Italy is always so-so in the first round. Doing just enough to go to next round. For what it's worth, the US players should have adjusted to the ref, just as NBA players do when every tickytack foul is called. Lack of experience.
In the 1998 World Cup red cards where all over the first round, because refs took the pre-tournament FIFA instructions literal. Fortunately, this was the first ref that did so in 2006. Don't blame him. Blame FIFA.
Good result for US. Lucky own goal. Ref was right about offside goal, though. Keeper's view was obstructed by offside player.
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