[Merenguito]

I know!, we all know your family never came over here on a inner tube. We know that 14 of ya's packed into the back of a Pinto

Bastard!

[ozjet51]

The Americans only tied this game because italy was playing down to their level skill-wise. The Us didn't even score on it's own, they needed help from the Italian full back. The Americans are the Arizona Cardinals of the World Cup. Whenever a tie feels like a huge win, you're in bad shape.

sometimes draws are pretty huge, like this morning for australia, drawing with croatia like they did now we are through and i say BRING ON ITALY, great victory for australia

[ganggreen_ewok]

The f***ing refs need to go!!! I'm not the one to disrespect or question refereeing but the past two games were ridiculous. There was no way the what a foul on Ontrewyu in the box that was bullshit, and just completely killed the Momentum. Also, it was poorly coached by Arenas, he should have put Eddie in way earlier and in not saying early in the second half, I'm saying after the first Ghana goal. Another problem i have is with Claudio Reyna. What the f*** is up with your *beep*??? If he hadn't been a typical soccer *beep* and not fallen down he could have picked up the Ghana player and prevented the goal. Good job to the 10 other US team members its too bad that it had to end with such travesty. Hopefully Keller will last another four years but thats doubtful.



Sam's Army Salute & My 500th post

[Merenguito]

That was a shitty call in stopage time nevertheless! I mean the guy had NO SHOT of creating a score for himself but what pissed me off more was Landon Donovan electing to pass the ball instead of charging the net after he beat his defender, he had a open shot to tie the game and he chicken shitted his way out of it by passing the ball!

[ganggreen_ewok]

Yeah Landon was really pissing me off. Sub in eddie for gods sake becaus ehe wasn't doing shit. He elected to pass all throughout qualifying and on his resume it should read "Will turn down open net, to pass into a double team." I remember one qualifying game I think it was the Honduras game, where McBride literally stole the ball, not even kidding, from Donovan and scored. You saw what happened when they moved the ball, Beasley to Dempsey to back of net. Come on now

[Smedsthejet]

The f***ing refs need to go!!! I'm not the one to disrespect or question refereeing but the past two games were ridiculous. There was no way the what a foul on Ontrewyu in the box that was bullshit, and just completely killed the Momentum. Also, it was poorly coached by Arenas, he should have put Eddie in way earlier and in not saying early in the second half, I'm saying after the first Ghana goal. Another problem i have is with Claudio Reyna. What the f*** is up with your *beep*??? If he hadn't been a typical soccer *beep* and not fallen down he could have picked up the Ghana player and prevented the goal. Good job to the 10 other US team members its too bad that it had to end with such travesty. Hopefully Keller will last another four years but thats doubtful.
Sam's Army Salute & My 500th post

The ref in the US game was poor. No way was it a penalty and he disrupted the flow of the game. Reyna should have got the ball out of his feet but the Ghana player's knee struck his knee when he tackled Reyna that caused the injury. I think the US have a good backup keeper in Tim Howard who was good for Man Utd before Edwin van der Sar was signed. Overall the US were put in a tough group and if they had been drawn in a different group like England's or Spain's then I think they would have progressed.

In Australia's match the English ref showed a Croatia player THREE yellow cards before finally producing a red.

The refereeing so far has been extremely erratic with only a couple of good performances.

[ozjet51]

In Australia's match the English ref showed a Croatia player THREE yellow cards before finally producing a red.

The refereeing so far has been extremely erratic with only a couple of good performances.

how hard can it be for a ref to just write the number down and check the book when another card is dealt out. i know its a tough job, and usually they are spot on but thats just poor. And how come the refs assistants didn't see it either, ill never know. In the crucial moments of that match that really could of been costly.

And there should of been three penalties given to australia, two for handball- the one that was let go was more blatant then the one that was given- and another when viduka was arm tackled in the box early on. How can you let that go on?, i hope we get better refs for italy, cause they seem to enjoy takin a dive

[Smedsthejet]

how hard can it be for a ref to just write the number down and check the book when another card is dealt out. i know its a tough job, and usually they are spot on but thats just poor. And how come the refs assistants didn't see it either, ill never know. In the crucial moments of that match that really could of been costly.

And there should of been three penalties given to australia, two for handball- the one that was let go was more blatant then the one that was given- and another when viduka was arm tackled in the box early on. How can you let that go on?, i hope we get better refs for italy, cause they seem to enjoy takin a dive

Professional refs never write the number of the player they booked down, I think that is the job of the two assisstant referees and the fourth official. I agree his assisstants should have seen it and IMO the mistake by the refs makes his assisstants look worse than he does.
I'm a qualified soccer referee myself and you are taught to take the name and number of the player you are booking. In the proffesional game they just show the yellow card to cut down on stoppages but IMO they too should have to take his name and number to avoid mistakes.
Anyway good luck to the Aussies in the next round - your guys have got Italy right?

[bluelinecop]

Portugal looked good today.

[Smedsthejet]

Portugal looked good today.

That game was crazy - 16 yellow cards and 4 red cards. Me and my mates couldn't stop laughing at the amount of cards the ref gave out.
With Deco - Portugal's playmaker - suspended for the quarter final with England, I see England having a slight chance but with the way England played yesterday - they just saw off Ecuador luckilly - I see Portugal advancing to the last four.
Did anyone see the Argentina - Mexico game Saturday? - that was a classic

[ozjet51]

cant see (unfortunately) australia progressing cause kewell is under an injury cloud... hasnt trained at all this week (or since the croatia game) and we need him firing, especially with emerton missing due to the cards.

I think argentina will go a long way... that winning goal was an absolute gem of a goal, also i think spain will be dangerous and obviously brazil

im hoping for a good ref though, we have had 3 shockers

[bluelinecop]

cant see (unfortunately) australia progressing cause kewell is under an injury cloud... hasnt trained at all this week (or since the croatia game) and we need him firing, especially with emerton missing due to the cards.

I think argentina will go a long way... that winning goal was an absolute gem of a goal, also i think spain will be dangerous and obviously brazil

im hoping for a good ref though, we have had 3 shockers

Good luck today Ozjet!

[Green'n'WhiteUK]

Last min pen was a bit harsh on the Aussies!!!

[Smedsthejet]

Just like the Red Card for Italy was harsh.

That should only have been yellow but the penalty was harsher, the Italian took a blatant dive when there was minimal contact. When Materazzi was sent off he was no way going for the ball and went in pretty hard. Id have liked to seen Australia go through but with Italy through it means the better side on paper has advanced.

[JetsMan4012]

That should only have been yellow but the penalty was harsher, the Italian took a blatant dive when there was minimal contact. When Materazzi was sent off he was no way going for the ball and went in pretty hard. Id have liked to seen Australia go through but with Italy through it means the better side on paper has advanced.

GO ITALY!

[jets0n]

YAY ITALY!

[S-Dubb]

YAY ITALY!

[DAS JETS]

The Italians play soccer like Italians fight in wars--like a bunch of f***ing pansies. "Play the game, and stop falling. You weren't fouled and you're not hurt!" I'm running out of ways to defend soccer when crap like that happens in a game. It's ruining the sport.

Athletes in most sports have a little something called pride preventing them from diving & faking injuries. And why the hell do the Refs give them the foul? Soccer is getting as bad as boxing and figure skating.