Italy v New Zealand

I can understand having to cheat against the top sides, but having to con the officials against tiny New Zealand is pathetic.

Diving, cheating, injury feigning Italians. They should be ashamed.

That's been one of the most entertaining first half in the whole world cup so far.

Robbie Savage just said on 5Live that he now understands why he's hated, because he's irate at De Rossi for going down so easily and Savage admitted he's done it itself That doesn't really do it justice, hopefully it'll be recorded somewhere.

Its only what the All Blacks do regularly in egg-chasing.

They've obviously been taking lessons off this diving, cheating, ashamed Ita... oh wait.....

Anybody who dives the way the Italians have been doing should be ashamed. All that rolling around screaming and slapping hands on the grass. Jesus.

And against NEW ZEALAND as well!!! lol.

Nicely avoided....

Not often you hear AFC Wimbledon mentioned during a WC match commentary

Erm. Right

By saying anyone who cheats should be ashamed is somehow avoiding the point you were trying to make about Steven Gerrard diving. o...k then.

New Zealand far too nervous in posession, which is understandable ofcourse.

Clearly the Italians have nothing on the English captain.

I'm pretty sure the Italian defender held the wrong side of his face

Maybe he's like Gerrard and has two faces.

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here.

I'm not defending anybody who cheats. I don't see what your rather odd references to Steven Gerrard have to do with this game. But carry on if it makes you feel better.

That's rather nicely done

While not defending Gerrard, it does feel there's an extra level of cynicism involved with the Italians, especially as they don't just fall over but act - and that's really acting - as if they've been shot in the face.

Of course, I'm an England fan, so I'll freely admit my viewpoint could be coloured by that.

New Zealand got in the World Cup?


*hides scotland flag* for shame, for shame.

Yeh but in italy im sure they view diving/cheating as an 'art' as i've heard before...

I'm simply pointing out that some of the rather theatrical dives by the Italians mean they might have been taking lessons from the equally theatrical England captain. Not really that difficult to fathom given that's what I said originally....

they have an easier qualification group..

Ah, it all fits. Liverpool - European City of Culture.
Gerrard to Inter?

Well they've certainly done themselves justice in SA

In The Italian Job I'm pretty sure they talk about how in Italy deception is seen as part of the game and if you successfully 'cheat' you have simply done your job of trying to win for the team. It's not really seen as a matter of honour, they're much more pragmatic about it.

Yup.

Fantastic save!

Chris Coleman: "some of my best friends are Italian".

Racist

I've a horrible feeling Italy are going to do this all the way to the final.