World Cup: Croatia STUNS Italy - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Drbio · 06-08-2002, 07:29 PM

Croatia stunned Italy 2-1 today in yet another huge upset in this years World Cup. There have been some enormous upsets in this years World Cup. It's been very exciting.

here is the link.

Hales233 · 06-09-2002, 09:39 AM

I'm not sure it's a HUGE upset Doc...didn't Croatia finish 3rd in '98?

Drbio · 06-09-2002, 09:46 AM

Yes Hales..they did. But they have lost a lot of players from that squad and the Italians are 3-1 favorites to win the Cup. Croatia is something like 60-1 so it is a very big upset.

OzMavs · 06-09-2002, 09:49 AM

Strange things happen in the first round. It has been a really close tournament to date. I still can't pick a winner.

Drbio · 06-09-2002, 09:49 AM

The '98 squad was four years ago (a long time for team sport)...hard to compare them also.

Novice#41 · 06-09-2002, 09:56 AM

it is not a wonder that croatia won...
with this referee performance [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

Drbio · 06-09-2002, 10:00 AM

I don't know about that because I didn't get to see the game, but there have been a lot of upsets this year.

Novice#41 · 06-09-2002, 10:32 AM

the refs didn't give italy two goals they deserved...
that was aweful... [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]
italy should won 3:2...

Fidel · 06-09-2002, 11:13 AM

Doc,
the reason for all those upsets is that the players from the real good teams are tired and exhausted after a very stuffed season of euro ball. The champions league is inflated, and the world cup is much earlier this time than usual because of the rain season in japan/ korea. When you look at a team like france, nearly everyone on their squad plays for a european top club. Most of those players had to play in over 60 games in just nine months which is a lot for soccer. That is the reason IMO why so many underdogs have had some success so far, with a lot of favourites struggeling.

Murphy3 · 06-09-2002, 12:45 PM

italy was totally screwed

Drbio · 06-09-2002, 01:01 PM

I just saw a recap on the Italy game on CNN World Sports report. Italy got jobbed on that last goal for sure. It should have been tied. WOW!

PeterVecseyisdumb · 06-09-2002, 05:33 PM

Italy was screwed by the lines man. Italy had two goals taken away, and they were both, terrible calls. I think the linesman who made the calls, has been involved in soccer controversy before. That lines man is a disgrace to soccer.

Drbio · 06-09-2002, 06:01 PM

Didn't see the first goal, but that late goal being disallowed was an awful call.

OzMavs · 06-09-2002, 06:29 PM

I saw the last goal that was disallowed and it was completely justified, the Italian striker blatantly held the Croatian defenders shirt as he ran towards goal. It was just that the linesman saw it.

Drbio · 06-09-2002, 06:46 PM

To be fair....maybe the one I saw was the first goal. It was a total phantom call. No foul on replays from all sides. The announcer said it was a potentially game tying goal...I just assumed it was the last one.

Drbio · 06-13-2002, 06:55 PM

I'm not sure it's a HUGE upset Doc...didn't croatia finish 3rd in '98?

Croatia team has been officially eliminated as expected. This team has been gutted since the third place finish. This just underscores how big the win against Italy was. Italy would have been eliminated had it not been for a late goal alst night to tie up Mexico. Mexico comes out in first and Italy second into the second round.

The U.S. probably gets Mexico in the first game of the second round if they tie their last game.

Hales233 · 06-14-2002, 08:32 AM

you follow that croatian team pretty closely eh doc?

Drbio · 06-14-2002, 10:29 AM

I follow world level soccer Hales.

Hales233 · 06-14-2002, 12:41 PM

I get into it during world cups...I'm siked we somehow made it thru to the 2nd round.

Murphy3 · 06-14-2002, 12:54 PM

i'm psyched as well

Drbio · 06-14-2002, 06:16 PM

Hales - seriously...me too....I am stoked...BEAT MEXICO!!!!

murph- sarcasm becomes you....