Well done...

[Geoff]

to the soceroos for playing a fantastic game...an unfortunate result ending with a penalty kick for the Italians...what a shame!!! Great game to watch...well done Aussies despite the outcome!

[gstark]

A very poor refereeing decision, and the result was against the run of the play. You really have to feel for the players who worked so hard, and were denied justice.

It would have been very interesting to see the game go into extra time, as it should have done.

[DJXtreme]

can't add much to that, but echo what you've both said, they dominated possession for the whole game and can be proud of that, it is a case where the result is no reflection on the game. truly shameful refereeing decision right at the end, however that seems to be in keeping with the other world cup games i've seen.

[ozimax]

If that was a penalty, I'll eat my Akubra, buy a Canon and give up espresso at the same time. Rugby league and AFL are both safe as houses in mainstream Australia. It's a shame because soccer is a great game, and may go backwards after this result.

Off to beddie-bies now.

[Nnnnsic]

Mind you, when the Italians made that disgraceful goal (well, the goal wasn't disgraceful, but you know what I mean), my Packer Sense (which is kind of like a Spidey Sense) tingled and I heard all of the Packer family roar with delight.

That said, I now feel sorry for the ref if he ever decided to visit Australia with his family.

I can just imagine the people at immigration with a taped up picture of the ref... uh... sir... we found some substances in your suitcase... please come with us...

Nah, in all seriousness, congratulations to the Socceroos for getting this far but what a bad decision by the ref in that last bit there.

[ozimax]

I think you're correct with Wimbledon.

It's funny, but even the Italians seemed subdued, I think they were actually embarassed at winning a game Australia dominated. Not that the penalty decision was their fault, it just was a hollow win for a boring game.

[Link]

Congratulations to the socceroos for making it so far, and dominating this game against the Italians. That said, I would not belittle Italy's achievement - fact is they maintained a strong defence despite playing 10 vs 11.

Italy is one of the most frustrating team to play against - it has always been and will always be... Well done to both sides, and hope the Soceeroos will be treated to a great welcome home party when they get back to Oz.

Link.

[birddog114]

Congrats the Socceroos, I felt sorry for them.
They played very well and achieved their best status in the tournament, I'm with them.
Save up the photos of that referee and we will have something to use it later

[DionM]

We were robbed.

4 more years.

Hopefully we can get some decent refs by then ...

[Oneputt]

To win games you have to score goals, we didn't. Sure the penalty was a little dubious but then so was the sending off.

Well done to the socceroos you did us proud.

Now back to the AFL

[Greg B]

Obviously, the interest in soccer has skyrocketed in Australia over the past weeks and months.

I am by no means a sports aficionado, but while I can see the enormous attraction of soccer both as a spectator sport and a participation sport (suitable for all ages, males and females), the referee seems to have too much potential to affect the outcome. One goal can result from one bad decision, and the game is won or lost.

Sure, bad decisions can have an impact on other sports, Australian rules, rugby, cricket - but the impact on the outcome is usually less pronounced than a bad decision in soccer.(There are exceptions - talking generally here)

In fact, I have been surprised at how relatively poor the refereeing has been during arguably the biggest sporting event in the world - and certainly the biggest single sport event.

[Charlie Chalk]

Speaking from a country who have had our fair share of world cup exits due to penalties (all be it the ones that come after extra time!) I can completely sympathise with you guys - it's a sh!t way to go out of the World Cup.

However, what was your guy doing going to ground? If ever there was a team that don't need half a chance to dive it's the Italians, if he'd stood up I think it would have been a different outcome. The ref saw a Socceroo player going to ground and obstructing an Italian, maybe not what ACTUALLY happened, but refs in the world cup have been told to give the attacker the benefit of the doubt.

It was a shame the socceroos couldn't finish it off when they had the chance(s), you did everything bar put it in the back of the net.

A very impressive performance, I wish our lot showed the same belief and enthusiasm as your boys did.

CC

[huynhie]

The Socceroos played well but we didn't finish off the chances that we had. It was sad to see the game end the way it did but what can you do.

Well done to the Socceroos for thier efforts in Germany 2006.

[losfp]

Ahhh.. it's a cruel game sometimes. Very bleary eyed this morning, had very disrupted sleep before and after the game.

To be honest, I think the better team won on the day. The Italians looked much more dangerous when going forward, even in their limited chances after the red card. We just couldn't convert the chances, but that's been our problem for a while now. Should have taken advantage of the extra man and put them away, but didn't....

Still, it was a fair effort from our boys to qualify and get to the second round... But for a little luck..... Who knows?

[ozimax]

Speaking from a country who have had our fair share of world cup exits due to penalties (all be it the ones that come after extra time!) I can completely sympathise with you guys

Supporting the Poms from now on, go England, make the Commonwealth proud and win the world cup, first in 40 years! At least this time you don't have Maradona to contend with.

[ozimax]

the referee seems to have too much potential to affect the outcome. One goal can result from one bad decision, and the game is won or lost

Spot on here Greg, not enough bang for buck with soccer. Bring on the thrill a minute AFL finals.

[Nnnnsic]

However, to link this back to photography, look at this stunning picture shot by someone at Getty Images.

[radar]

The Socceroos played really well but just couldn't quite get it. Being biased towards Australia and feeling robbed by the penalty, I went to read what some of the French and English newspapers had to say. Pretty well unanimously they said that the ref certainly was VERY generous to the Italians.

I think the Italians feel very lucky and relieved this morning, get your Italian friends to shout you a beer or an espresso, only fair

André

[ABG]

Although the result may have been the right one, the way that result was achieved was bitterly disappointing. Congratulations to the Italians though. Their defence was exemplary and their attack was always dangerous. Let's not lose sight of the fact that they should never have been reduced to 10 men. The red card to Materazzi was also highly dubious.

I'll be following the Italians and really hope they go all the way to win the Jules Rimet trophy. That will make this bitter pill a little easier to swallow. Plus, my mum's Italian (but she was firmly supporting the socceroos this morning).

I also really hope that soccer starts to grow roots as one of the major football codes in Australia, rather than being left behind as the little brother. This tournament has really given the game an unprecedented profile in this country - let's hope the fledgling A League can capitalise on that this season. It'd be nice to see a true world game get the recognition it deserves instead of the insular, provincial games that get mainstream support (Rugby Union excepted).

[DionM]

However, what was your guy doing going to ground? If ever there was a team that don't need half a chance to dive it's the Italians,

Oh so true. And they took advantage of it and it was the worst possible moment for it to happen.

However such a decision (to award a penalty) at the last minute of a mammoth match ... it is difficult to see how a ref could take that decision lightly ... knowing what it would hold for the match.

It was a shame the socceroos couldn't finish it off when they had the chance(s), you did everything bar put it in the back of the net.

I must admit I got that feeling too. Whenever the Socceroos got near the net, it just didn't look convincing. The Italians, on the other hand, were always a worry (though Schwarzer did a magnificent job).

[quote]
A very impressive performance, I wish our lot showed the same belief and enthusiasm as your boys did.
/quote]

Yes, a great effort by the 'Roos!

It's just bad that knowing we came so close, and then to be against the Ukraine in the next round ............ we could have really been in with a chance for the semis.

[ozimax]

I also really hope that soccer starts to grow roots as one of the major football codes in Australia, rather than being left behind as the little brother. This tournament has really given the game an unprecedented profile in this country - let's hope the fledgling A League can capitalise on that this season. It'd be nice to see a true world game get the recognition it deserves instead of the insular, provincial games that get mainstream support (Rugby Union excepted).

I love soccer (OK, football) and played a lot of it as a youngster, but it will never catch on like the other codes. The game is rife with diving and other un-Australian practices, and until this side of the game is stamped out (and it most probably never will be), it will always be the poor cousin of the more physical codes of football. My two boys played a lot of soccer as youngsters, but when they hit high school years, they changed to league and AFL.

Sorry ABG, but that's my two bob's worth.

[shutterbug]

Soccer is a great game.

BUT..the ref has too much control.

Should introduce a video ref

[DJXtreme]

either a video ref (although there are always issues with this slowing the game down), or just another actual ref - two heads are better than one and all that stuff. It's a big field for one guy to cover by himself, and maybe with a second guy he wouldnt have to get into the middle of play so much to make decisions.

[cyanide]

I have no idea why video ref/ checking replay has not been introduced in football - are there actual arguments against it?? - but I wish it would be...

That aside, I never watch any other football (HATE rugby (don't even know the difference between league and union), AFL, American F'ball etc) but I love football (ie English football/ soccer)..... it can be a beautiful game to watch (not always, but CAN be)... while the other codes' players always seem lumbering, unco and oafish.... but I know I am biased since I associate the other codes with all the redneck louts I had to deal with growing up in regional Australia....

Don't mean to offend anyone, either - as I said, I know it's a prejudice...

[Dug]

http://www.bilegrip.com/archives/2006/0 ... sport.html

One bloggers attitude to sport I must say I have some sympathy to the opinions expressed.

Soccer that is the game where they hit a ball with a bat over a net?