Thoughts from an ESPN writer on Italy's loss

[Phil Turcotte]

After rewatching the last 30 minutes of the game last night, I was trying to think of something to write on how they played, but I thought Michael Davies did a better job than I could:

"I love Italian football, but I have to say this team's behavior toward the referee in the Mexico game and tonight was so atrocious, they have just had handed to them everything they deserve. Every decision, however clear, is protested. Christian Panucci (or young Adolf Hitler, as I like to call him) was lucky not to be put in a Korean jail for the drag-down mugging that he committed in the first half leading to the penalty. And Francesco Totti -- and he was not the only one -- tried to sucker the ref into carding his opponent with a classic, oh-no-my-beautiful-face-I-must-grab-it-immediately-where-he-hit-me move, when the slow motion replay clearly revealed there was absolutely no contact whatsoever. You live by the sword, you die by the sword, Francesco. So maybe you didn't dive in the penalty area for your second yellow. I don't care; you were overdue.

Italy was outplayed, outhustled and outcoached by Guus Hiddink, who got his team up splendidly for this game (and for all their games, come to think of it). Giovanni Trappatoni has built a team of prima donnas in his own image. Just watch, he will blame the ref and accept absolutely no responsibility for himself or his team.
"

Spot on.

 

[TheItalianguy]

this is just my opinion and i might be too much of a fan, but i disagree completely with the ESPN writer who i don't think watches much soccer. Italy was outplayed by Korea and Guus Hiddink???? let's count the chances to score by each team and then we shall discuss again. Frankly, I didn't see many national teams playing this spectacular soccer that apparently everyone is playing but the italians. Has anyone seen England-Argentina? I think that Italians=Catenaccio is a legend that is always current, a stereotype like the godfather and we will never get away from it until we will wear a blue jersey.

 

[Phil Turcotte]

Sorry I will disagree on two accounts.

Michael Davies is a great soccer writer and avid fan. He is also a Brit who follows international and English Premier soccer year round. I will take his word for it if I hadnt seen the game myself.

But I did. And italy WAS outplayed. Im not saying the Koreans have better skills or moves, because the Italians took them to school with their passing and beautiful one touches. But after Italy scored, Korea simply wanted it more. Korea went after it and did outplay them. Italy was content to sit back, stuff the box and hope Korea didnt get lucky. Even their substitutions were for defensive purposes, not to try and get another goal. I'm not saying if that was right/wrong, just the way I called it.

 

[TIME TO MAKE $$$]

The italians were not outplayed, I saw it as a fairly even game between the two.

Pulling Del Piero was a mistake Trap made and THERE was contact by the Korean defendrs foot with Totti, granted though he made it more than what it was, but there was contact.

Italy had many chances to win the game in OT even with a man short, but they didn't prevail.

One team had to win, and the Koreans took advantage of their chances.

Good Luck to the Koreans

 

[Phil Turcotte]

TTM$, I can agree with that. The game was certainly not as one sided as the Italian press would have you believe. Italy had a lot of chances and could not capitalize. Korea did.

Pretty amazing to watch that crowd get into the game though, I wish them luck

 

[TheItalianguy]

if outplayed means ball possession then I agree with you, but if i am winning 1-0 i am not going to play in the same way as on 0-0...and although we were winning we had so many chances to do 2-0 ( and of course no blame on the referee just our stupidity). execpt for the penalty can you remember any shots blocked by buffon before extra time? how this superiority quantify?

then on the note that a Brit writer can be objective about Italian soccer, let me smile about that...

I might be wrong of course, it is just my opinion...

 

[TheShrimp]

this is just my opinion and i might be too much of a fan, but i disagree completely with the ESPN writer who i don't think watches much soccer. Italy was outplayed by Korea and Guus Hiddink???? let's count the chances to score by each team and then we shall discuss again.

OK

shots -- It. (14) SK (12)
on goal --It. (6) SK (7)
Corners -- It (7) SK (10)
Poss. -- It (44%) SK(56%)
Final -- It (1) SK(2)

No comment.

 

[Phil Turcotte]

Thank you Shrimp...

 

[TheShrimp]

You are correct, italian guy, that these statistics can be skewed because italy had the 1-0 lead.

however, its a real stretch to think italy outplayed this team

TheShrimp

 

[TheItalianguy]

I didn't think they outplayed the SK!!!!! i never said that! but as you demonstrated we were NOT outplayed by the Koreans!

 

[Monarch]

You're correct about the English press. Italy got slated for their approach to this World Cup. Just another team going home early on "the plane of shame". .

 

[JediCapper]

I just got done re-watching the Italy match on ESPN Classic...and now more then ever do I think that call in OT was just TERRIBLE....and when the Italy coach was going off on that FIFA guy behind the plexiglass...all the FIFA guy did was just laugh...

although it was an amazing site seeing 1 million people...

 

[Phil Turcotte]

Im not arguing the call was good in any way, it was questionable at best, but in my opinion there are dive/foul calls like that in EVERY STINKING MATCH.

In this case it happens that Italy got bit by it, but I guarantee you if it WENT THE OTHER WAY, Italy would be spouting off about how Korea were sore losers and that calls like this happen in every game.

 

[Andy]

not here to argue .... but

not here to argue .... but

Italy have been screw in this WC ! Those are not human-errors from the refs , it can't be human-erros especially they all happened in 3 out 4 matches.

The bottom line is the game is official over. Korea deserved the win for their hard play, but I don't think Italy deserved the loss. So what can we do about it? It's officially Over, Korea moved on to meet Spain, and Italy is on the plane singing the "blue" song.

I'm not here to argue because the facts:

1/ I'm a die hard fan of Italian team.

2/ There are too much "what ifs" and too much "conspiracy" .

3/ FIFA will do anything trying to promote Football in those small countries.

4/ Totti did act like the Korean Player hit him on the face, that is ashame..... BUT he didn't dive and didn't deserved the second yellow card. If you've played soccer and have watched soccer, and you're saying that he dive then you must be watching the game with your eyes folded.

5/ Tommasi wasn't off-side!! And the side ref didn't raise the flag immediately until the goal hit the back of the net.....watch the replay again and you will see.

6/ Vieri have atleast 2 best chances to put the game away in regular time.
a/ It was a 2 on one break away, Totti was beggin and waiting for him to pass the ball, he chose to shoot a wild shot instead.
b/ Infront of the empty net, 5,6 yards away.....and he shot it over the bar. I guarantee you I can score that goal if I was him

7/ When teams play on corner kicks , I saw many on both teams were pulling shirts against each others. What if one of the Italian player fell down, will he be award a PK ?...


Now for you Korean Fans , congrats on a well played game. Your team was playing with alot of hearts. Ohh did you see one of your player kicked Maldini on the head? That wasn't very sportmanship.

And for the rest of Italian Fans, please guys, keep your head up high and accept the loss cause it's official and there's nothing we or the Italian Soccer Federation can do about it. We must show more class and learn to be a good "loser" .

Andy

 

[TheItalianguy]

great analysis andy, and you are right, let's stop crying, this is the last I talk about it.

So now let's go US!!!

 

[s7ven]

Hello Andy,


It's true Korea is playing really well, and everyone has to rate them, among with Senegal, the two teams that improved more, but one thing is winning the game fairly, and the other is to have one team into 1/4 finals because they are one of the host teams, and the other team, Japan, was knocked out just hours before.
The money these 2 countries spent to build the stadiums, facilities, etc, needed a payback, and that way I cannot agree with your point n? 3

Korea isn't a small country, but we aren't talking about Korea. We are talking about the development of soccer in Asia.

To everyone saying that italy was outplayed by Korea, I just have to say that, as european, that ball possession doesn't means nothing. Italy had the best chances to score, but unfortunatelly they weren't lucky. IMO it was a penalty against Korea and Totti should never had seen the 2nd yellow card in case the referee didn't think it was a penalty. Totti was playing for 103 minutes, and in worse scenario the referee (we expect a good one) should have took in consideration the players were tired and with much less contact they would fall.

But if it was only that play ...... Oh well

I can't precise, but in the beggining of 2nd half KIM Tae Young had an agression against Del Piero, and he already had a yellow card, which would mean he should have been sent off.


And to finalize, don't forget that Italy in this WC had 3 goals wrongly disallowed ( Maybe they could have finished 1st in their group) and it was well robbed against Korea (I'm not saying that Korean didn't play well or anything, but you can play the best soccer in the world, but the winning team will be awarded by goals scored, bot for shots on goal, or ball possession).


Being Portuguese, I have to say both Korea and USA teams desearved to be in 1/8 finals, but Korea is only in competition because this time they needed help.


The best of luck to Senegal. The team playing the best soccer in this competition.

 

[dawgball]

Screaming Fix!

Screaming Fix!

Happens in every sport, so why should WC be any different. The red card dive was not a dive, but it was an over-exagerration of what was going on. That is Italian (and Brazilian) soccer IMO. You ask those players and they call it "experience". well, I say bullshit. Play the game and don't beg for calls.

I had Italy winning this WC before it started, but I could not be happier they are out. They got beat by the Koreans, so suck it up! There was no FIFA intervention or referee favoritism. if you go through that game and give the Italian side a yellow card for every dive they made, the end of the game would have seen about a 5-man disadvantage. Was the one that got called worng? Yes, but it wasn't a blatantly bad call. it hink his antics to over-dramatize the contact is what got him sent off. There was contact, but the Korean also played the ball. Do you know what winners do in that situation? They play on and press forward. That is not what the Italians game plan was. It was "Let's fall down to get a PK instead of going heads-up against the goalie.

I am not over-touting what Korea did. they simply did enough to win the game and I congratulate them.

Italian players and fans--Have a safe trip home, enjoy the rest of the World Cup, congrats for making it as far as you did, but now that it is over Please stop your crying.

Thank you!

 

[spits]

My thoughts

My thoughts

I had to jump in the discussion. Great points brought up by many of you. I am a Canadian-Italian so I was rooting for the Azzurri on Tuesday. And although we may have been the recipients of some bad calls throughout the tournament, that is not the main reason why we won't hoist the World Cup in 2002.

Fact of the matter is that out of 4 matches played, Italy won ONE!!! Yes, the Croatia match could have been different if Vieri's first goal was allowed instead of whistled offside. Nevertheless, for the first 85 minutes of the game, Italy held the Koreans with few effective scoring opportunities. Yes, the Koreans held the majority of the play and ball possession but the Italians had better scoring opportunities.

However, defensive lapses and a lack of a killer instinct on offence is what sent this squad home. As renowned as the Italians are for its defence, this World Cup showed that it is good, but certainly nowhere close to being great. Obviously, the injury to Nesta and Cannavaro's absence hurt against Korea, but I felt Iuliano played well. Panucci has seen better days and Maldini showed that he is on the downside of a brilliant career. He is still an effective player, however weaknesses are beginning to show...especially against an attack in the air. Both Borghetti from Mexico and Ahn scored with headers while being marked by Maldini.

For all of Vieri's goalscoring ability, he has a brutal right foot. In the seventieth minute he wasted a 2-0 break with Totti, shooting wide with his right and then in the 89th minute missed an open cage from 5 yds. out shooting over the bar.

Trapattoni is notorious for sitting on one-goal leads which leaves him to blame for pulling Del Piero in the 60th minute for Gattuso. First of all a substitution like this should happen with 10-15 minutes left at most. Second, a smart manager would replace Totti. He already had been booked in the 22nd minute.

Italy lost this game on their own merit. It should have never reached extra time. The rock solid defence continued its trend of making big mistakes and the Koreans capitalized. And what is with the Italians panicking as soon as they get scored on.

Furthermore, I agree with Pele's assessment that the Koreans are extremely fit. The Italians looked to be walking alot, particularly in Extra time. Perhaps a long European season is something they should reconsider during World Cup years. The Koreans have been training for the WC since Mid-march while the Euros have been off since Mid-may. Not an excuse, but it was evident.

The Italians must shed this prima donna attitude they convey. What happened to some heart and emotion provided by someone like a Tardelli, Gentile, etc. This is lacking most in the midfield. Tommasi, Zambrotta, Zanetti etc. are serviceable players, but in my opinion this was the Azzurri's biggest weakness. The lack of a central midfielder to control the game in the middle, win balls in the middle and control possession distributing to the sides is what killed this team. You can only defend for so long.

I am praying that Fabio Capello is taken on to coach in 2006. If so, the Italians will definitely be a favourite to win in Germany. A legitimate favourite, not a sentimental one.

SPITS

 

[spits]

Referee

Referee

As for all the bitching concerning Moreno, the Ecuadorian referee, I honestly felt he called a good match until the extra time session. He was fairly "card-happy" throughtout the match giving out 4 or 5 to each squad. I agree with his penalty call in the 4th minute against Panucci.

During the extra time, I'm not in disagreement with whistling Totti for a dive. There was some contact, but minimal and I don;t believe worthy of a penalty kick. However, booking Totti in extra time was extremely harsh. I honestly believe the referee forgot that Totti had been booked earlier in the match. The best call in that situation was a no-call and allowing play to continue with the Koreans who had retained possesion anyhow.

As for the offside call on Tommasi, it was not as clear cut as the Vieri goal against Croatia, but he certainly looked to be in line with the last man. However, those are the breaks and just like in any sport, the close calls are going to go to the home team. Ask the LA Lakers.

In the end, what goes around comes around, and hopefully in 2006, Italy will be major beneficiaries of some lucky bounces or calls that help them win the Cup!

No sour grapes though on my part against the ref. I'm more pissed with the team and strategic planning of the coach. That more than the ref, contributed to the Italians' demise.

SPITS

 

[TIME TO MAKE $$$]

Actually on the Tommasi offside call, it was all over the Italian newspapers that clearly show ( overhead view) that Tommasi was onside at the time when the ball was kicked, but its over and the italians will just has to move on. Though I do admit, I have never seen so many offside calls go against a team in a WC.

:nono: