The Australian committed what appeared to be either a Rule #2 (tripping or attempting to trip an opponent (if careless, reckless or using excessive force)) or a Rule #3 (charging into an opponent (the goalkeeper can also be called for this if his action is careless, reckless or uses excessive force)) type of Direct Kick Foul. Since it was inside the Penalty Box, a penalty kick is thus warranted. The problem, if any, lies with the consistency of the calls/non-calls by the same ref in the same match against the similar type of fouls.
I'm a day late, but the England game was boring but was good for Beckham to get a goal... The Dutch and Portugal game was bad ass, well, too many fouls, but bad ass none the less... I only caught part of todays Italy v Aussie game and the Aussies had a shot, but couldn't convert opportunities...
I'm no soccer expert by any means, but that slide just seemed like a bone-headed move. He had little chance at the ball, and even if he doesn't contact/trip the guy he has a clear shot at the goal. Why not stay on your feet and try to defend it with the body?
According to laws of the game, it's a foul and thus a penalty. If you don't want penalties, don't make bad sliding tackles in the box late in the game. Easy enough to remember, I think. Oh, well, I'm sorry. You can go back to discussing how unfair it is and how you're going to boycott FIFA and blah blah blah about the hand of god and 1966 Eng-er-land along with hyper-elite football fans like yourself and whine about Harry Kewell on some other forum or in some other thread I guess if we're not good enough. Meanwhile, I will continue to enjoy the soccer matches! Hey when does the US play next?
Reminds me a lot of whenever Kobe pump-fakes a 3 pointer, gets his opponent airborne, then leaps into the air and deliberately makes contact with him to get 3 foul shots. Lame then. Lame now.
I'm not sure how the Australian defender violated either rule. He certainly didn't trip or attempt to trip. He slid at the ball and the Italian tripped over the Australian's body AFTER the slide. Also, Rule 3 is extremely arbitrary and it looked like he clearly went after the ball and not the opponent. Deciding a 2nd round world cup game on a penalty kick in injury time is just ridiculous.
I am with SamFisher on this one. If I were refereeing, I would have called it... did the defender even try to avoid the offensive dude? Did he get the ball? Both answers to those questions are NO. Sorry, men, respect the ref's call. I haven't liked the Azurri as well since Paolo Rossi hasn't been playing, but I think that's an OK call. DonnyMost, are you arguing FOR or AGAINST the call? Sounds like you're agreeing with the call. If I am wrong, I apologize.
I am glad I cleared THAT out. I was soOOoOoo worried... No, but seriously, dude, if you're that weak to go for a Kobe fake, and he bumps into you to CREATE the contact, aren't you a sucker for doing so? This is the same case here. The defender had no reason to even TOUCH the attacker. He should have gotten the ball anyway.
It would/might have been a different verdict if the defender had made the contact the ball. The intention of the player is not a issue here. For those who tried to use some basketball analogy, the closest comparison is very similar to a blocking foul inside the "restricted area" by a defender. A rule is a rule, which is supposed to be time insensitive/independent.
The NBA created a new rule just to stop people from doing that. If the shooter intentionally creates the contact, whereas he moves his body our arms, etc out of the normal range of motion needed to shoot the basketball, the foul will either be called on the shooter or no-call at all.
LOL LOL LOL This reminds me that I read so many funny law cases in the US where people sues for the stupest things are get huge payouts. One texas example: January 2000: Kathleen Robertson of Austin Texas was awarded $780,000 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store. The owners of the store were understandably surprised at the verdict, considering the misbehaving little brat was Ms. Robertson's son. Only in America I guess. It's the law, they broke it, so a penalty. I probably shouldn't call you a noob. I did gave you respect and assumed you know the hands of God or Kewell's first name, no need to eagerly show me your knowledge. In any sensible football forums, that was not a foul. But whatever. I think I got over it. Just my australian friends got me too hyped up and felt bad for them. Don't really care any more.
The "tackle" was not the foul ! Was not called by the referee, nor was the Italian diving player aware of that at all. The tackle didn't affect him in any way although there were contact. The foul was when Neil moved his upper body while lying on the ground hardly knowing where the attacker is. And then the Italian player tripped over it. However, Neil was actually retracting his neck and trying to *LET* the Italian player jump over him. The Italian player could jump over him or get around him, but he chose to dive INTO Neil and THAT was the foul.
Two nice chances back to back by the Ukaraine and Swiss...this is turning out to be a very entertaining game so far. Hope this continues.
Did the momentum carried on by the rushing Italian make it possible for him get around the lying Aussie? I think not. Just as in the basketball, if a defender throws his body in front of an offensive player going for a layup inside the "resticted area," it'll be an automatic blocking foul on the defender.
Just watch it again carefully. The *tackle* play was *OVER*. The Italian player re-gathered himself. Without any thoughts of a FOUL. There is no mental or physical effect of a foul on that play. NOT EVEN the diving world champion. Nor was the referee, NOR was ANYONE. The new play starts, where the Italian player trying to get around Neil. Neil sensed that the Italian playing is trying to jump over him. (I was off in saying Neil didn't know where the attack is at all) Then Neil was being *NICE* and lowered his neck trying to *LET* the Italian player jump over him. He's trying to lower his neck and make it *easier* for the Italian player to jump over him. The Italian player then dived on Neil's *good will*. Penalty, game over. Wait four more years.
Lesson learned: don't make awful sliding tackles from the side in the box that miss the ball with the game on the line and be forced to rely on how you made yourself "jump-able" in the heat of the moment.
Switzerland is the most boring team ever in the history of football. Shevcenko is has played better than my grandma since he left Kiev. Actually I'm not watching the game. My TV lost its... signals... (is it because I smashed it ?! ) Can't watch anything right now. Sam I probably should've agreed with that. It was a lessen to be learned, but it wasn't "fair". Sympathy for Lucas Neil because he played so well throughout. My Italian Australian friends' old man had a three hour debate over the phone with his old brother in Italy about how good Neil was, lol. Frankly without Kewell Italy was better team, and the better team won.
