 | Team News |  | Player Profiles | | Fixtures | | Betting | | Mobile |  |
Australia News
Latest News / Squad / Team Profile / Player Profiles / Betting / Results
Australia 0 Italy 1
27/06/2006: An injury time penalty from Francesco Totti handed 10-man Italy a 1-0 win against Australia to put them into the last eight of World Cup 2006.
The Socceroos looked favourites to go through in extra-time after Italy's Marco Materazzi was red carded on 51 minutes to leave them with an extra man for most of the second half. However, after failing to really capitalise on Italy's misfortune, they were made to pay in injury time when a dubious spot-kick was hammered home by Totti with the full-time whistle immediately blowing at the re-start.
Australia enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening exchanges but Italy almost took the lead on three minutes when Luca Toni directed his header from Alessandro Del Piero's left-wing cross just the wrong side of Mark Schwarzer's upright.
Italy went close again on 20 minutes when Toni got up well to head down a high ball into the area where Alberto Gilardino let it bounce before hitting a half-volley goalwards which Middlesbrough keeper Schwarzer tipped over the bar.
The Italians broke quickly after an Australian attack two minutes later and Toni was denied by a great save from the feet of Schwarzer when he turned Vince Grella and got his shot in from a few yards out.
Socceroos skipper Mark Viduka tried his luck from the edge of the Italy area which Gigi Buffon got down well to save before their best chance came on the half-hour. Mark Bresciano's free-kick from the right was flicked on to Scott Chipperfield in the area and his low effort was well saved by Buffon at the second attempt with Viduka close to getting on the end of the loose ball.
At the other end Toni again missed a golden opportunity to break the deadlock on 34 minutes when he headed Simone Perrotta's cross from the right over the bar from close range.
The game did not have chance to burst into life after the break when Italy were reduced in numbers. Bresciano's run towards goal was halted abruptly by Materazzi, who was not the last man, but the referee decided to brandish a straight red card.
It should have signalled a real change in tactics for Australia, but they still seemed reluctant to attack in numbers with Chipperfield's 59th minute angled drive, which was pushed away by Buffon, the closest they came.
Italy opted to defend in numbers, which they did exceptionally well, to reduce the Socceroos' chances of scoring, while the arrival of John Aloisi as a second striker to play alongside Viduka was too little, too late for the Australians.
They would have been confident of breaking down Italy in an extra half-hour's play. But Lucas Neill was harshly adjudged to have fouled full-back Fabio Grosso in the area in the third minute of injury time and Totti made no mistake from the spot to send Italy through.
Pre match report
Italy will be without Alessandro Nesta for the second round game, while Mark Schwarzer is set to return in goal for the Socceroos.
Nesta has been ruled out of the last sixteen encounter with a groin injury that he picked up in the 2-0 win over Czech Republic. The AC Milan centre-back has lost his battle for fitness and will be replaced by Inter Milan's Marco Matterazzi.
Daniele De Rossi is suspended following his elbow on USA striker Brian McBride and will only return to the fray should Italy reach the final.
Francesco Totti is tipped to start for the Azzurri despite reports in the press that the Roma ace has caused a rift in the squad.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough shot-stopper Schwarzer will return between the posts for Australia having been ped for the 2-2 draw with Croatia, a game in which Zejko Kalac struggled in his absence.
The major concern for Guus Hiddink is a groin injury for Harry Kewell, who will handed a late fitness test. Brett Emerton misses out through suspension, with the Blackburn man set to be replaced by Jason Culina.
World Cup Mobile
 Real Tones | ||
| 1 | We Are The Champions  |  |
| 2 | Smack That | |
| 3 | Chasing Cars | |
| 4 | Ruby | |
| 5 | Theme | |
| 6 | Spider Pig Song | |
| Polyphonic | ||
| 7 | Ring Of Fire | |
| 8 | Sexyback |  |
| 9 | The Great Escape | |
| 10 | Mission Impossible | |
| 11 | James Bond | |
| 12 | Exorcist Theme (Tubular Bells) | |
| 13 | Benny Hill | |
| 14 | Monster | |
| Sound Effects | ||
| 15 | Mosquito | |
| Games | ||
| 16 | FIFA World Cup(TM) | |
| 17 | Soccer Pinball | |
Comments on: Australia 0 Italy 1
26/06/2006: What follows is my opinion of the Italy v Australia gameI'm pretty sure it's a 50/50 view if it was or wasn't apenalty, but on the other hand Materazzi was judged by both commentators to have been harshly sent off, which I think we can all agree on.Australia had the lion’s share of possession for the entire game, but didn't make their chances count, which against a team of Italy’s class, you need to do. Italy wrote the book on defending, and showed why today.Australia could arguably not have been in the last 16 had FIFA not punished Harry Kewell's outburst at Markus Merk, and he was definitely offside when he scored the equalizer against Croatia in the group stage. That point took Australia through.In conclusion: Australia can count themselves unlucky and will understandably feel heartbroken, but things in football have an uncanny sense of evening themselves out over the course of games. Italy should never have played the second half with 10 men, the penalty was harsh but given.If they'd taken their chances when they had them, the penalty would be immaterial and wouldn't be such a talking point that it is now. I agree it feels harsher given the fact it was the last kick of the game, but Australia should never have been in that position in the first place.
27/06/2006: Never a penalty but to be fair it was a very sloppy challenge. Stand up, sheperd it out for a corner, hoof it into touch, whatever. But not a sliding tackle ffs. Borderline amatuerish.Aus should have pushed the I-ties much more in the time they had the man advantage. They tried to box clever and in the end got caught by a sucker punch.
28/06/2006: Everyone forgot about that handball in the penalty box which should've been an Australian goal...
04/07/2006: it is a week later and i am still fighting with my bf about it! australia should have won...and i agree, the ausies should have been in front with that handball, and if anything the game should have finished in a draw...where Schwarzer would have been brilliant, im sure
04/07/2006: "If you don't believe you can win, there is no point in getting out of bed at the end of the day." - John Aloisi.
04/07/2006: "I've never wanted to leave. I'm here for the rest of my life, and hopefully after that as well." - Mark Schwarzer.
Write your own comment:
Latest Australia News
Ronaldo assured of Aussie start (14/06/2006)
Cahill takes plaudits (14/06/2006)
Aussies ponder changes (15/06/2006)
Parreira eyes Ronaldo improvement (16/06/2006)
Brazil v Australia (18/06/2006)