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Grosso denies diving
26/06/2006: Italy defender Fabio Grosso has defended himself against accusations of diving after winning the penalty that beat Australia.
The last 16 clash between the Socceroos and the Azzurri appeared to be heading into extra-time and possibly penalties after Marco Materazzi's sending-off had ended any possibility of flowing football in the second period.
However as time ran out Grosso appeared to fall over Lucas Neill, who had already made his challenge inside the box, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.
The Aussie players were, understandably, incensed by the decision and surrounded the official who had given the Italians the chance to win the game with the last kick of the match.
Francesco Totti made no mistake from the spot and Australia's German adventure came to a heart-breaking end.
Grosso has been criticised for 'looking for the penalty' as opposed to being fouled inside the box but the Inter Milan star insists it was not his intention to go down.
"I haven't watched the replay yet," he said. "I tried to avoid contact. I got past one defender but then my leg got stuck in between the other defender's legs and I had no option but to go down. My aim was to go all the way."
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Comments on: Grosso denies diving
29/06/2006: Rubbish. The Australian defender goes down in front of him. The Australian defender did not try to trip him/go over the ball into his legs. Grosso pushes the ball forward past the defender but too far as it looks to be covered by another defender. Grosso suddenly appears to lose the ability to raise his left leg high enough above the defenders body (and there is no deliberate intention to impede by the Australian who is still on the ground)and he Grosso clips the defender. Dramatic dive! Not quite Oscar material.However the CHEAT has got his way. It is high time that FIFA start to utilise the technology that is available to weed this sort of thing out of the game at all levels of the International game. No more "hands of God", controversial penalties. A fourth official with video review facilities(played back on the big screens that all international grounds seem to have for all the crowd to see)could adjudicate these things as they do in cricket & rugby. It may add a few seconds of extra time but surely a team who has fought just as hard as the other to get to the World Cup is entitled to a fair result, not one influenced by a CHEAT, but based on their performance.(Even if it may have taken extra time to achieve it)Who knows maybe the Italians may have won anyway but if the goal was clearcut and not the results of the actions of a CHEAT then it would not have left such a bitter taste.
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