Talk about an exciting day yesterday.
USA wins. Check.
Germany wins. Check.
Now all I need is Italy to win and I will be a happy camper. Which brings me to my next point, if they don't pull this off I will screaming profanities for the rest of the day...
Go Slovakia! Sorry, but I think it would be fantastic to see La Azzurri on the same plane home as Les Bleus.
Actually, in most years I rather like the French team. You must be Italian to have a rooting interest for the 2010 Catenaccio Vaseline-coiffed Senior Diving Team.
Italy is a disgrace to soccer. They are one of the main reasons so many people laugh at the sport and dont follow it.
But their diving and acting is deplorable. Although the Greek dive to draw a red against NGA was probably the most offensive dive in this world cup.
I'd disagree with you and say it was the Ivorian dive against Brazil, but Brazil was doing enough flopping of their own that I didn't really feel bad for them.
Yes I am Italian and I think it's a bit harsh to say they are a disgrace to soccer.
I mean you might not like their style DC, but 4 World Cups and countless successes of their club teams speaks a lot to their role in the world soccer picture.
Lucas Neill = Badass
I'm not saying that they do not have skill and are not an international powerhouse. However, their recent antics on the field are less than respectable in my books.
I realize that most soccer fans on here are not fond of the Azzurri and that is fine with me, it's everyone's perogative. I root for them because of my heritage and I hope that they are successful in all that they do.
My heritage got screwed out of the World Cup entirely by another of my minor heritages.
Looks like you and I might have the same heritage. Maybe.
So far both sides have been pretty even. Slovakia is doing what they need to do to stifle Italy.
The Azzurri need to be more aggressive, but they won't.
Anyone watching the other game on right now?
Who would you rather see win? Paraguay or New Zealand.
I think if New Zealand wins they're in correct?
NZ wins and they're through, all Paraguay has to do is tie, though a win secures first place for them. I'm pulling for Paraguay, but really just because that's what I predicted in my bracket
Wow....
Talk about uninspired. If Italy keeps playing like this I might just turn it off. How disappointing.
Slovakia!
Italian soccer is a bit of a discredit to the sport though, particularly because it is undeniably successful. It's less of an issue that say, Slovenia plays a rather negative style of soccer, because they don't really win anything. The Italian air of arrogance and entitlement - borne from that winning record - exacerbates the distaste as well.
And please don't point to Serie A as a defense - corruption, hooliganism, and racism (even fascism!) currently unparalleled in the soccer world do not a feather in the cap make.
I can agree with your points. There probably is an air of arrogance in the Italian's game and that is probably due to their history of success.
You can't tell me that there isn't hooliganism elsewhere around the world. I understand corruption due to the events of 2005-2006 but there is plenty of the other things in equal number elsewhere.
Send those whiny, bitchy, flopping italians home!
I've been focusing on New Zealand-Paraguay. Rooting for a New Zealand win and a draw in the other game which would see NZ and Paraguay through.
They've been pretty defensive so far, honestly not very much has happened other than a few cards.
Talk about a man, coming back on after getting slashed in the knee. That would be a tough thing to come back and play on.
But the close up of his knee pushed that thought out of my head real quick. That was a real nasty cut, and I'd be surprised if he didn't need stitches for it.
That thing was nasty lookin! Definitely going to need stitches which they are propably doing now at the half. If he continues to play I'll be impressed.
Azzurri make two substitutions hopefully it'll provide a spark but I'm not getting my hopes up. Shoulda put Pirlo in but looks as if he'll be coming in next.
Italy just isn't taking enough dives today. Obviously not on their game.
That MUST be it. Thanks for the insight.
EDIT: Sorry just a little upset with the result haha
Well played Slovakia. They deserve all the accolades they earned through hard play. I'm not impressed with my Azzurri at all. They deserve to be on the same plane as France back home. Time to reorganize.
GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!
WE'RE STILL ALIVE!!!!!
What the hell happened there?
The Slovak keeper is very, very lucky that his punch wasn't seen by the referee. That would have been red.
The last 10 minutes are going to be frantic.
If the Italian player got hurt, it was whiplash from exaggerated recoil.
I agree completely, but as seen in the Nigeria - Greece game, it's the violent intent, rather than the result, that gets punished.
Wow... Very marginal offside call.
WHAT THE FUCK IS WITH THESE OFFICIALS!?!?!?! GAHHHHH
(Was that really offsides?)
By a hair. Seen that not given many times, though..
I'm in a glass case of emotion right now...
And that does it.
EDIT: That's some appalling defending by the Italians.
Azzuri no!
What is happening?!?!?!?!?!
3-2
it's like a video game.
I'd rather they just finish. This time wasting is killing me.
I hope it hurts Italy. I hope this embarassment hurts. Now you have 4 years to change it.
The idea of it at least. Looking at Italy's roster, it's less so. As everyone said, too old.
I don't think age had much to do with the Italians' performance, physically. I think as they showed, they can score goals when they crank it up and feel the desperation. I think their age fueled the arrogance - we've been here before, we can do it again whenever we feel like it - and that's what doomed them. They got scored on first in every match. Maybe a few more younger players like il traditore, Benedict Rossi, would've given them that want-it factor.
Long, quiet plane ride home for the Italians, but as my dad pointed out, probably not long enough for the players' taste.
Stop posting and don't let anyone vote for you. Your points are exactly at 12345 right now - perfect.
Tough break for the Italians, but like people have said above, not shocking based on their roster.
Note: I may have negged you to keep you there on the above post so mine was still relevant. Apologies, but how can you mess with 12345?