USA-Italy

Yes, I'm one of the few Americans who truly enjoy soccer (as we call it.) I started playing when I was twelve and played recreationally until I tore my ACL playing volleyball in 1992. I never fully finished the rehab due to insurance issues so my left leg is still slightly weaker than my right so I don't trust the knee to stand up to the rigors of soccer. That and I weigh a lot more now than I did then.

Well anyways I watched the US-Italy match today while helping a friend of mine move. As long as I played, I have never seen three players sent off with red cards. While Pope's was probably justified and the Italian player's card most definitely one, I don't see how you send off Mastroeni, who didn't even have a yellow at that point. As one of the U.S. commentators (and a former World Cup team member) said, "players decide matches but referees can ruin them." I agree fully. The referee fundamentally changed the course of the game in the favor of the Italians. And it turns out he has been cited before by FIFA for "inconsistencies." I somehow think we won't see this guy again.

All that said I was very happy with how the U.S. played. They were aggressive and controlled the course of play for the first 20 minutes or so until the Italian goal. After that they maintained their poise and continued to pressure the Italians and got an own goal for their efforts.

We essentially played the second half short handed and IMO played very well, counterattacked fairly strategically and held off the Italians for a point. Given Ghana's victory, that is exactly what the U.S. needed.

Now we have to whip Ghana and hope the Italians show up against the Czechs and that both teams don't simply play for a tie (which I think is very likely.)