Not since Greg Louganis' 1988 Olympic performance have more dives been attempted on the road to victory. Hyperbole aside, the matches today were a disgrace to the sport and an embarrassment to 'giants' of world football.
First off a tip of the cap goes to the New Zealand, who's game today was elevated to a level unseen ever by the All Whites in a WC final. Not since the 2002 America's Cup has the world seen such a fight between the Italians and Kiwis. They bravely fought off 15 corners, but also did not sin
k to the pathetic faining and flopping of the Italians. In the 29' the Italians saw their off season work at the Meisner acting studio pay off when a penalty was awarded by FIFA official Batres. The pen. came off a quick tangle in the box where a slight tug on the kit by Tommy Smith some how left De Rossi without the use of his legs. (see 0:43) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHo1glTgI50
The Azzurri went on to dominate position (72%) and the rest of the match, yet still even against the one of the lowliest ranked appointed it was distressing to see the Italians fall back to "second division" tactics.
Ivory Coast v. Brazil - The last match of the 9th WC day left me and I hope many others in disgust. The World Cup (like the Olympics) is meant to be a showcase for the best players and sportsmen of the highest class. Brazil has a long and proud tradition of being THE team at every world cup, and SA 2010 is no different. From a team that showed so much skill and strength
against a defensively stalwart North Korean side, to what was seen in the second half of the match today was shameful. Brazil was not all to blame of course as it does take two to tango, yet as FIFA's #1 ranked team they have a duty to present football to the world in its best and purest form. The 'Golden Squad' truly did not live up to its moniker. A recap of the match minutes paint a disparaging picture of the class of Brazil.
50'-(Goal) Luis Fabiano took the ball from his hand, (first infraction) then to his bicep (second chance to make a call) before playing it to his right foot. The shot and play was top quality yet the Henry-esque set up was blatantly and terribly illegal.
64'- Studs up challenge on a sliding Elano, this is where the game began to turn. A point where the ref should have called both captains in and spoken to them. (Should have been a yellow)
85'- Kaka's
first yellow. No need to take this yellow, a full push to the back of the IC midfielder. They are already heading to the round of 16 and up by 2 with 5' to go. Why take the yellow in to the next round?
88'- The perfect example of why you don't take a late yellow on a dead ball foul. Kaka put himself in this situation, Lannoy's eyes were on the striker after his first booking. Anything can happen and it did, Keite's dive was a disgrace but Kaka was not attempting to remove himself from any altercation
.
All the while Dunga was raving like a madman, disputing every call, and as one of the ESPN commentators noted 'fanning the flames'.
My final look at this match- I would argue that Brazil was keen to the fact that Lannoy was buying into every simulated foul as they perpetrated a multitude of them in the final 15' of the match. Yet, they failed to understand that the West African squad was also going to garner the same treatment. Which the world saw in the 88' with Kaka's second yellow and sending off.
