TEN SECONDS

A nation trapped in a game (or most of a nation anyway). Outrage echoes throughout a country as a questionable penalty is dealt in favour of Italy.

Ten seconds can make a world of difference.

AUSTRALIA VS. ITALY

My comments. Well, lets start at the beginning.

The heart breaking scene of Harry Kewell hobbling into the stadium on crutches, with a groin injury. *giggle* While this was unsettling for fans, the return of Mark Schwarzer was a happy event, being he actually makes an effort to save the ball instead of just being overprotective of his 'net'

Skipping ahead. Australia, though admittedly not as "smooth" as Italy, ('smooth' being a word I've been using lately to describe the playing of Soccer [or football as it should be called]) were actually giving the Italians 'one hell of a game'!!! Leading up to the game Italy had been saying that we had no chance, that they would 'thrash' us! Then we arrive on field and shock them. We scared them, because for a reasonable portion of the game, it looked as though we may possibly win! With Kewell in the game, I have very little doubt that we would have lost...but we didn't have Kewell. He wasn't there to try for the shots that no one else had the guts to take.

(I'm sounding like a crazy fanatic...sorta)

Now we arrive at the most crucial part of the game...the last 10 seconds?...what is that? and it was into over time too!

The replay has been reviewed over and over and over. The conclusion by many eventually decided (as I have heard), is that Italy's attacker and our defender did not touch. I'm not asure I believe that entirely, though the point I am making here is not "Did we obstuct the path of the ball?" 'coz in one way or another, Yes we did. The point here, is that the penalty dealt did not match the crime. We slid to save Australia from defeat. They tripped over. We pay for it Big Time!

*sigh* I wouldn't mind defeat in nearly any other cicumstance, but the fact that it was a questionable penalty just makes it hard to 'hack'!

It feels like it shouldn't be over, like we should have finished on level ground, on even footing. But in the end the ref makes the choice that changes lives, not the poor, sad and dissapointed nation, they call Australia.