Lightning Strikes Twice for Italy in Overtime as Archundia Sets Record in Dortmund

I spent the day walking around the center of Berlin – along the River Spree and down to the Brandenburg Gate. Seeing all the people milling about, it was hard to imagine that less than two decades earlier I would’ve been standing alongside the Wall – on the east side.

I took a few minutes to look at a memorial near the entrance to Fan Fest where a makeshift memorial had been erected along a fence to remember some of the people who had died trying to escape the repressive Communist regime that once ruled these parts. For Gen-Xers like myself, a divided Germany was what we knew throughout our formative years and beyond.

Thankfully, those days are behind us now and the world slowly evolves. Hopefully we can continue to adapt to a changing planet and lift each other up in the process.

Along those lines, I wandered back towards HQ from the Brandenburg Gate along the Unter den Linden – aka ‘Embassy Row’, at least to me. A couple of clicks to the east, amongst a number of impressive museums and churches, I came upon something bizarre that I’d passed on the bus ride from the airport to the Alexanderplatz a few days earlier; a square filled with nearly a hundred-and-fifty six-foot tall fiberglass bears each painted in a unique way.

So I stopped to take a look and quickly learned that FIFA had commissioned the display to promote unity amongst the people of this planet. The display at the entrance to the plaza had text written in several languages and here’s some of what it said: “We have to get to know each other…it makes us understand one another better, trust each other more, and live together more peacefully.”

As someone who believes in the power of football, the statement above resonated deeply within me when I read it…and that’s why I wanted to share it with you.

Each of the nearly 150 artistically-designed bears was unique in its representation of a different country. And while some were more aesthetically pleasing than others, two in particular specifically built upon the message of peace – Bhutan, a sacred nation high in the Himalayas, and Jamaica, an island nation in the Caribbean known for its positive vibrations and optimism. Also, the Vietnamese bear had this quote inscribed on it, “He Who Doesn’t Love, Doesn’t Live.”

Additionally, there was one metallic-looking bear on all fours (unlike all the others that were on their hind legs only) at the front of the plaza that was intentionally set apart from the others in a conspicuous location. On it was this quote by Albert Einstein, “Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.”

And with that, we now turn to the 9pm kickoff from Dortmund between hosts Germany and a new-look Italian squad. Promoting fair play was none other than the referee who always seems to be happy despite the gravity of the situation – Mexico’s Benito Archundia, who was about to referee a record fifth match at one World Cup finals. Clearly, FIFA had a lot of faith in this guy, and frankly, he’s proven himself to be a consistently even-handed official in each of his previous four matches.

As he walked out of the tunnel, smiling as usual, with the teams behind him, I predicted a 1 – nil result for the home side, confident that the Mexican official would continue to shine.

Fireworks would go off outside of our window during the German national anthem. I found it somewhat ironic that this was America’s Day of Independence from its colonial birth under the imperialistic reign of the British monarchy.

And with that, the match commenced.

Italy controlled the ball to start, but lost it in the second minute due to the first of many offside calls against them. Gattuso committed a foul in the following minute, but Perrotta would soon be fouled at the other end of the pitch. This would lead to Lehmann’s first save of the match as the ball skimmed off the shoulder of a defender.

Good ‘no-call’ by Archundia in the 5th, but moments later the whistle would go Germany’s way when Pirlo took down Ballack. Klose went down two minutes later and it was hard to tell if the ref played the advantage or simply felt there had been no foul. Either way, Germany maintained possession as the striker may have embellished a bit.

A good Italian movement would lead to a corner kick in the 11th, but that would eventually end with a goal kick. Back the other way, Lukas Podolski’s shot from nineteen was blocked by a defender and then Pirlo was fouled going back the other way. But that attack would end with Zambrotta being called for offside. Shortly thereafter Italy had the ball again and it was Toni who was offside going down the left flank.

Germany mounted a flowing attack, but Podolski was too late to arrive on the scene in the box to get a shot off. Still in that end, Ballack nodded the ball over a defender as he ran laterally up at the top of the box. The Italian moved his upper arm slightly towards the ball and it skimmed off the outside of his right shoulder. Ballack waved his arm emphatically, hoping to get a penalty kick for this slight infraction, but Archundia wasn’t buying it. Technically, yes, one could perhaps argue that this was hand-to-ball, but to give a penalty for something so trifling would have been an injustice. I was glad that Archundia stood his ground despite the brief protest.

Back the other way, and Perrotta was sent through on goal with a well-timed pass. Lehmann came at him like a bat out of hell and knocked the ball away just before he clattered into the hard-charging Italian. Perrotta was down for a minute, but no foul had been committed.

Back and forth it went, Germany eventually winning a corner in the 17th, but it would only result in a throw-in for Italy. They’d get fouled then lose the ball, win it back, then lose it again, eventually resulting in a little foul by Materazzi on Podolski. The Polish-born German would soon get a shot off from sixteen, but his effort was well over the crossbar.

In the 22nd, Ballack wanted a foul he didn’t deserve, but moments later the home side would get a whistle near midfield. Some brief words were exchanged by the players, but Archundia was quickly on the scene – for the first time in the match – then spotted the ball for the German free kick.

The attack would soon die with the ball in Buffon’s arms. And going back upfield for Italy, Zambrotta was fouled by Borowski. The ball was sent into the mixer and it may have gone off Borowski and out over the end line, but a goal kick was signaled and play continued with Lehmann’s kick.

In the 27th, Borowski begged for a call he didn’t get, but moments later Klose was fouled anyway. The attack would end when Materazzi was fouled late in the penalty area.

The first card of the match seemed likely when Phillipp Lahm took down an Italian attacker near his own corner after he’d been beaten, but Archundia merely sent him a look that merited caution on the part of the German defender. This would lead to a sixteen-yard blast by Totti, but it was blocked.

Toni was offside again in the 30th, Italy would soon win it back though. Grosso nutmegged his defender then won a corner after driving into the penalty area from the left. A second corner kick was won, but that would go right to Lehmann who does well to protect his goal in these situations.

Podolski was whistled for handling the ball in the 34th, but the Germans quickly regained possession, knocked the ball around with a few nice passes, then Schneider should have done better, but only managed to crack it over the crossbar from the right side about twelve yards from goal.

At the other end, Camoranesi tried to save a difficult ball from going over the end line and ended up sliding into an advertising placard a few yards off the pitch after bumping into Metzelder. The German defender had done very little, but the samurai-looking Argentine-born Italian was unwilling to shake his hand as he ignored the outstretched arm on his way back up the pitch.

Mertesacher gave up a corner in the 37th. It was easily cleared and then going back the other way Ballack committed a foul near the corner flag. The AR set the spot since the Italian kicker tried to move it forward a yard or three.

In the 39th it appeared that Germany might have gotten fouled a couple of times, but the ref seemed content to let ‘em play, judging that no infraction had been committed. In the following minute, however, there was no mistaking Borowski’s tackle from behind and he was shown the first yellow card of the match. After another German foul, the ball would be headed over the crossbar by the Italians.

In the 43rd, and it seemed very out-of-the-blue to me, the referee warned Jens Lehmann about time-wasting as he set up to take a goal kick. Maybe that was just Archundia’s way of nipping things in the bud.

Perrotta was called for a foul in the 44th and showed the referee what he thought of that by signaling with his hands that Ballack had taken a dive. Consensus amongst the guys I was with seemed to agree with the Italian assessment of things.

In the 45th, Totti charged recklessly towards Ballack for the ball and the German bent over, thus allowing the Italian’s momentum to carry him over Ballack’s back in a spectacular flip. Fully aware of the situation, the referee whistled Totti for his out-of-control charge on the play.

And the final act of the scoreless first half was another offside decision against the rangy Luca Toni. In all, it was fairly entertaining and evenly played as both teams had a number of goal-scoring opportunities.

Things started off slowly in the second half and then each team would be flagged for offside in the 47th and 48th minutes respectively. In the 50th, Klose found some space and drove into the box with Gennaro Gattuso hassling him along the way. As a result, his shot as he went to ground wasn’t terribly dangerous as the Italian midfielder had done well to track him back into his own penalty area.

Back the other way Grosso made a slashing run into the box, but he was offside when he received the pass.

In the 54th Friedrich gave up a corner that he probably shouldn’t have, but Lehmann was right there to snag it out of the air anyway. Borowski wasted an opportunity a minute later and in the 56th, Podolski was called for a wayward arm that found Materazzi’s head.

In the 56th minute Metzelder came in from behind to win a ball, but would earn himself a yellow card in the process as Archundia didn’t want to let things get away from him.

A high boot by Toni in the 59th was followed by a bit of an elbow by Totti – a good call that was difficult to spot in real time. Perrotta was offside once Italy won the ball back and then there was a good no-call in the 62nd as Italy gathered some momentum.

Momentum they would soon lose as Germany built the attack quickly out of the back, eventually getting the ball wide to Schneider who found Podolski with his back to goal about ten yards out and to the right. The striker turned on a dime, but Buffon fisted the ball clear and the rebounded shot was well over its intended target.

Totti was fouled in the 64th and then a surprising call was made against Toni moments later. It was unclear what he had done, even to Jurgen Klinsmann, who looked slightly puzzled along the toucline.

Grosso would win a call, but Italy would quickly return it when Zambrotta was whistled for backing into Borowski on an aerial ball. Podolski was unable to beat Cannavarro and then Borowski would once again protest from the ground near the touchline, but it seemed like he had taken a bit of a dive.

Materazzi was fouled in his own box in the 69th and then Camoranesi was flagged for offside at the other end of the park.

In the 72nd, Gattuso went down injured and Klose came over to help him stretch his leg. Again, referees love seeing this kind of sportsmanship. Players taking care of one another really makes for a better game for everyone involved.

Moments after Borowski exited the match to make way for Schweinsteiger, Totti was called for backing into an opponent. Then a straight striker-for-striker switch was made for Italy as Gilardino came on for Toni. The fresh-legged forward was almost immediately called for offside.

They’d win the ball back and force a corner on a long cross. That would amount to nothing and in the 77th Ballack came in a bit late on Camoranesi. Pirlo’s blistering effort from thirty-five yards out was directly at Lehmann. And then going back upfield, Gautsso committed a foul against Ballack.

In the 81st was, to the viewer at home, a controversial moment. Materazzi was called for foul in the back of an opponent and the ball was set about twenty yards from goal. On replay, however, it was clear that if a foul had been committed, then it was done so inside the penalty area. But as referees, we’ve all been there. Sometimes when it’s really close like that you can sell it as though it happened outside rather than inside the box. And that’s what Archundia did with little or no protest from either team.

Ballack’s kick was nowhere near the target and then Odonkor came in to replace the marginally-effective Bernd Schneider. Italy was offside once again soon thereafter and then it was Ballack committing at least his third foul on the rugged Gennaro Gattuso.

In the 88th, Lehmann made a great play against an onside Perrotta and with Italy still on the attack, Lahm made a nice defensive play when the ball was sent through by Italy. Mauro Camoranesi was rightly booked in the 90th when he came in from behind and then even committed another foul in the same minute. The free kick, which was much like a corner, was headed out of danger and Archundia would blow his whistle soon thereafter.

At midfield for the coin toss before the overtime periods were to begin, the referee continued his upbeat ways, smiling during the brief ceremony.

Italy would have three strikers now instead of their usual two as Iaquinta came on to replace Camoranesi, who actually had been pushing forward from midfield for much of the match. The offensive maneuver almost paid immediate dividends as Gilardino found himself all alone in front of Lehmann near the right post. He didn’t get much on the ball, but found a crack in the German’s armor, slipping the ball past him and off the bottom of the post.

Italy would then win a corner, from which the ball would fall to Zambrotta whose crushing effort from the top of the penalty area rattled the crossbar. The Germans were quite fortunate not to be down a goal at this point as Italy won another corner.

This they would survive unscathed before heading back up the other way where Lahm was held down low near the corner by Zambrotta. The Italians would clear this, but then Germany found the ball near midfield and driving back, a wicked shot found Materazzi’s head and sent him to the ground.

In the 98th, Podolski appeared to slip to the left of the Italian penalty area, but the referee would award him a free kick he probably didn’t deserve as Cannavarro was demonstrative in his protest. It was a dangerous opportunity for the Germans, but nothing would come of it.

Pirlo’s shot in the 102nd was way over the target and a minute later it was Ballack and not the Italians who was performing some theatrics, clutching his face when on replay it appeared that he’d never even been touched. Moments later the Italians, clearly not wanting to go into penalties, brought on their fourth striker, Juventus’ Alessandro del Piero.

During the minute of stoppage time, Totti seemed like he might have been fouled, but the whistle never blew and Germany quickly countered. The ball was centered to Lukas Podolski whose header from twelve yards out posed very little threat to Buffon’s goal, despite shouts of excitement coming from nearby apartment windows.

In the second fifteen-minute overtime, Iaquinta won an Italian corner, but Lehmann was there as usual. Two minutes later, Del Piero thought he’d been obstructed then tripped his opponent from behind out of frustration.

In the 110th, Odonkor looked to the AR for a call, but got nothing. Neuville came in for Klose a minute later and then Italy, onside, were snuffed by the German defense.

Back the other way and Podolski found himself unmarked fifteen yards out and at an angle. Buffon stoned him, but Germany would win a corner.

Back the other way it would go though, and Italy won a corner…Podolski was called for a foul…and then Pirlo was fouled for Italy. Back and forth it went before Pirlo’s rippin’ shot from thirty yards forced a tough save and ultimately went out for an Italian corner.

In the 119th minute, there it was, Pirlo collected the ball just outside the German penalty area and sent a deft through-ball about six yards ahead to an onside Fabio Grosso – the defender that Australians still claim took a dive to beat them in the Round of 16. On this occasion, however, there was no controversy as Grosso one-timed it with his left foot and curled it around Lehmann and just inside the far left post.

It was unthinkable, Germany were out. For how could they possibly score now with so little time left. However, as little time as there was, Italy still had time for a second as they stole the ball near midfield with the German defenders pushing all the way up. Two-on-one, the ball was sent left to Del Piero who drove in towards Lehmann before side-footing it to the far right post past the helpless keeper.

Two goals in three minutes for a shock finish in Dortmund.

In the end, the Italian squad and its fans should be proud of their performance amongst difficult circumstances. Not only did they manage to shut down Miroslav Klose and the rest of the German attack, but they did so in a way that did not detract from the game. They played with both offense and defense in mind and did so without resorting to the typical gamesmanship that so often plagues their matches. The Azurri proved their mettle today and in doing so, have perhaps muted their critics in the process.

Hopefully they can give another performance like that on Sunday. And maybe Archundia will be there again as well.

Until France v Portugal and another look at Uruguay’s Jorge Larrionda – the referee who’s been on the receiving end of so much derision and scorn by the American public and press…

peace,
ac