masterblaster72

Vielen Dank Christel!!!

That's actually not a bad idea. It's unfortunate that he didn't get to suffer for the wrong he did. Hopefully the courts will find a way to distribute his stolen wealth back to whom it rightfully belongs. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

yeah - ok - but what were they waiting to 122nd minute for They were pacing themselves! That was 2 hours of superb & very evenly matched football. Italy took the gamble and surged in the closing 90 seconds - and it paid off with their first goal. What was really impressive was that instead of then playing for time & playing safe, Italy continued to play an aggressive energetic game, and were rewarded with their second goal. Well done, & a well deserved win. Mike. It's not very often that I read anything nice about my team that's written in the English language. Your post was a refreshing read. Thanks!

Seid ihr nach Hause gegangen? Folgendes Mal, pfeifen nicht während wir unserer nationalen Hymne singen. Es ist sehr unhöflich und es verärgert die andere Fußballmannschaft, und Sie werden besiegt! Andernfalls danke für ein großes Spiel, und danke für sein liebenswürdige Wirte. ---Ihr freundlicher europäischer "Parasit" Italiener. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

So did I -- diving disgusts me, even when it's my team doing it. How about Ballack's dive -- did you catch that one? That was brilliant. You're just a few words shy of being a complete parrot. Don't forget to mention what Der Spiegel said about Italians being "parasites, mama's boys and slimy". Wow, thanks for shedding light on those two winning goals -- the world was disputing them until your great authority on the game officially validated them. I really appreciate your swift attention to the matter and not leaving us hanging for too long there! But seriously, you should get the "No Shit" statement of the year award for that one. ------ Thanks to all the haters during this tournament -- you've provided us with the inspiration to go this far. However my team may do going forward, I will be proud of them for going 24 games in a row unbeaten, for not letting an opponent score on us to this point, and for giving fans a fantastic performance in a classic match between two great sides. Grazie Azzurri!!! You'll never walk alone!!!

[B]GRANDE GRANDE GRANDISSSSSSSSSIMA ITALIA!!!!!!![/B]

nach hause gehen, ihr könnt nach hause gehen, ihr könnt - ihr könnt nach hause gehen...

Woha !! ...what a nailbiter to the last penalty kick. Azzurri, be afraid! Cheers, T Afraid? hahaha!! Today's game will not be an easy one by any means, but I'm confident my team will come through! Dai ragazzi!!

I was at this DZ on Canada day 2006, and got there just in time for the last load before a storm came in. Paperwork was simple, briefing on landing area was detailed yet brief enough to get me in the air. Their Otter climbed to altitude fast, dz was very easy to spot, nice scenery, and the location is one big out -- very few landing hazards. Landing area is big and well-kept...staff was very welcoming and courteous, vibe was good, bathroom was very clean and well-kept, top-quality facilities...other reviewers say that the dz is a tandem factory but I did not get that impression at all -- I felt very welcome as a first-time fun jumper at this DZ. I'd jump there again anytime and this dz is one of the many reasons I look forward to returning to Montreal!

The two second goals were by Luca Toni. Our offense has risen from the dead, and no opponent has scored on us yet. I'm savouring the semis on the 4th Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

No it's not. Then Neill's move was not a tackle at all. It's a botched attempt at a tackle or a foot-first dive -- that's what it ended up being once Grosso outsmarted him. It ended up preventing a possible goal. Not only that but... That's not a penalty. It's an offense. (Edited to add: since we're talking about refereeing, terms like this are important and not mere semantics). Here's the issue as I see it - it is a judgment call. There were two possible penalty calls that could have been made: 1) tripping the Italian in a careless or reckless manner; or 2) tackling the Italian to gain possession of the ball and contacting the opponent before touching the ball. No, #2 is the best choice on this. This becomes the judgment of the referee whether he actually tackled the Italian. The Italian put on a good move and the defender blew right by. The defender did not get the ball. Point given. No, #1 is in full effect in this scenario. Moving your elbow back toward someone's knee to trip them up is what you call tripping the opponent in a careless and reckless manner. That's what happened, and he did it in the penalty area. There is no way in hell Grosso could have kept his balance after running into that elbow with his knee. Then Mr. Neill raises his hands as if he's completely innocent -- laughable. Thus, penalty justly awarded. So I say it again: great call by the referee. I'm impressed (edited to add: I mean that -- not too many of us here have that kind of experience in the sport). I'm also glad you never officiated any of the games I've played in Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

I for one prefer that you keep on hating us. I really do enjoy it. We don't wear three stars without merit. Refs have a job to do, and it's not an easy one. Bad calls have been a part of the game long before these recent tournaments. In the end, it is the players themselves that decide how many cards are handed out. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

A clean tackle is one where the defender successfully defends the ball. Mr. Neill simply ended up tackling grass and ended up on his ass, obstructing Grosso from making a pass (no rhyme intended there, really). I love how he conveniently swings his left elbow to hit Grosso's knee and raises his hands in innocence immediately after. Apparently he didn't know the ref was standing at an angle where that would be completely apparent. Have a look. Excellent judgement call by the referee. That the call was made in the final seconds has absolutely no bearing on its legitimacy. F.ck what ESPN and the rest of the blatantly anti-Azzurri, stereotyping media say. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Nice performance...my compliments Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

The Italians robbed themselves in that game. There's no-one else to blame - if they'd played even half-decently they'd have progressed. Italia didn't play their top game there, that I can agree with. Not sure if you saw that game but even people who hate the Italian team say that one was highway robbery of the worst kind. No team, no matter what their stature in the sport and how sh.tty a day they may be having, deserves blatantly corrupt officiating. As of twelve hours ago, I am over it. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Well, that was some rather protracted and redundant sarcasm, the kind that one would easily mistake for angry and childish whining. But I'm glad to see you're above such behaviour after all. The sport has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My father had me on teams in suburban Philadelphia since I was five, and I quit playing it three years ago in favor of distance running since I nearly snapped my knee in some pick-up games in Central Park. I'd be curious to know your experience with the sport as well. That was a terrific effort by Grosso. He juked one guy to get in the box. Neill went where he thought Grosso would put the ball, Grosso outclassed him and put it in the opposite spot. By the time Neill was on his ass, he was obstructing Grosso's path to the ball. Nonetheless, Grosso made an effort at that ball. If you look at Neill's elbow when Grosso moved forward, he positioned it (intentionally or unintentionally) in a way that hindered Grosso's left leg from moving forward. Furthermore, if he were to go around Neill, it would have taken him longer since there was an Aussie defender nearby. The quickest route was above Neill. Grosso fell, he did not dive. There is a difference. From my experience playing the game, I know the subtleties, and there is a lot more to the game than sitting on a chair, saying it's easy to jump over a defender blocking a ball, and calling people who fall to the ground a bunch of nancies. And not a word about Materazzi's unjust red card. You'll take THAT advantage no problem (and an offsides goal vs. Croatia, but that's another story), but you'll scream and cry because your lads couldn't get it done. The Aussies let Grosso into their box in the final seconds, and then they fudge the tackle (and Neill did NOT have to tackle to defend that ball). Justice is served on Hiddink for Korea four years ago. And he has the nerve to gripe about this penalty. No robbery equals that of Italia vs. Korea 2002. And what better player to serve that justice than Totti, the man who got the unjust red in that match. If it makes you feel any better, have a look at Italian soccer training camp...I sure got a kick out of it Cheers edited for lame late-night spelling Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

I was going to ask you if YOU'RE the one who's kidding. Then I read these remarks about Hiroshima, hairy Italian women and boycotting Italian products, and realized that it would be a waste of time to attempt engaging you in a serious discussion about the game. In addition to your stereotype about hairy Italian women (I believe you call us "wogs" down under, no?), you forgot to mention that us Italian men are all a bunch of hot-tempered mafioso thieves (which I suppose, according to your reasoning, is the sole reason we won?). As a matter of fact, be careful, if I see you at the dz I might steal your rig and get big Rocco to break your legs if you look at me the wrong way. Good effort by your team (and your team is a good one and a very worthy opponent that I take as seriously as any of the other teams), but you got outclassed with a one-man advantage -- end of story. Oh, and I reiterate once again: that penalty -- it was quite legitimate. I feel your frustration, but for f.cks sake quit crying and accept it for what it is -- your team lost, we won. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Even though I don't agree that Christianity is a highly-evolved system of belief, I think you make your case well and that your response was balanced and well-stated. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

For the doubters, have a look at the video highlights by clicking on the "video highlights" link. The penalty call is at 2:08 of the video if you want to fast forward to it. I had some doubts earlier, but now I have none. After watching the replays several times, I'm absolutely certain this is a legitimate call. Note how the defender puts his left elbow up when Grosso goes toward the ball. Unequivocal obstruction. I, for one (and probably the only one here), am proud of my team's heroic 9 on 10 effort today. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Duh. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Not sure if it made you feel any better, but the Italians got burned by their own doing when Totti went down in the penalty box vs Korea and got a bogus red card handed to him. You do it enough times, people will begin to doubt even the legitimate fouls. It's a bad strategy, one that irks me too. But I do disagree with the idea that today's penalty was completely illegitimate. True dat. Holland is one of my favorite teams and I'll admit that they did two very obvious dives in yesterday's game vs. Portugal. *All teams dive* (though I find England and Brazil do it to a lesser degree than most teams, kudos to them). Italians just get the most sh.t for it. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

Just like there is a difference between playing 10 on 10 for 43 minutes and playing with a man down 9 on 10 for 43 minutes. Had that bs red card not been handed to Materazzi, we wouldn't even be having this discussion because Italy would have won without dispute. I'm still curious to hear your reasons for hating Italians if you don't mind sharing. Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

LMAO I should have added to the end of that -- *depending on what angle you saw that foul from.* So, what did you think of that red card given to Materazzi? Do you think it was justified? Oh and I'd like to see your other reasons to hate the Italians if you don't mind sharing, not challenging you, just honestly curious to know: Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.