Stop the World Cup whining

I have to tell you that I have become tired of the Italian whining after their defeat to South Korea in the second round of the world cup. There were a couple of dubious refereeing decisions during the match, but I don't think they dictated the outcome.

While I understand the frustration of losing to a host nation that is seen as weaker than you are, I also feel that the Italians should look in the mirror and analyze a few of the mistakes they made in the competition. Twice they were leading 1-0 and twice they lost, to Croatia and South Korea. If you ask me, those two defeats happened largely because manager Giovanni Trapattoni insisted on playing defensively and holding onto that lead instead of going for more goals.

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Can you please explain to me why you take out Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluca Zambrotta to put on Gennaro Gattuso and Angelo Di Livio in the second half of the game against the Koreans? You are winning 1-0, you are playing well defensively and you still have plenty of weapons up front.

Gattuso and Di Livio came on with the sole intent of destroying the Korean game, not constructing any Italian counterattacks. What happened after those substitutions? The Azzurri dropped further back, left Christian Vieri up front on his own with a tired Francesco Totti just behind him and had fewer options to strike back. The Koreans pressed forward and eventually found an equalizer.

Let me just touch on the two dubious refereeing decisions that the Italians are mainly talking about.

A penalty was awarded to Korea in the fifth minute for shirt-pulling. Having a look at the replays, I think that was a definite penalty, and it was saved anyway so it didn't affect the final result.

The other instance was a second yellow card to Totti for diving, which left the Italians playing shorthanded. Yes, I do believe that was harsh and not necessary, but then again there was no foul on that play and Totti did exaggerate his fall.

So, those are my views on why the Italian rage toward Ecuadorian referee Byron Moreno is unjustified. I do agree that some of the disallowed goals Italy had earlier in the competition were questionable, but in the clash against Korea, I think the Red Devils won fair and square.

And I have one piece of advice to the favorites, when they play against teams seen as underdogs. Go out and play like you want to win. Go out and try as hard as some of these other guys. And then say you are better.

World Sport's Pedro Pinto will be reporting regularly from South Korea during the World Cup.

 

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