Was it a Penalty?

You tell me.

ANDREW MEDICHINI/AP

Seconds left. Was it a penalty?

Two things about it, from my vantage point right above the play, in the corner halfway up the stadium: First, Neill's challenge was pretty clumsy, throwing himself splay-legged at Grosso as he moved deep into the box after turning Bresciano in the corner, who fell down on the play. Grosso legitimately went down, falling over Neill. But was it a penalty? Referee Medina Cantalejo of Spain, who sent off Materazzi for a marginal foul earlier, pointed with no hesitation to the spot.

Second thing: A murmur went round the seating area when they posted three minutes of stoppage time -- I was sure it would be two, off my watch. And the critical play happened with 20 seconds left in that three minutes. Standing there watching it, an unbelievable sequence capped by Totti, out of form Totti, converting the penalty.

Say one thing. The refereeing at this tournament, from Merk to Poll to Ivanov last night and now this, is right now the headline story.

Comments

[Uhclem]

Well, you're a kinder man than Barry Glendenning over at the Guardian blog, who imperially concludes "Going so close only to be shafted by a last-minute Italian winner - in time you'll get over it my Aussie friends. It happens the best of us and it's all part of the big learning curve in international football. A rite of passage for you.

And a right laugh for the rest of us ..."

[Justin]

The fact that the Australian defender tried to pose as a human wall after his initial tackle failed, was the real cause of the foul. But being an Italian fan, I was in such awe of the Australian pressure throughout the game.

If it hadn't been for the experience in defence that we have (and a bit of luck) the Australians would've taken the game before this penalty kick fiasco could take place.

Good job for both teams though.

[Basky]

As a neutral observer, it makes me wonder if FIFA was trying to make up for the refereeing blunders Italy sustained during the last World Cup. Neill's attempt may have been clumsy, but all he did was block Grosso's path. In my opinion, even if Grosso couldn't have continued on, Neill made no attempt at causing Grosso to fall down and should not have been penalized with a penalty. It's a horrendous call that tarnished a match where the Aussies gave a gutsy performance.

[Peter]

You got it right, Chris. It was a clumsy challenge when all he needed to do was stand his ground. I think Grosso didn't need to fall down, and viewing the replay, it appeared as though it was more he tripping over Neill's body than Neill fouling him. As much as I hated watching it, it was a call that could not have been overlooked, and was rightly a penalty, regardless of the point that it took place in the match.
Of course, we can all think back 4 years ago when the only thing that prevented Italy from advancing past Korea were the referees. I'll never find myself cheering for the Italians, but I think that karmically, they earned that match.
Not to mention their stellar defense and some great goalkeeping at both ends of the pitch...

[Bill MacIntyre]

This game represented everything that is wrong with soccer. A 90 minute nil-nil snoozefest followed by the ref giving the game to the Italians at the last possible second. It's a shame: horrible officiating keeps determining the outcome of these games, giving it all a very much 'pre-ordained' feeling.

[Frank Ferreira]

There is no way that this call was a legitimate penalty. Grosso purposely fell over the Aussie player. The Aussie player did nothing to "impede" his progress. He attempted to go for the ball, and as a result fell down. It should also be noted that the Italian player "choose" to fall over him, when the ball itself was going right as a result of his attempted deak of the Australian. The Italian did not follow the ball.

It is no wonder that alot of people are turned off by how Political football is becoming. There is no way that the Italians deserve to advance as a result of a terrible call like that

[cy]

Being in the stadium, we never did get a replay: FIFA's in house TV showed Totti taking the penalty, but not the play that caused it. I've only seen a replay once -- far less than anyone back home -- and only from one angle. I really couldn't tell if the contact was that much from that angle, taken behind Grosso. I'd love to know what the other angles look like, because the owerwhelming consensus seems to be that this was a robbery. I'm not sure. WElcome to the big leagues, Australia. You're not the only ones crying at this World Cup.

[Sandra]

This was definitely not a penalty! It is becoming very difficult to enjoy games in which the underdogs outperform the favourites only to have the refs give them fabricated wins. By far, the referee who gave Italy their last minute win and the referee who gave England its win over Ecuador are the most incompetent, sellout refs I've seen in all the World Cups I can remember. Seeing these refs get away with such blatant cheating turns me off of watching the next game or the next Cup.

[Ido Visentin]

A clumsy tackle after being tugged on and thrown off balance by another defender - in the penalty box - I think the referee is going to call that every time. That said, I thought the refereeing ruined the game with an awful red card to Materazzi. So perhaps it balanced out. Australia had 40 minutes to score and Italy one shot.

[Dan Goldberg]

From the vantage point of the ref it was most certainly a penalty viewing it as he did from behind Grosso. After viewing countless replays its quite obvious that contact was minimal but lets be honest here, what else did you expect Grosso to do? With little or no time remaining he did what any smart player would and immidiatly fell to the ground. In his defense it was a sloppy challenge from an otherwise stellar Lucas Neill, and unlike other Itallian players who seemed to fall over from a gust of wind (Del Peiro anyone) you could say he earned that penalty. It breaks the heart to watch a tenacious Socceroo's side go out like that, but thats football.

[Mezba]

First, there was no way stoppage time could have been 3 minutes - there were hardly any injuries - 1 minute at most. But, let's skip that.

Second, read the rules about obstruction here.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4200994.stm

At MOST, Neill (Australia) was guilty of "Impeding the progression of an opponent (obstruction)" which is an INDIRECT free kick which contrary to popular misconception can be taken from inside the penalty box. Penalties are a result of DIRECT free kick deserving fouls which this was not.

It all seems worthless watching world cup matches if the referees have already decided who should win.

[Rafael Epstein]

The penalty was correct. Neil was DELIBERATELY blocking Grosso's way. But Grosso did fall himself, if he wanted, he could have stayed on his feet. Why did he do that? Because, Italians learned their lessons from the group games - referees award penalties if there is a foul AND the player falls - when Iaquinta's shirt was pulled a couple of games earlier, he did not fall, despite having no advantage and the referee did not award the penalty. So, Grosso was only doing what he had to do.

[Andrew Mannie]

At first I, too, thought the Ausies had been jobbed by the ref...then I saw all the replays. Clumsy tackle attempt? Yes. Did Grosso make any attempt to avoid him? No. But Neill did swing his body across to block Grosso's path. Hate it...wish it hadn't been called. But still a penalty. Watching Italy play is aggravating..so much talent, such a dismal playing strategy. They have the talent to look like Brazil or Argentina, not the New Jersey Devils of the NHL!

[M Cancilla]

All who do not think that this was a penalty:

1. Lucas Neill threw himself to the ground to impede Grosso's progress within the box.

2. He then threw his elbow up making contact with Grosso when he attempted to pass him.

Please watch the replay again, with a partial eye.

[Dan Taylor]

Chris,

You're reaching on questioning penalties, and one-sided at that when considering the outrageous red card given to the Italian defender that very nearly threw the game to the 'Roos.

Look closer, and you'll see not one, but two fouls on Italy's Grosso, the second exacerbated by the raising of the arm/elbow of the defender to impede the path to the goal even more.

With Totti's just penalty, all one can say is:

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!

[gerry]

I watched with interest the replays over and over again. Given the amount of diving and 'simulation' that occurs minute by minute, I couldn't help but think the opportunity presented itself and the striker couldn't help but fall convincingly -- call it muscle memory or skinnerian conditioning if you will. I'm only surprized he didn't start grabbing his head or ankle in agonizing embellishment. Call me a cynic i guess. This was utter BS.

[Rob Nicoll]

I live in Sydney and we were treated to video of the Italian team training on diving techniques this morning. A number of "training shots' looked remarkably similar to dives the Italian's took through the whole game. In no other game are lame duck dishonourable tactics given such attention. Soccer has proven itself to not be a real sport once again. Stick with Hockey, Football and Rugby.

[petrache lupu]

The international press is unanimous. The penalty was an early Christmas gift to the Italians. Even the Spanish press states they are ashamed of the Spanish referee. What was even more ridiculous, though, was the comentary of the three "soccer specialists" in the TSN studio. Possibly being afraid of protests from the Italian community in Toronto, they all "saw" it as a correct penalty. They won the approval of the Italian community, but they lost my respect for their professionalism. Pity!

[Jeremy Giles]

Regarding Glendenning's comments on the Guardian site, I don't quite see how they can be seen as imperialist, given that he is Irish. I think his comments were more empathetic than anything (with a healthy touch of sarcasm thrown in.) As far as the penalty, I thought it was a terrible call. Yes Neill probably did himself no favours by going to ground but the contact was still fairly minimal. To effectively eliminate a team on such a call was extremely harsh.

[Bill]

Wow - such righteous anti-italian soccer fever!
I studied that penalty repeatedly and I concur with the ref (this time).
I don't remember any indignation (as is expressed here) for the Italian team at the last World Cup when the refereeing against the Italians was atrocious.
The Aussies played very well. It was a stupid mistake which caused a penalty. Had it gone the other way how many would still opine what ye have here?
Lets just say that what goes around comes around - or is it karma??
Go GHANA!!!

[Rick]

Look at the Aussie defender's left elbow as he is on the ground - replay shows it clear (and the photo above is a good still); as Grosso tries to pass and the defender realizes it, he lifts he's left elbow in an attempt to obstruct - this is a foul in the box = penalty. Granted it's not a clear-cut one, but Materazzi's foul was at most a yellow ... I guess things can balance out.

[Michael McDonald]

I feel after the second half and the red card sending off the ref became italy's 11th man. In strong tackles the Australians would fight them off, the italians would flop to the floor. Prim example Del Piero free kick where there was a strong challenge and a bump, he did not go down for three or four paces after he released were he was on the pitch. Bring in TV reviews and a fifth office to control incorrect decisions but there should be a time limit on reversals - say a minute. They have in Rugby to see if it there was a try scored, why not football? Australia should have been up one-nil because of the handball 15 mins earlier

[Robert Di Zio]

All that makes that penalty call an issue was the point in the game in which it was made. As a long time fan of international soccer and as a defender myself a few too many years ago- that call is made and should be made every time. Defending is all about showing control. Any time you defend awkwardly, especially in the box, the call will be made. I don't understand what the Aussie defender was thinking. Yes Grosso had managed to manuevre into the box, but his angle was awful and he was no real threat. All he had to do was hold his ground, support would have come and it would more than likely have been a nothing play. Soccer is called the Beautiful Game- justifiably there is a penalty when your play is not beautiful.

[Steve Abbruscato]

I've watched alot of soccer this World Cup and the referees have been instructed by FIFA to make calls. Whether it's in the first minute of the game or the last the calls will be made. Perhaps FIFA believes that playing with less men will make the game more exciting, will create more scoring chances, if one team is at a disadvantage. That being said, we have seen a record number of sending offs and yellow cards. Players have to adapt to how the game is being called. I think it was a penalty and both Dick Howard and Craig Forrest agreed, after the match. Grosso did an amazing job putting himself in that position in the 93rd minute of the game, and the defender impeded his route to the net. Plus, if you look at where the ref was standing I don't think he had the greatest view of the incident and Materrazi's red card was a terrible call. Who knows with 11 men maybe Italy would have won sooner??

[Lesley]

I am writing from Sydney...and we got ripped off! Italian theatrics! But didn't the boys in green and gold do the country proud.