The Hindu : Sport : Blood and guts battle keeps U.S. alive

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 19, 2006

Sport

Sport

Blood and guts battle keeps U.S. alive

KAISERSLAUTERN: Italy and the United States proved in their thundering 1-1 draw that the excitement of World Cup football is not always provided by silky skills and smooth possession.

With three red cards, crunching tackles, lots of passion and sheer grit and determination from both sides, there was never a dull moment in the group E match.

Nor did this game live up to the stereotypes of U.S. and Italian football. The result means that all four teams in Group E, which also includes Ghana and the Czech Republic, still have a chance of making the last 16.

Diving header

Alberto Gilardino gave Italy the lead with a diving header, but an own goal by Cristian Zaccardo brought the U.S. back on level terms.

U.S. striker Eddie Johnson had caused a rumpus earlier in the week by comparing the World Cup to war. It wasn't warfare, but this gripping contest was far from friendly.

``Two red cards was pretty harsh,'' said U.S. coach Bruce Arena. ``But I respect my team for the way it dealt with it.''

Kasey Keller pulled off two excellent saves to deny Italy substitute Alessandro Del Piero in the closing stages as the U.S. bravely dug in to snatch a point.

Lippi was unhappy with the way his players lost their cool. ``I'm disappointed and angry,'' he said. ``We were nervous and we paid the price for it in the end.''

Tough nut to crack

Gilardino admitted the United States was a tough nut to crack. ``We came up against a strong and determined team, but we knew that already,'' said the AC Milan striker.

``Now we have to prepare over the next five days and make sure we put in a great performance against the Czech Republic.''

The Americans, quarterfinalists four years ago, made life difficult for the Italians in the first quarter of an hour, snapping into tackles and creating two half chances which Bobby Convey and Dempsey wasted. Italy took the lead in the 22nd minute after Pope's foul on Luca Toni wide on the right. Pirlo delivered a low centre into the box and Gilardino stooped to steer the ball past a helpless Keller with his forehead.

Italy's joy lasted just five minutes with a defensive howler gifting the U.S. an equaliser.

Zaccardo swung a boot out wildly to try and clear Convey's crossed free-kick and succeeded only in diverting the ball past his own keeper, Gianluigi Buffon.

De Rossi's elbow

Worse was to follow seconds later as De Rossi was rightly sent off for elbowing McBride in the face. McBride's face was dripping with blood as De Rossi headed down the tunnel with his head hung low. McBride needed three stitches below his left eye.

``Brian (McBride) has, I think, a few titanium plates in his face already,'' Keller said, ``so you know he's going to stick his head in places where most people would really prefer not to.''

Despite its numerical disadvantage, Italy almost restored its lead but Toni shot wide after sprinting clear of the U.S. defence.

The second half was old school football — raw and gutsy — and also put paid to another lingering stereotype about the United States and the game of soccer.

The thousands of U.S. fans out-shouted the Italian supporters, roaring their team on and hurling abuse at some of the refereeing decisions with the kind of passion found at Spanish or English stadiums every week.

The American fans as well as their players deserve to be taken seriously. Their anger at the annulment of substitute DaMarcus Beasley's effort in the 65th minute was, however, misplaced. McBride was clearly in an offside position, blocking the line of sight of Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon. — Agencies

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