KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - The Socceroos were tough on Italy. The referee was
tougher on Australia. Another questionable call in this World Cup showed Italy
the way to the quarterfinal Monday, giving the Italians a penalty kick that
Francesco Totti converted for the 1-0 win as time expired. (More highlights and inside stuff)
Italy's Francesco
Totti celebrates after scoring on a penalty during the Australia vs Italy
Round of 16 World Cup soccer match at Fritz Walter Stadium in
Kaiserslautern, Germany, Monday, June 26, 2006. Italy beat Australia 1-0
and advances to the quarterfinals.[AP] |
Moments earlier, Italy's Fabio Grosso was dribbling a few strides from the
goalmouth when Lucas Neill slid in front of him. The Italian cut in Neill's
direction and tried to leap clear, but tripped over the defender's back.
To the amazement of the Socceroos, Spanish referee Luis Medina immediately
ruled it a penalty with 12 seconds remaining in extra time.
Totti, a second-half substitute, sent his penalty kick high and to the right
of goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who guessed correctly but couldn't stretch far
enough to stop it. With no time left to restart, the Italians started
celebrating.
"We suffered but we gave them no chances," said Italy coach Marcello Lippi,
whose team plays Friday in the quarterfinals against Ukraine. "This is an
incredible joy."
There was no joy for the Socceroos, whose howls of protest over the call gave
way to head-shaking and resignment.
"I just can't believe it, mate," Australian forward Tim Cahill said. "We play
all our lives to be honest on the pitch and to work hard and I suppose these
days you fall over on the pitch and get a penalty, free kick whatever. It's
disappointing.
I'm furious. It's unbelievable. The luck we've had with refereeing decisions
this World Cup. Everything's been against us."
About the only people in the Fritz-Walter-Stadion who thought Grosso was
fouled were the Italians — and Medina.
With a match-fixing scandal rumbling along back home, only Italy could come
up with this scenario — though there was no suggestion of any skullduggery here.
Only more suggestions of a bad decision by the referee.
"It's cruel, very cruel," Australian striker Mark Viduka said. "This was a
game where we really dominated. We had the feeling that if the game went into
extra time we were going to beat them."
It was another match filled with yellow cards and one ejection — a growing
trend at this World Cup. The red card against Marco Materazzi was the 24th in
this tournament, already a record with 11 matches left.
The ejection gave the Australians a man advantage for the last 40 minutes of
the game, but Australia couldn't capitalize.
