The 'Lucky' Country Counts It's Losses
Posted by Jasper Reed in World Cup | 27 June 2006
As I sagely predicted 4 days ago, the referee from last night's Australia v Italy game is, to use the local vernacular, 'copping it sweet' today. The locals, as usual doing their best to make sure their moaning doesn’t get in the way of a damn good whine, are placing the blame fairly and squarely on Luis Medina Cantalejo. ‘We haven’t had a good referee in 4 games…conspiracy against smaller nations’. Understandable, but the constant lack of class in defeat takes the edge off what has been a coming of age for Australian football.
It is pretty galling to lose in a World Cup, particularly in the last minute, particularly to a penalty and particularly when its 2.50am. However, Australia were playing against 10 men; they did not create a chance of any note; they lacked poise in the final third and were caught pretty well exposed when they should have been shoring up their defence.
As for the penalty? Well, Phil Cornwall summed it up pretty fairly; Grosso should have stayed on his feet, but he is under no obligation to clear obstacles. By going to ground, Lucas Neill gave the referee a decision to make. Replays also show Cantalejo was playing advantage after Bresciano had tried to bring Grosso down outside the box. Once the advantage was gone, so were the Aussies.
A sad way to go, but a right of passage for a fledgling football nation. Many have swallowed the bitter pill of last gasp defeat - Belgium 1990, England in Euro 2000, Italy during World Cup 2002 to name but a few.
As is the Australian way, a ticker tape parade is being hastily arranged for Sydney next week. ‘Aussie’ Guus has said he won’t come back for it - a last 16 finish is nothing to celebrate for the master. He has already said his goodbyes, and is off to chase rubles. He has taken Australia to the party: it remains to be seen whether they can find a new partner to dance with.
