RECAP: AUSTRALIA VERSUS ITALY

AUSTRALIA VERSUS ITALY

This was a really hard game to have any allegiance...on one side the Cinderella hopeful team Aussies (nicknamed SOCCEROOS) with their 2nd International World Cup appearance in 32 years VERSUS the traditionally SEXIEST league of men ever to grace our screens...LA FORZA Italia. Some called it a David vs. Goliath...others, including present company, considered it the hottest of the hotties match. Rugged, manly-man, broad hard bodied AUS versus the chiseled, racehorse thighed, washboard Calvin Klein dirty boy models, the Azzurri. Yummy!

The Aussies coached by the extraordinarily talented Dutch Guus Hiddink (2002 he got Korea to 4rd place) played a brilliant game and frankly they were CHEATED on account of a BAD referee call from Spaniard Luis Medina Cantelejo. BOO.

The Aussies and Italians played a tight game in the first half with lots of great goaltending and play. But 50 minutes of gameplay in, Italy's Marco Materazzi's was immediately red carded for a foul on Aussie Marco Bresciano leaving Italy down a man. Surely the Aussies could seize the day and they played a a tough game.

Tied 0-0 with 11 seconds til the end of the 2nd half, and the possibility of 30 more sweet eye candy minutes with these down under wonders...injured Italian golden boy Francesco Totti (plays for Roma) managed to score a penalty goal with his good right leg (he’s got 10 screws and a metal rod in a his left). Totti, a 75th minute sub for star Del Piero scored the bloody goal that ruined all hope for any overtime play. Moments before, Italian Fabio Grosso was dribbling in the goalmouth when Aussie Lucas Neil slide in front of him…Grosso tried but failed in leaping clear of him and SHOCKINGLY Ref Cantelejo called it foul, I call it foul play. We need a Spanish Inquisition on this absurd call. Grosso tripped…fair in square as replay after replay would reveal. Italy gets the close up penalty kick with 10 secs of stoppage overtime left on the clock and a dismayed public is left wanting so so so much more.

In conclusion:
We love you socceroos...your chances were taken too early in the match and too early for the ladies and gaymen…but we are excited to continue to see more of Italy.

NOTE: Sadness rocks soccer fans as ESPN is too quick to pull the cameras during perhaps the greatest moment of the match...the shirt exchange. Please send complaints to:
askespntv@espn.com

We have started a small grassroots campaign forming so spread the word.

cheers
bambina,
who watched the game with Aussies at GATSBY's on Spring St in NYC