World Cup 'diver' Fabio Grosso admits laying it on

[rossie]

ITALY'S 2006 World Cup ''diver'' against the Socceroos has admitted he ''accentuated a little bit'' to earn the match-winning penalty.

Defender Fabio Grosso insisted that a controversial challenge by Socceroos defender Lucas Neill deserved a penalty.

Speaking to Australian media for the first time in an exclusive interview with new magazine Football +, Grosso justified his dramatic tumble in Kaiserslautern because he felt a touch by Neill and was tired after an exhausting match.

“It’s been a long time since 2006 but I say this with as much sincerity as I possibly can,” Grosso told the magazine.

“In this instance when Neill slid in, maybe I accentuated it a little bit.

“However you must remember it was the last minute of an extremely difficult game and everyone was tired.”

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Australian fans require no reminder of the incident that occurred in the dying seconds of the Round of 16 match – many claiming the Azzurri star dived to win the penalty.

Grosso burst into Australia’s penalty box to spark a sliding tackle by Neill that led to the Italian tumbling over the prone Australian.

For the Italian defender, with his team playing with 10 men after fellow defender Marco Materazzi had been sent off earlier in the game, the consequence of the challenge was clear.

“I felt the contact so I went down,” Grosso told Football +.

“Therefore, I say again, I didn’t initiate it … it’s true that I felt the touch and didn’t have the strength to go forward. Some people believe me and some don’t. However for me, even after seeing the video images, it’s a penalty.

“I admit that it wasn’t glamorous but it wasn’t a scandal.”

The resulting penalty scored by Francesco Totti destroyed Australia’s chances of extending a fairytale run in the World Cup.

However, Grosso said Australia had been one of Italy’s tougher opponents during its 2006 World Cup campaign

“Their technical and tactical quality was very good,” Grosso said. “We knew they were good but they showed they are quality players.”

[the_gun]

http://www.footballnews.com.au/forum/vi ... 23&t=45593

[Hetro Metro]

Regardless, Neill should have stayed up on his feet

[Loppermann]

Regardless, Neill should have stayed up on his feet

so?
your dad should have used a condom, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have to pretend to like you

[Bresciano]

Best team one. If Italy had taken its chances would have been over at half time - Toni missed everything.

[Loppermann]

Best team one. If Italy had taken its chances would have been over at half time - Toni missed everything.

oh, the "our strikers couldn't hit a barn door so we deserved to win" argument again
to deserve to win you have to finish your chances

[redlad]

DIVE!

DIIIIIIVE!

DIIIIVEE!

[Bresciano]

Best team one. If Italy had taken its chances would have been over at half time - Toni missed everything.

oh, the "our strikers couldn't hit a barn door so we deserved to win" argument again
to deserve to win you have to finish your chances

Fair call

[Salpigidis]

Regardless, Neill should have stayed up on his feet

so?
your dad should have used a condom, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have to pretend to like you

geese thats a little extreme isnt it?

[Loppermann]

Regardless, Neill should have stayed up on his feet

so?
your dad should have used a condom, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have to pretend to like you

geese thats a little extreme isnt it?

so's the news sometimes
doesn't stop it being true

[Googłe [Bot]]

Regardless, Neill should have stayed up on his feet

so?
your dad should have used a condom, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have to pretend to like you

geese thats a little extreme isnt it?

Geese is a fowl... maybe it was a penalty.