Did Italy deserve to win? Yes, without a doubt. Was the penalty fair? Was 50/50 after watching it on replay, but on the field it could be given.

Having said that to say that Australia has ‘physical, skill-less plain football’ is plainly wrong. Of course they don’t have the technical skills of teams like Italy, Brazil, Argentina etc. but the image of Australia being a bunch of hopeless hacks that just use brute force is not on. In all their matches they were able to control play (although as with the Italy match they did not do anything with the ball).

The other comment that Australia would struggle in Serie B is also quite ridicolous. Australia has three serie A players (Grella, Bresciano and Kalac) plus others who have just been through major European tournaments. Kewell has played with Liverpool in Champions League finals and Viduka and Shwartzer played with Middlesbrough in the UEFA Cup final. I don’t know whether struggling Serie B teams could do that!

Let me tell you why the press (and people generally) attacked the Italians so much. It has nothing to do with the actual penalty, or with Grosso’s gamesmanship. It’s got more to do with the Italian side’s attitude and general negative approach to football… E.g. Why was Gattusso even on the pitch against Australia (a side that, let’s admit it, would struggle in Serie B)? Why was Toni taken off when he’s the only one up-front with any talent? Where was Pirlo? Why was Del Piero on?

Why, oh why, do Italy always play so negatively? I’m not suggesting all-out attack, but the first game against Ghana was a breath of fresh air from Italy. I felt like I could almost support them for once. Why can’t Italy play like that always? It’s definitely not from lack of talent… you have Pirlo, Totti, Toni etc..

I understand that as an Italian, you enjoy seeing them win. But you should understand that the rest of the world does not, because it’s frustrating to see such negative play, from a side who could produce so much more.

And btw, I agree that Materazzi’s foul didn’t deserve a red card - after all he kicked Zambrotta(!), but I’d like to make 2 points:
1. Materazzi has got away with so many violent displays before (e.g. his elbow on Sorin in the Champions League) that a neutral observer like me is happy he finally got sent off, even if it was unfair - call it schadenfreude.
2. Zambrotta was kicked pretty hard by Materazzi and yet he didn’t fall over and he didn’t roll around for half a minute “in pain”, as he would have had he been kicked by an opposition player - I think footballspectator should stand up against all this play-acting in today’s football.

Funny how the international press is slagging off Italy for being given a present: everyone seems to have forgotten that Italy dominated the match until the sending off, creating many many chances and completely annihilating the Auzzies (were they even playing, then?).

I don’t understand how so many people would have like to see Australia go through with their physical, skill-less plain football