For those of you that look down on the US's play against Italy...

The game of football is won and lost in midfield. The team that controls midfield wins the game. During the first 20 minutes, (up until the silliness with the cards began), the USA controlled the entire game but, most significantly, they were dominating midfield. They were playing with confidence and were being innovative when trying to penetrate Italy's defense. Italy could only pass the ball from the rear to the front, (risking offside calls every time)... If they took the ball into midfield they invariably lost possession. Even after the cards fiasco the USA, (a team that Italy _should_ have walked all over), managed to hold Italy to a tie with only 9 men - which means that even though they were only 1 player down everyone has to run even more than usual.

It was a very good performance despite the best efforts of a referee that was banned from World Cup refereeing in 2002 and should never be allowed to ref a game above kindergarten level again... He was nothing short of atrocious...