strong foul.


He touched the ball first, no foul, no card. USA's second sending off was poor too, he also won the ball. Pathetic refereeing is marring this tournament.

Otherwise, that was a great game, i actually cheered when USA scored, only for it to be disallowed. Oh well.

[whocares]

no, only way is US to be ghana and italy to beat czech
Italy, 4 pts... dif. +2
Czech, 3 pts... dif. +1
Ghana, 3 pts... dif. 0
USA, 1 pts... dif. -3

USA wins, gets 4pts... and a dif... >-3

Czech wins by a big difference...: Czech gets 6 pts, Italy stays with 4pts and a dif... <+2

It's possible...

[Dyno152]

It's going to be tough for the U.S. against Ghana - Right now things are not favoring them.

[Snowy]

but considerably less likely

[Midfielder1]

WAR is over. No matter how you slice it the ref in that match was TERRIBLE.

Nothing wrong with the ref, really. USA fucked up with those 2 red cards.

Can't be serious!:banghead:

The US played with a lot of guts, but I was certain after that first half it was not going to be tied.:eek:

Entertaining if nothing else.:raiseeyeb

[led_head]

Even if the U.S. gets to the next round I can't see them beating Brazil, assuming Brazil wins their group.

But then again, those Aussies might catch Brazil off guard, or so I hope. :rollseyes

And Beasley was a piece of shit, after his "goal", that was really offsides and a good call, he didn't do anything. He had a chance to put the ball by the last defender and run around him for a breakaway but instead tried to dribble right through him at midfield. :mad: He had fresh legs and still sucked.

I think the U.S. might beat Ghana, but Italy beating Czech, I don't know. Czech isn't going to lose too games in a row very easily.

[JerkyMyTurky]

I missed the first 7 mins of the 2nd half, so I missed the red card on Pope. It was his 2nd yellow and not a straight red, as the other 2 reds were. The ref was giving out too many cards in general and might not get another match in the finals. The Ghana match is going to be a tough match, as both teams are going to play very hard.

[a7x1337]

soccer has to have, like, overtime. and then penalty kicks if it's still tied, ala the NHL

[led_head]

soccer has to have, like, overtime. and then penalty kicks if it's still tied, ala the NHL

They do, just not in the first round because it's group play. In all the other rounds it goes to overtime and then a P.K. shootout.

[Quiet_Riot]

The ref was giving out too many cards in general and might not get another match in the finals.


If FIFA follow through on their threat that bad refs won't get a second game, i see very few getting more games.

[ConanTL]

Hey guys.

I'm just back from downtown Kaiserslautern (the city where the match was held). Holy shit, what a fucking amazing experience. A bunch of Americans, Italiens and thousands of people from all over the world having an absolute blast watching the game. This is a night I will remember for some time. I can't even imagine how Berlin will be during the finals.

[Superior_to_you]

its just extremely unfortunate that this match was decided by the ref, with the way the USA was playing they DESERVED to win, but were handicapped tremendously

and even then they didnt let up a goal when down by a player and even scored one(it was taken away... gay)

Like my football coach once said, "You can't deserve a championship, you have to earn it."

Same deal here... Though I get what you're saying...

Oh well, I'm officially caring about soccer... Though it's still gayer than football, basketball, and hockey.

[Meio]

Oh well, I'm officially caring about soccer... Though it's still gayer than football, basketball, and hockey.

And so it starts :)

[Superior_to_you]

And so it starts :)

Shush, after all the soccer bashing I've done I can't exactly just come out and say "Ok, I was wrong, it's kick ass and exciting." I'd have to pull my head out of my ass first.

[likethis]

After the game one of the announcers talked about how the same ref had been suspended in 2001 from refing for something undisclosed. A quote I like from the broadcast was:

Players win games
Coaches lose them
And refs ruin them


In the end the US played well, and the ref screwed them over. Although they did not score I think 11 on 10 the whole game could have led to one.

[Snowy]

they scored a goal when it was 9 on 10, it was called off but thats beside the point :P

[Farout]

a lot of people in here are extremely ignorant as to the rules of futebol (goin with the brazillian spelling here ha). FIRSTLY the red card on the italians was completely deserved, but what eludes me is how the ref could possibly play the elbow as a second yellow, thus a red, instead of going straight to a red card. the ref seriously thought that the elbow to the face was a yellow and the slide tackle was a straight red (even though in the replay you can clearly see our man touch the ball first, which means it shouldn't have even been a foul period, much less a yellow, MUCH MUCH less a straight red. what a terrible call) the italians were a bunch of assholes the entire game, anyone see what happened when USA played the ball out for an injury? the italians didn't play it back to them, thats just an asshole move. IMO this game should have been 10v10. sure the pope card was severe so close to the start of play (ref should have given him a strict warning) but the coach definetly should have sent him out seeing how pope was in blatant disregard for the severity of his situation and even when it was 9v10 beasley had a great shot that more often than not wouldn't be taken back being that our man didn't touch the ball. he might have screened the goalie a bit but i've seen that happen so many times and they let it go. i think this ref had an anti-american agenda. and so what the only goal we got was an own goal, we'll take that in tradeoff for the goal that 9 times outta 10 wouldn't be taken away but was. America showed that they can play on this level by ending in a draw after nearly a whole half being down a man. anyone counting america out of this tournament is insane. i also guarantee that we would have done better had we eddie johnson playing that forward position, bad call by our coach.

so to summarize

amazing game by USA
below average, cheap game by Italy
bad game for Arena
disgusting game for that dickhead ref.

all we have to do is beat ghana and have italy beat czechs. or have czechs beat italy and have a -5 goal differential from their team to ours

sorry its 11 o clock here and i just got done watching it on tivo cause i've been out all day for a gig in the next state over, so i'm extremely mad that i couldn't make all these points mid game haha.

[a7x1337]

Shush, after all the soccer bashing I've done I can't exactly just come out and say "Ok, I was wrong, it's kick ass and exciting." I'd have to pull my head out of my ass first.
i dont give a damn about soccer at all, except when america plays. i want america to win the championship just so all the europeans will be pissed.

[Slid3r]

The best part of the whole game was when the Italian guy guy kneed in the ass by the American guy and then walked off the field with ice on his butt.

I'm sure the American soccer player said , "You know you liked it."

[KakUMei]

It wasnt an american player. It was his own goalie that rammed him in the ass.

Then they gave him the magical ass spray and he was good to go :bigwink:

[bonenator]

wow those red cards against the us were total bullshit

[MooCowzRock]

The best part of the whole game was when the Italian guy guy kneed in the ass by the American guy and then walked off the field with ice on his butt.

I'm sure the American soccer player said , "You know you liked it."
The funniest part was when one of the assistants was holding up there for him as he walked away...that was golden...

[GrammarFocus]

wow those red cards against the us were total bullshit

No they weren't. That's the type of play that can put players out of the game, as it did with Perrotto I think it was? Didn't realise the USA are such dirty cunts as they are.

Another poor performance from Italy, they have the players to be UP there, but they recently have just been awful.

[Mount_Happy]

i dont give a damn about soccer at all, except when america plays. i want america to win the championship just so all the europeans will be pissed.
Haha thats funny, US will never win the championship, they suck way too bad. :dunce: Your one of the reasons i hate the American team, because nobody here appreciates the sport, just see that America is playing and root for them, despite not knowing shit about football.

[Toretto]

He was offsides and blocking the goalie. If it wasn't one, it was the other.

He was offside, because he made a "move" towards the ball. If he just stood still, and didn't move his foot towards the ball, it would have been a goal. Now he was "taking part in the game" even if he didn't hit the bal, so = offside.

[Snowy]

He was offside, because he made a "move" towards the ball. If he just stood still, and didn't move his foot towards the ball, it would have been a goal. Now he was "taking part in the game" even if he didn't hit the bal, so = offside.

he didnt make a move towards the ball, he picked up his foot so the ball would go by him, he never made an attempt to contact the ball but to avoid it

and ho can u say the USA red cards were deserved? they were both bullshit makeup calls and everyone knows it... a late tackle? yellow card AT WORST...
pope slide tacked the BALL first, he shouldnt have got a yello -> red card for that

and seriously, its called SOCCER :raiseeyeb

[Farout]

Haha thats funny, US will never win the championship, they suck way too bad. :dunce: Your one of the reasons i hate the American team, because nobody here appreciates the sport, just see that America is playing and root for them, despite not knowing shit about football.

I really love people that make sweeping generalizations about entire countries.. yeah that type of thinking makes stuff like the halocaust possible you fucking philistine. bottom line, that first game vs the czechs, half of our players haven't played on european soil, much less a world cup game, we had the shakes whatever. that game vs italy should show you that we can play.

how you could possibly say we suck eludes me. we just OUTPLAYED italy with a man down and a demon ref. open your eyes.

[1522]

What's there to discuss... Italy is going to win.

lol it was a draw


owned

[Canty]

he didnt make a move towards the ball, he picked up his foot so the ball would go by him, he never made an attempt to contact the ball but to avoid it

and ho can u say the USA red cards were deserved? they were both bullshit makeup calls and everyone knows it... a late tackle? yellow card AT WORST...
pope slide tacked the BALL first, he shouldnt have got a yello -> red card for that

and seriously I'm a fucking idiot who can't tell his arse form his elbow.:rolleyes:

Exactly HE MOVED HIS FOOT SO THE BALL WOULD GO IN. If he had kept still the ball would of hit him meaning no goal. he participated by moving his foot which is why the goal wasn't allowed.

I agree with the first USA red card as it was an appualing late tackle which went right into the guys ankle. Can't remember what the 2nd red card was about apart from it came very early in the second half so can't comment on that.

[GrammarFocus]

I agree with the first USA red card as it was an appualing late tackle which went right into the guys ankle. Can't remember what the 2nd red card was about apart from it came very early in the second half so can't comment on that.

Not only was it a flying-two-footer, it was a yard or two directly in front of the ref. Not an effort for the ball either.

[bonenator]

No they weren't. That's the type of play that can put players out of the game, as it did with Perrotto I think it was? Didn't realise the USA are such dirty cunts as they are.

Another poor performance from Italy, they have the players to be UP there, but they recently have just been awful.
i think it was bullshit. A yellow card definantly but not a red card(the first red card)

that was a pretty physical game though and i thought the U.S. actually did decent with a bitch ref and a good team to fend off

[navid]

2 footed studs up, clear read card. you guys are idiots.

[bonenator]

I am haha but hey its my country. I want them to do as well as they can(which isnt very well)

[AsHopeDies]

No they weren't. That's the type of play that can put players out of the game, as it did with Perrotto I think it was? Didn't realise the USA are such dirty cunts as they are.

Another poor performance from Italy, they have the players to be UP there, but they recently have just been awful.

Haha, only a hater would call the team that got penalized for slide tackles and not for a blatant thrown elbow that required stitches the dirty cunts...


moron

[state]

i can understand why everyone is hating on the ref so much but afterall he wasnt too bad - and that coming from a defender.
1. italys red card: too obvious and not like someone said earlier 2 yellow, it was straight red
2. US's first red card was also fair. mastroeni tackled the other guy from the side without any chance of getting the ball and i dont think he even touched the ball. thats a red card! (only since this WC ref are supposed to pay special attention to tackles from the side - i would rather allow them)
3. pope's red card was legitimate but maybe a little to harsh, since it was a dumb foul and he did deserve the yellow card but it didnt help the game
4. offside no matter if he just stands or moves. he's blocking the view of the goalie

in the end the US did a great job and earned a lotta respect throughtout the world whilst italy....just sucks!

[Farout]

2 footed studs up, clear read card. you guys are idiots.


before you make such a bold statement as "clear rEad card. you guys are idiots" you should check your rulebook pal. the touch on the ball prior to the takedown was enough to warrant the red card inappropriate, he shouldn't even have gotten a yellow card.

[state]

before you make such a bold statement as "clear rEad card. you guys are idiots" you should check your rulebook pal. the touch on the ball prior to the takedown was enough to warrant the red card inappropriate, he shouldn't even have gotten a yellow card.


thats a common misbelief. it doesnt matter if you touch the ball or not. if you tackle from the side or behind (without a chance of getting the ball, and it was in this case) its a red card.

[Farout]

thats a common misbelief. it doesnt matter if you touch the ball or not. if you tackle from the side or behind (without a chance of getting the ball, and it was in this case) its a red card.


you're neglecting the bylaws stating that its more chance of team possession than individual possession. Our man was playing it out of their player's feet to a teammate. the ref just caught the slide from the wrong angle and thought he didn't touch ball. very bad call.

[JerkyMyTurky]

2. US's first red card was also fair. mastroeni tackled the other guy from the side without any chance of getting the ball and i dont think he even touched the ball. thats a red card! (only since this WC ref are supposed to pay special attention to tackles from the side - i would rather allow them)


I don't think he deserved a red card, but at the same time I can understand why the ref would give one. He was trying to keep this game from getting out of control, by being strict with the cards. The fact is, Mastroeni had no ill intent with that tackle. It looked wreckless, but wasn't so either. The ball was passed towards Pirlo and Mastroeni went for the tackle on the ball, while Mastroeni is in his slide, Pirlo puts his foot down for the ball at the same time as Mastroeni comes into the play. If Pirlo had possession and was dribbling and Mastroeni comes in and tackles him, I can understand a red card, but I don't think Mastroeni had any ill intent. Maybe a little careless or too eager to make a tackle. Here is the video replay of the tackle...

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

[MrDeliquent85]

FIFA have told the ref's to clamp down on any kind of harsh challenges, don't be so suprised to see red cards been dished out all the way up to the final for half hearted two footers or tackles for behind or the side.

All in all it was a good game for American 'soccerball', the main reason americans don't like the sport because they think its boring but this game just showed how exciting it can be without having 26 goals per game.

Italy scored on themselves.
alot of kicks on net
USA just almost made two goals.

Haha, no one else find the wording very amusing ?

lol. gg.

[James Bond 007]

That is the worst I have EVER seen Italy play, I dont wanna take anything away from USA though, great result for them, congratulations.

Oh and ALL the red cards were fair.... De Rossi's elbow on McBride was disgraceful just as Masteroni's (sp) leg breaking challenge was disgraceful and the other guy had two yellow cards which he deserved end of!

[King Tubby]

I don't think he deserved a red card, but at the same time I can understand why the ref would give one. He was trying to keep this game from getting out of control, by being strict with the cards. The fact is, Mastroeni had no ill intent with that tackle. It looked wreckless, but wasn't so either. The ball was passed towards Pirlo and Mastroeni went for the tackle on the ball, while Mastroeni is in his slide, Pirlo puts his foot down for the ball at the same time as Mastroeni comes into the play. If Pirlo had possession and was dribbling and Mastroeni comes in and tackles him, I can understand a red card, but I don't think Mastroeni had any ill intent. Maybe a little careless or too eager to make a tackle. Here is the video replay of the tackle...

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

Watching that video theres no doubt thats a straight red card, intentional or not he could have broken the Italians foot with that tackle or worse ended his career, FIFA are trying to stamp (no pun intended) out that kind of play altogether.

[ConanTL]

That is the worst I have EVER seen Italy play, I dont wanna take anything away from USA though, great result for them, congratulations.

Oh and ALL the red cards were fair.... De Rossi's elbow on McBride was disgraceful just as Masteroni's (sp) leg breaking challenge was disgraceful and the other guy had two yellow cards which he deserved end of!

Yeah, I saw the game on the big screen here and from far away it didn't seem like the red cards (except De Rossi's) were deserved. But after seeing the replays at home, I've come to agree with the ref.

I still don't think that it was offsides though :D

[Ghost`]

Soccer players bitch to much...... someone kicks them in the leg and they go down holding it looking at the refs if there ganna call somthing .. then they go on a stretcher and come back 2 minutes later and run full force... in american football if a player goes down and gets taken of the feild its series.
even though i watched this game i was surprised and all the bitching. how hard is it to get a ball into a huge goal.

baseball in my opinion is the hardest sport .. its not easy to throw a small ball 90 ft at 95 + mph

[Pfeife]

Soccer players bitch to much...... someone kicks them in the leg and they go down holding it looking at the refs if there ganna call somthing .. then they go on a stretcher and come back 2 minutes later and run full force... in american football if a player goes down and gets taken of the feild its series.
even though i watched this game i was surprised and all the bitching. how hard is it to get a ball into a huge goal.

baseball in my opinion is the hardest sport .. its not easy to throw a small ball 90 ft at 95 + mph

What the fvck is that?

[state]

Soccer players bitch to much...... someone kicks them in the leg and they go down holding it looking at the refs if there ganna call somthing .. then they go on a stretcher and come back 2 minutes later and run full force... in american football if a player goes down and gets taken of the feild its series.
even though i watched this game i was surprised and all the bitching. how hard is it to get a ball into a huge goal.

baseball in my opinion is the hardest sport .. its not easy to throw a small ball 90 ft at 95 + mph

dude, wrong thread: go to --> which sport is the hardest and GTFO of this thread

Maybe a little careless or too eager to make a tackle. Here is the video replay of the tackle...

that's exactly the point: too eager!!! (..or just plain dumb)

you're neglecting the bylaws stating that its more chance of team possession than individual possession. Our man was playing it out of their player's feet to a teammate. the ref just caught the slide from the wrong angle and thought he didn't touch ball. very bad call.

are you now talking about pope or mastroeni?

[USB]

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

Nah i think it was just because he didnt even get the ball. Pablo Mastroeni could have broken the Italians ankle.

[AsHopeDies]

Nah i think it was just because he didnt even get the ball. Pablo Mastroeni could have broken the Italians ankle.

Ok, I'll state my reactions to the foul, take them or leave them. But I've watched the youtube replay over and over now. I think it deserved a yellow at most, but I won't go as far as to say it's a completely rediculous call and that the guy was out to get the US, especially since he doesn't have the benefit of watching the replay over and over again before making his call.

The main reason I would say it doesn't deserve the red and only deserves a yellow is that the Italian player did not have possession of the ball. It was a pass that hadn't been touched yet, and the ball was faily deep in the italian zone. Winning that ball could have been very beneficial to the US. And since it was passed and not in control yet, it looked like he was trying to beat the Italian player to the ball, and they just arrived in the same place at the same time.

The second thing I have to say is in regards to the "two footed, studs up" claim. After watching it many times, his studs were DEFINITELY not up. It's impossible to slide with your studs completely down, but his were as down as I've seen in any tackle in the cup. Further more, he also definitely led with one foot, and his other slid in after the contact was made. Does that constitute a two footed tackle still? I don't know, I'm seriously asking.

I think it's clear that the reasoning for the tackle is just, the attempt of the tackle was just, but the fact of the matter is he made hard contact with the ankle of the Italian player, something I have seen a bunch of times already so I think the "could have ended his career" claim is off base. In that sense, every tackle made could end someone's career.

It was a harsh tackle, a card was justified, my belief is it should have been yellow but whatever, I don't really care. I'd rather see my team get cards that are arguable at best, then see one of my players blatantly elbow somebody in the face. That's just disgusting.

[Farout]

i was talking about mastroeni and yeah he definetly had a touch on the ball, just not from the ref's P.O.V. the touch that he was making to his teammate was perfectly legal. yellow card at worst and thats only because the ref couldn't make it out. terrible red card call there.

[GrammarFocus]

i was talking about mastroeni and yeah he definetly had a touch on the ball, just not from the ref's P.O.V. the touch that he was making to his teammate was perfectly legal. yellow card at worst and thats only because the ref couldn't make it out. terrible red card call there.

As I said before, that kind of play can put players out of the game. He wasn't near the ball, and went straight through his legs. No place for that.

[Farout]

if he wasn't near the ball, how did the ball start curving to the right after the tackle? look again kiddo.