Was Australia robbed by the ref. in the final minutes against Italy?

Answer 1

the postings about 'italy's robbery' are a fine example of modern psychology's phenomenon, the so-called causal attribution error, meaning that if something positive occurs, it's due to one's own action, but if something negative occurs, it's the other's fault...

the socceroos will definately overcome their loss against italy and yes, it was a penalty-worth foul (as per the FIFA rules, a foul is considered worth a penalty if a player is obstructed by a member of the opponent team and it definately was an obstruction by the australian player), even though the ref's decision might me considered 'undecent', 10 seconds before the match might have gone into overtime...

Answer 2

No they weren't: "marifa5970" explained perfectly because he/she most likely UNDERSTAND SOCCER. Obstruction in the penalty box is a foul and the opponent team is awarded with a penalty kick. And does not matter what is the time left to the end of the game.
In addition, if you have watched the game, who had better chances of scoring was Italy and not Australia. The socceroos had a large ball-possession (of course, 5 midfielders and 2nd half with extra-man) but the chances of scoring where higher for the Italians. Check the video clip in the FIFA official site (hummm, and do not forget to look at Materazzi's red card: he did not even touched Bresciano, but Zambrotta's leg).

On the other hands, who cares if a INCOMPETENTS MORONS like "INDYVADER" hates Italian??? This individual does not know ANYTHING about soccer (short, very sort memory for the WC... look at Italy in the last 20-30 yeas, and wake up!),
You can post whatever you want, but that does not mean that you are an incompetent, arrogant and superficial individual!

Answer 3

Yeah I do think it was not needed at that stage of the match, and poor Lucas Neill. He is past despair over this incident. Inconsolable. Not to worry we still love him and the boys. We have so much to be excited about and look forward to in the lead up to the Asia Cup and 2010 WC. It's exciting for Australian Football. Their achievements are what is important and what they have learnt from the experience. With that said Antonio Australia doesn't have the monopoly on "crying" over spilt milk as such. Many fans have been "crying" over the Italian red card just as much if not more. Many other fans have done so and most with good reason. If Italy do lose to the Ukraine, the reaction will be interesting.

Answer 4

NO! NO! NO!
What was that Italian guy supposed to do? NOT take the PK?
If the decision had gone the other way, would the Socceroos NOT have taken the kick? uh? Would Viduka have said " no Mr. Ref, I will not take the PK because I am a mighty and honest socceroo!"
PLEEEASE!!! Stop this BS. ANY team would have taken that kick, otherwise you don't know what the hell you're talking about.
And, to SCORE that PK....THAT TAKES BALLS! big hairy steel ones.
Besides, Italy were playing w/10 men in the 2nd half- if the "great" Oz strikers couldn't score...tough sheeit.
Hey Ozzie whining bee-yotches: Go back to hunting kangaroos and screwing sheep...you'll be OK!

to: INDYVADER.....stay on the meds, "mate!"
I think you've got an inferiority complex- I know it sucks to be Australian, but you've got to learn to live with it.

Answer 5

Yeah....they(us/we) definitely were!! And it wasn't in the final minutes. It was the damn bloody final 20 seconds!! The Italian national team are a bunch of 'Fairies', 'Drama-Queens'("Ohh....I slipped!!!" "He tripped me over!" "I'm hurt!" (by looking at the ref for a penalty!), worse than '02 WC's Brazil's Rivaldo's("Ohh.... my head!!!") against Turkey in their groupmatch, and got a $12,000 slap-fine by FIFA after the match. They've(the Italians) done this since I can remember. They might have a good League in their country such as the Serie-A, but even that's been awashed with match-fixing and corruptions. So why doesn't FIFA fine the Italian team? Sorry all u losers in Norton St, Leichardt of Sydney -- u guys aren't 'so-called' passionate like the Brazilians! Brazil knows "passion"!! You've gotta admit it mate; FIFA hates our guts, because we excel at other sports and are jealous of our endeavours -- in Cricket and Rugby Union, Hockey, etc!! FIFA are damn corrupt and have "had-it-in" for us, just by seeing the decisions in our WC groupmatches! They know things that are happening in the world of soccer but are "tight-lipped", just like the Bush Administration of the USA!! "Ohh...we didn't know this or that!" My a%&*, they don't!! I hope these moron Italians lose against Ukraine really bad. Italy have been a team I've always hated during the WC, and so has been England! C'mon Brazil and show the world again how good u are!! ;-)

P.S. If someone's gotta problem with me posting on the site without swearing and putting in sensible and 'factual' comments, well these forums shouldn't exist!! ;-(

Answer 6

lets not forget that Italy was playing 1 man short and the Aussies could not take advantage of that, and the Italian player was obstructed when in possesion of the ball inside the box, as we all saw on the replays, Neil did not even touch the ball when he slid, causing the Italian player to trip over him. Tough call but if it was the other way around, most people would defend the Aussies. Anyway you look at it, the Aussies played great, and was a bad way to go out.

Answer 7

Not necessarily 'robbed' but yes, i too think it was a tad unfair. Watching the replays, anyone would realise that the italian player tripped ON Neill's body, which remained still to prevent interference with play. But nonetheless, thanks to acting which could win him an oscar, the call was made since the incident happend within the box.

It is just too bad for the Socceroos, but they did a wonderful job and all of Australia is proud of them. Surpassed everyone's expectations. Just unlucky, i guess.

Answer 8

So what if the penalty was actually a penalty, Australia are lucky not to have lost 3-0. Why cant Australia stop whinghing and just move on, gee, we're starting to sound like the poms!

Answer 9

NO once again those who say they were had their eyes and mind closed...
A player should never slide tackle his opponent INSIDE their own goal area, doing so would give the opposing team a great advantage

To all that are saying yes get over and learn something about the sport before talking the crap that you do..

think about it.. should you risk giving your opponent and advantage by slide tackling your opponent INSIDE your own gaol area??

If you say NO then stop crying like babies

Answer 10

of course...that's why i want ukraine to win against italy in their next game, i think it's been the most unfair call in this world cup so far. I agree with one of the answers that the italian teams do act like "fairies"