６月１７日美國隊1-1站平了傳統強隊意大利，為小組出現保留了一絲希望。賽後，主教練阿雷納指責當場裁判烏拉圭人拉里昂達偏袒強隊意大利。

　　美國隊整場比賽被罰下兩人，被吹犯規２４次，而意大利隊全場只被吹了１３次。

　　“很自然，強隊在比賽中會得到裁判的一些照顧”阿雷納説，“總有一天，美國隊也會成為那樣的強隊的。”

　　阿雷納對裁判罰下場上兩人頗有意見，他幽默的説：“我們準備過１１人或者1０人的比賽，但從沒想到最後我們場上只剩下９個人。”

　　在比賽中，一向沉穩的阿雷納甚至不顧官員的警告，揮舞著手臂，大聲叫喊，對裁判的一次判罰表示抗議。他認為是意大利隊員假裝受傷。　

　　意大利主帥裏皮沒有針對阿雷納的言論發表評論。

　　阿雷納説：“裁判犯了一些錯誤。我們也是。我們必須拋開雜念，積極準備下一場比賽。我們第一場比賽輸了球，但並沒有輸掉我們的尊嚴。”

　　拉里昂達維護了自己的判罰，他説：“那三張紅牌給得一點都不冤枉，我都看得清清楚楚。”

　　這也是世界盃歷史上第四場罰下三人以上的比賽

　　鏈結：http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-fblwc2006gpeusa&prov=afp&type=lgns

　　原文：Angry America wants respect from World Cup referees

　　by Jim Slater

　　June 18, 2006

　　HAMBURG (AFP) - Angry US coach Bruce Arena expects the Americans will someday receive the same respect from World Cup referees that such powers as Italy are given.

　　Until then, the US path to World Cup success could feature more foul-filled matches as the 1-1 draw with Italy on Saturday that kept alive their chances of advancing the second round.

　　Nine-man US held off 10-man Italy in a bruising match

　　The Americans were penalised for 24 fouls, 18 in the first half. Italy were punished 13 times in the whole game.

　　"That's natural. The powers of the game get a little more respect. One day the US will get some of those calls," Arena said.

　　An animated Arena was waving his arms, yelling and complaining during the match, even being asked to calm down by a FIFA official on the sidelines as he protested what he considered to be Italian players faking injuries.

　　Italian manager Marcelo Lippi took exception to the complaint but kept his thoughts to himself after the match.

　　"I have no comment about what Mr. Arena says about us," Lippi said. "I have things to say about his people, but I'm not doing it."

　　Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda received plenty of Arena's verbal wrath, but the World Cup's longest-tenured coach said the US must ignore such things.

　　"I'm not sure I've ever coached in a game where we had two players ejected. I never expected that," Arena said. "There's not a lot you can do to prepare for that. We've trained 10 on 11 but I've never seen nine on 10.

　　"The referee made some mistakes. But so did we. We have to move on and focus on our next match."

　　That will be Thursday at Nuremberg against Ghana, the African side who upset the Czech Republic 2-0 on Saturday. The Czechs beat the United States 3-0 in their opener.

　　"We only lost a soccer game. We didn't lose our dingity, honour and respect," Arena said. "We felt we needed to step on the field and show how we can perform. I hope we play that well against Ghana."

　　The US team played 11-on-10 for much of the first half after Italy's Daniele De Rossi received a red card in the 28th minute for slamming a right elbow into the face of Brian McBride as both went for a high ball.

　　"It was a vicious elbow. It could have broken his face," Arena said.

　　"There were a lot of fouls. It made for a difficult game. Once the first red card was shown, the thinking was, 'Look for the opportunity to even things up.' That came pretty quickly."

　　Referee Jorge Larrionda defended his decisions to red-card the players, only the fourth time in World Cup history that three men have been sent off in the same match.

　　"In all three cases, I was right," said the Uruguayan. "To me the decisions were clear-cut."

　　Despite being last in Group E and producing their only goal on an own goal by Italy's Cristian Zaccardo, the Americans can still advance to the round of 16 by defeating Ghana.

　　US and Italian victories would send both winners into knockout rounds.

　　A US victory and Czech triumph would force the US to overcome a five-goal difference to Italy to advance. An Italy-Czech draw would force the US to win by four goals to have a chance of getting through.

　　"We're where we want to be - we're alive," Arena said. "Who knows what will happen? Maybe four points will be enough for the US team to get out of the group. We'll see."

　　Arena was especially proud of how the Americans held off Italy after losing Pablo Mastroeni to a 45th minute red card and Eddie Pope to a second yellow in the second minute of the second half.

　　"I thought the second yellow on Eddie Pope was a little harsh. Eddie told me in the locker room after the game he got the ball," Arena said.

　　"The way our team held together and got a point is fantastic."

　　作者-北京外國語大學英語　柳瀚

責編：佟杉杉