June 27, 2006
World Cup 2006: Day 18 - Round of 16
Italy once again grind out a result proving that it really ain’t over ’til it’s over. Ukraine and Switzerland make you wish that it was over before it really was!
Italy 1 Australia 0
Australia were exceptionally unlucky to lose in the manner that they did - an injury time penalty. Italy had enough chances to score during the game, despite losing Materazzi in the 50th minute to a straight red card, but they seemed a little uncertain in their finishing.
It was Italy’s traditionally strong defending that won the day for them - Australia still created plenty of chances, but they did not appear to have quite enough guile to break them down. Viduka battled hard, but it wasn’t easy for him as Australia’s only real international-class player.
After Materazzi’s dismissal, the Aussies dominated possession (once again, congratulations to Guus Hiddink for giving them that ‘pass-and-move’ attitude) and could have scored, but perhaps that tiny little bit of extra ‘belief’ or confidence was lacking when it counted.
Italy were happy for their opponents to have the ball and were fully prepared to play on the counter-attack. Gattuso, in particular, was giving his usual midfield buzzing, ‘pain-in-the-arse’ performance that we’ve all come to know and love (well at least ‘know’, anyway!)
In the final minute of injury time, with literally seconds to go, the Italian left-back Grosso got himself into the Australian penalty area and ‘fell’ over Lucas Neill. Yes, it was a dive, but Neill should really have stayed on his feet rather than going to the floor à la Sol Campbell, giving Grosso the opportunity to fall over him. It might sound sad to say, but if you want to go far you really do need that extra little bit of ‘cute-ness’ to your game!
Switzerland 0 Ukraine 0 (Ukraine win 3-0 after penalties)
This match has to be one of the most incredible, mind-blowing exhibitions of dullness that I’ve had the misfortune to see (and I watched Middlesborough in the UEFA Cup last season!) I refuse to say anything about it as it’s already wasted more than two hours of my life.
OK, I’ll describe the highlights:
- Shevchenko hit the bar in the 20th minute,
- Frei hit the bar with a free-kick in the 23rd minute,
- Switzerland did not manage to score a penalty.
Perhaps the Swiss tactics might have been a little better had they been coached by someone other than Dr. Dick Solomon from ‘3rd Rock From The Sun‘!!
