Posted on 06/18/2006 6:15:23 AM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
A heroic defensive display by nine-man USA held Italy to a 1-1 draw in Kaiserslauten in their Group E clash on Saturday.
(Excerpt) Read more at eurosport.com ...
I was gonna watch the world cup soccor match, but I decided to watch paint dry instead.
Pardon?
US ranked higher than 3 time world champions Italy in soccer? Somehow, I doubt that.
The referee ruined the game being overquick on the draw in shppting out red cards.
"Italy played with a 1 man disadvantage in part of the game?"
Eh? I'm pretty sure the USA were playing a man short for longer than Italy were...
You joined FreeRepublic today just so you can tell us how smart you are?
"US ranked higher than 3 time world champions Italy in soccer? Somehow, I doubt that."
USA are ranked 5th in the Fifa official rankings, Italy 13th.
Sniff?!
Perhaps?
It was a terrible reffing game...three out on red cards...it ruined the whole game for both sides...US was doing well....we CAN win...
"The referee ruined the game being overquick on the draw in shppting out red cards."
I disagree actually. The first red card was an absolute no-brainer - he looked for McBride and elbowed him square in the face. The first USA one I thought was harsh in first sight but, watching the replay, it was high with both feet off the ground, could easily have broken the guy's ankle. The second USA one (Pope?), he had been penalised a number of times, so that was just persistant offending.
The Uruguayan referee was sidelined by his own Soccer federation for undeclared "irregularities" just a few years back. The USA has a mediocre team, but it sure looked like the fix was in.
Look at yesterday anyway you want.
We (USA) have still yet to score a goal. Two games and not once in the back of the net.
Our team simply cannot finish - and that's our weakness.
Correct. USA had two sent off with red cards.
FIFA rankings are done by a machine that doesn't represent reality.
Italy is a world power. The US is a young soccer nation with emerging talent.
It WAS a heroic effort by the US. And it deserves that recognition.
I think you are the one in need of some remedial soccer education. The US had a great game yesterday. They created lots of chances including several while playing with only nine men.
As for the rankings you cite in a separate post, they are bogus. Anyone who ranks the US ahead of Italy (or England or Portugal) needs to reexamine their rating method. For realistic rankings check out World Football Elo Ratings. (Scroll to the middle of the page for the rankings.)
ML/NJ
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