Now come on, blameless.

I think all of us concede that no other teams at this or any other tournament finals except Italy ever have any players who commit serious fouls. Be sensible.

I am just waiting for the debut appearance of "the Italians are divers" (which I recall was seriously aired during WC 06 by a few people).

Because hardly anyone in the US cared about the team seriously in 1994. Plus, the US media loves Brazil as much as they do the US team.

Surely just a matter of time, Harry.

This is a particularly hilarious example.

Sign me up as an enthusiastic vice-captain in Purv's ABI squad.

I haven't really given much thought to who I will be supporting. Spain, I guess. It's usually Spain.

See, the nice thing about supporting Italy is that win or lose, we always have nice meals before, during and after the matches.

Spain is alright but the lack of vegetables is alarming.

The less said about Saxon cuisines (Anglo or otherwise) the better.

My footballing Italo-phobia has waned in recent times - I grudgingly but genuinely admired their 06 team - but then last week I observed Christian Vieiri's skyed penalty hand Rangers a place in a European final and it all came flooding back.

That, and their voting patterns make those of the outer London suburbs seem rational and enlightened.

count me in with the ABI's. that smug twat (Inca's pic)... bastard

Me too.

This June I'm deleting my Mina links ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKSuG1LOaYI ), downing the last bit of balsamic vinegar and boycotting the Fellini retrospective at the local rep theater.

OK, maybe not the Mina part. But I'm totally serious about the rest.

Alright, in case the last youtube link may have had caused some of you to defect from Team ABI:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFIUe9hFda0

Welcome back!!!

I have even more hate for Leonardo. Di Cunti apoligized only because Lippi made him.

It's funny how two of the worst dangerous fouls were committed against Americans, both by World Champion teams. But of course, that's allowed because of the second-class citizen thing. See if Di Cunti threw that against Ronaldo.

To boot, my girls high school team played the defending state champions this year, and their best player looked behind her and threw an elbow at our #10, shattering her nose. She's on her third plastic surgery operation.

So fuck Di Cunti.

I'd not thought of the Italians as divers, to be honest, but some of the clips on the links are horrendous. This one, in particular, seems somewhat familiar - where I have seen Materazzi do this before?

Materazzi and Toni bump together, and fall dramatically to the floor clutching completely untouched parts of their bodies

QUOTE:
See, the nice thing about supporting Italy is that win or lose, we always have nice meals before, during and after the matches.

how nice.

Rogin the Armchair Fan wrote:

QUOTE:
I'd not thought of the Italians as divers, to be honest, but some of the clips on the links are horrendous. This one, in particular, seems somewhat familiar - where I have seen Materazzi do this before?

[urlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBGP3QueQ5s&feature=related]Materazzi and Toni bump together, and fall dramatically to the floor clutching completely untouched parts of their bodies[/url]

If it's a dive involving Materazzi, you've probably "seen it before" from Torres.