2006 WORLD CUP -- Semifinals start -- Germany v. Italy

MLSnet.com ^ | 7-3-06 | MLSnet.com

[soccer_maniac]

The Germans and Italians meet in Dortmund on Tuesday (2:55 p.m. ET, ESPN) to play for the right to go to the World Cup Final on Sunday. The loser will play in the third-place game Saturday against the losing team of the other semifinal to be held Wednesday.

[FostersExport]

I fail to see how the ref cost Germany the game. He certainly wasn't taking any nonsense rolling around from either side and that benefitted Germany as much if not more than Italy.

[kabar]

I watched the game and agree with you. However, some of the Germans appear to have seen things differently.

[Eurotwit]

I would say this was some of the best refereeing of the tournament (that is not saying much though), but I don't think the Germans have any valid complaints.

[UKRaddell]

Agreed. Germany lost on the night to a much better team.

[Petronski]

I fail to see how the ref cost Germany the game.

Agreed, the officiating was well done.

[Marcaurelio]

Thanks for the great photos.

[TWfromTEXAS]

For the first time since 1982, the semifinalists are all European

My mom and dad (HoustonCurmudgeon)were in Rome with another couple in the summer of 1982. when they travel it's their habit to return to the hotel in mid afternoon, rest, shower and then go out again for the evening. they said that suddenly the streets outside the hotel were filled with people, cars blocked the streets, horns honking, flags everywhere. people were dancing in the streets and dad thought there had been a revolution.

Italy had beat Germany in the world cup finals.

[Marcaurelio]

My perspective comes from having played soccer in a semi-professional league and from being a ref, state ref and national ref for 4 years. My brother was a national ref for 12 years and refereed some internationl matche, both as ref and as linesman or 4th man. He agrees with me that this was one of the best refereed matches so far.

[wolf78]

Just talked to my wife and daughter in Berlin. They said that the German commentators said that the refs did a lousy job and cost the Germans the game. I guess it depends on your perspective.

No, they didn't. They actually praised him. But maybe your wife and daughter were watching the game on Premiere (pay TV) in HDTV, they have different commentators. I've only seen one game in a bar on Premiere (USA-Ghana, the other stations didn't carry it), and from my personal point of view, they're worse than the ARD/ZDF commentators.

But here in Germany few people are willing to pay for HDTV, as PAL (1024x576 pixels) is right in between NTSC (853x480 pixels) and HDTV 720p (1280x720 pixels). Plus: Even terrestrial broadcasts are digital, so the picture quality is pretty perfect even without an expensive High Definition TV set.

[TWfromTEXAS]

Ok, Germany never won against Italy in a world cup

[romanesq]

And the Italian winning streak continues!

Live it, love it, drink to it!

[kabar]

I will ask them what channel they were watching. We have rented an apartment there so I would assume they were watching on ARD or ZDF. My wife is originally from Germany and my daughter speaks fluent German so I will ask them how they got that impression from the commentators. Specifically, they said that the ref failed to call many fouls on the Italians.

To me, German TV is and has been the equivalent of HDTV for a long time.

[lainie]

Whooo eeee, I can't believe Italy won! I've been operating for two weeks on the assumption that Germany would be in the final. Yay, Italy :)

[Petronski]

I don't think NTSC is 853x480. It's more like 640x480 (4:3 ratio).

[UKRaddell]

I expected Germany to do it. But Italy were thoroughly deserved winners, however late they left it.
Its very rare to see Germany so outplayed; especially on home soil.

Still think they'd have won if they'd held out for penalties though.

[romanesq]

2-nil my friend. 2-nil.

Another fine victory brought to you by Forza Italia.

[UKRaddell]

And well deserved it was too!
12 year plan in action; 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006-Italy reach the final.
This time they'll win. They have to. The thought of Jacques Chirac welcoming home the victorious French team is too horrible for words.

[dfwgator]

Well, it's over for the German team.

They still have the Third Place match left to go.

[UKRaddell]

Hopefully they'll hammer Portugal in that game.Any side that doesn't go for it against a crap England team down to 10 men doesn't even deserve bronze.
I am assuming France win tomorrow of course.

[romanesq]

Jacques? Yikes! Yes, we'll be ready then.