Ugly US/Italy match punctuates first half of tournament.
The beautiful game? Not hardly.
The US men’s soccer team has kept a slim hope alive for itself by tying powerhouse Italy on Saturday. The match was a tough physical and psychological test for the team, and for any fan of the sport that had the misfortune to be watching. While there have been highlights for fans both new and old, this game wasn’t one of them.
Team USA did a good, not necessarily great, job in the match, and the Italians played without much grace. The loan moment of scoring beauty came on the Italian goal, a gorgeous set play that led to Alberto Gilardino’s scoring header. Unshaken by the early Italian lead, the US managed to put pressure on Italy throughout 90 minutes, and were rewarded with a goal, when an unlucky Zaccardo tipped a US corner kick into his own net. It was not a pretty way to tie up the match, but quite fitting given the way the match was played and officiated.
Early on, the US got into trouble with sloppy penalties when defending. Eddie Pope looked like he was playing a little too physical when trying to contain Italian attackers, which led to his first half yellow card. Likewise, a frustrated Italy took it’s share of penalties, including a blatant elbow by De Rossi, which led to the Italian’s ejection.
The call on De Rossi was probably the only warranted ejection in what was an otherwise over-officiated game. The official tossed cards out left and right, and bought one dive after another. The US came out on the losing end of the bad officiating, but only marginally, as Italy was dinged with many a bad call as well. Tied matches sometimes draw opponents closer together in the mutual respect of a well-fought battle. This game drew Italians and Americans closer together in a mutual disrespect of FIFA officiating.
No matter what it says, FIFA would love very much to be able to market “the beautiful game” in the United States. They would like to be able to expand the game’s appeal here, if for no other reason than the buying power of US consumers, and the US national program would certainly like a wider base of support. Neither will get their wish, however, if a match like Saturday’s is the best they have to show.
Officiating sports in the US is an art, and it’s one we actually do a pretty good job with. All of our major sports, football, basketball, hockey and baseball, pride themselves in solid officiating. Likewise, toughness is a characteristic we prize in our athletes. Players who are good at “diving,” are usually as derided as cowardly and unsportsmanlike. Our sports are set up to allow the greatest possible levels of contact short of injury, and are usually officiated with that in mind. We can’t even race cars without a certain tough-guy ethic, as NASCAR has proven.
Which brings me back to soccer. Most of the coaches I ever had were faster to teach you how to give a “hard foul” back to a guy that had fouled you, than they were to teach you how to take a dive. I suspect a lot of other men and women who grew up in the US can relate. If someone like me, who grew up on the game, am embarrassed to watch all this diving, rolling, contorted-face whining, and the poor officiating that makes it advantageous, then what hope is there that FIFA will convince a football watching America to give the game a chance?
There have already been some great moments in the World Cup, but the US/Italy game wasn’t one of them. FIFA has to do better if they want to sell the beautiful game on this side of the pond.
Notable Moments
I want to take a moment to mention times that the World Cup has lived up to its potential. Tops on my list, Trinidad and Tobago, smallest country to ever qualify for the Word Cup, tying Sweden. This was one of the great David and Goliath moments thus far. The other? Ghana surprising the Czechs by handing the number two ranked team a 2-0 beating that could easily have been even worse. This also opened the door for the US to stay alive, and set up what should be a great game between the US and Ghana. On the flip side, it should surprise no one that Germany is loving its position as host, having beaten all opponents in the first round while racking up and impressive 8 goals for and only 2 against. I think they have to be considered among the favorites, along with perennial powerhouses Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands, and England.
The US team plays next on June 22nd when they take on Ghana in the hopes of making the second round.
See you on the pitch!
matt