Predictions on the slaughter anyone?

Crazy game so far. Very physical.

Worst referee call Ive seen in the cup so far, they red carded the USs Mastroeni for a bleepin late tackle! Jeez, it really only needed a free kick, or even a yellow card if they were feeling frisky.

1:1 so far with Italy responsible for both goals. The Americans are playing world class football compared to their  last game, which is comforting. Its not on par with other teams, but at least they arent an embarrassment like last time.

tbh if the Yanks dont win this game now, they dont deserve to play the beautiful game.

Quote from: Nimrodtbh if the Yanks dont win this game now, they dont deserve to play the beautiful game.

What a pile of horsesh*t. Should the Czechs hang up their cleats because Ghana just embarrassed them? Both teams are a man down. Id like to see the US get one in the net, but even Italy winning 3:2 would be proof that the US put up a fair fight.

Someone else just got sent off?

lmfao, 9 men...

Right, well. Erm....god knows what the score should be now.


lmfao, do you want to pick a team. You cant sit on the fence and support them all :crazyemote:

OMG, they ejected Pope for another late tackle. He made contact with the ball even. That ref will never work again. :shock:

Quote from: Nimrodlmfao, do you want to pick a team. You cant sit on the fence and support them all :crazyemote:

Thats 10 y/o mentality. I watch the WC and enjoy it on many levels. If the Americans do well, it translates to more advertising revenue and better coverage of our national league. If Sweden does well, I feel a bit proud for my scrappy countrymen. I can also get a grin when an African team upsets a "sure" win for some Europeans. Its just football in the end.

In this matchs case the refs are ruining the game, regardless of who wins. :cry:

So youre not really a supporter, your an observer. The difference is that you enjoy watching the sport but you dont get any of the emotional baggage that goes with it. Would that be about right ?

I work with someone who is the same, he really likes Rugby Union and I have hassled him into picking one team to support. As a result he went to see his first match as a non-neutral and loved it more than any match he had seen where he had sat on the fence.

I find it hard to understand the observer mentality because I am English and this is, for better or worse, our National sport. There are few Englishmen who dont support a football team, most of them do appear to reside on this forum though

Back on Topic...
The refs have been shocking in this World Cup but imo its not their fault. FIFA told them what they expected and that if the Ref did not follow their guidelines they would be sent packing
As a result all of the Refs seem to be card happy and seem to be awarding more free-kicks than playing advantage, which is killing the games.

Ill be amazed if Italy make it to the end of the match without losing another man, they are still going in a bit strong given the way the game is being Refd.

Final score will probably be 2-1 Italy.

OMG, that offsides call on the goal was legit, but I just went from screaming to feeling all gutted. Poor Marcus Beasley.

Quality game, usa deserved every point of that point

Im willing to bet that Italy will have a new manger in the next 3 months

Yes, I think the USA did an alright job at defending once they went to 9, although they did get pulled apart quite a bit :s

Whew, that plumb wore me out, havin to watch all that on in HDTV.

Jorge Larrionda wont ref another match to be sure.  :shock: Both of the USs red cardings were outrageous. Hes had a history of inconsistent behavior in the past, and has been suspended for it--why was he even hired?? :shock:

Did the US think they were playing by Ankh Morpork rules?  

Two sent off for the Yanks vs one for the Italians, towards the end though you  could tell that both sides had wreaked themselves with the Americans staging a very strong ridgid defense and the Italians trying their best to break through.

Quote from: maximusotterBoth of the USs red cardings were outrageous. Hes had a history of inconsistent behavior in the past, and has been suspended for it--why was he even hired?? :shock:

Youre just being biased in favour of your own team maxi