Day 9: Italy vs. USA

Italy 1 -- USA 1

#11 ALBERTO GILARDINO (Italy) 22'
#2 CRISTIAN ZACCARDO (Italy) (OG) 27'

This was a slugfest, the roughest and by far the most horrendous game played at this World Cup so far. With a card-happy referee this game saw three red cards and and two other yellows which made it the bloodiest game as well. The US came out fighting and announced that they will not go down without giving a fight, and the physcicality of their play clearly showed their intentions. The Italians not to be outdone, were equal to the challenge and received a few bookings themselves. Italy went ahead through Gilardino off a Pirlo free-kick, who made no mistake diving low and guiding the ball into the far post. The Italians scored another goal this albeit, in their own goal. Reyna played the ball into the Italian penalty area off a free-kick and Zaccardo miscued his clearance into his own net. The Americans were level and sensed a surviving chance. A minute later, frustrated by being level De Rossi elbowed Brian McBride in the face and received the first red card from card-happy Jorge Larrionda. Three minutes from the break, Pablo Mastroeni, was the second person to receive a red card and made to walk the walk of shame, for a challenge on Andrea Pirlo. Just after the break, Eddie Pope received a second yellow for a foul on Gilardino.

This game was hard and well fought by the US contingent and a well deserved draw, despite being a man down for most of the game, but this does not take away the fact that this was a horrid and ungamely match as both teams went all out and after each others' throat. This was indeed a war.