World Cup Aftermath

“If they didn’t want us to go through, they should have told us beforehand,” Arnold said. “Out of all four games, we haven’t had a fair go at all … There’s going to be a bad taste left in a lot of players’ mouths, but we have to move on.

1. Indeed.

2. I’m over the moon we made it this far, and I’m astonished we gave Italy such a solid game. But to lose, like that, was heartbreaking. The quality of the referees we have encountered have been the lowest of the low — prompting Graham Arnold’s quote above. Four games, four disgraceful referees. What sort of luck is that?

3. That said, a last-minute dodgy decision would not have meant anything if we had put two in the net by then. We had almost an entire half where we were a man up, but we couldn’t finish the job and score those goals. We can’t blame a bad referee (which he was) or a prima-donna Italian (I don’t think he dived, he tripped over trying to avoid Neill) for losing. Truth hurts.

4. So, onwards and upwards!

Comments

  1. Absolutely heartbreaking.

    The only difference between this ref and the previous three was that he DIDN’T suck horribly for the proceeding 92 minutes, only right at the end.

    Yep, onwards and upwards indeed.

    Comment by Tim — June 29, 2006 @ 7:25 am

  2. Well, no, he DID give that red card to the Italians…personally, I think the refs were all going a little bonkers this World Cup. Getting a little comfortable with the power they’ve got there. Anyway, big pity, but once again, onwards and upwards and Italy, YOU JUST WAIT FOR 2010!

    Comment by Annette — July 5, 2006 @ 8:28 pm

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