• The Socceroos were tough on Italy. The referee was tougher on Australia. Another questionable call in this World Cup showed Italy the way to the quarter-final Monday, giving the Italians a penalty kick that Francesco Totti converted for the 1-0 win as time expired. – The Houston Chronicle
  • Totti’s redemption was a dramatic end to a disappointingly slow-paced, slow-witted game, the only other notable feature of which was the ridiculous dismissal of Italian defender Marco Materazzi … Australia may have enjoyed a numerical advantage, but it quickly became clear they were still trailing in terms of quality: while the Italians were failing to get their act together in the penalty box, they were still enjoying the
    lion’s share of possession. The Aussies did manufacture one chance – with ten minutes to go, Tim Cahill rose unchallenged to meet a corner, but headed well over the bar from eight yards out – but the rest of the match passed by without Gigi Buffon having to make a serious save. – Scott Murray, The Guardian
  • The end came as Australia seemed already preparing itself for extra time and exhibiting chaotic confusion in their defence each time Italy managed to pressure … Australia used its man advantage to create a number of well-coordinated attacks on the Italian goal. Few, however, resulted in real chances as the formidable Italian defence held its ground … The Australians, even as they managed to push play into the Italian box, didn’t seem to be able to generate a shot. Frequently, the attacks ended in missed passes or poor footwork. – Der Spiegel
  • By contrast with the Italians, Australia are the self-styled masters of self-belief. Ask them if the glass if half empty or full and they would say it was a free bar, and even the absence of Harry Kewell with an ankle injury failed to douse their spirit. Italy’s wastefulness improved their mood further … At the other end, Mark Viduka was struggling against the pace, power and positional sense of Fabio Cannavaro. How he must have pined for his old Leeds United colleague, Kewell, because Australia’s only
    outball was the hoof until the sending off saw them dominate. – Rick Broadbent, The Times
  • The Socceroos, who had escaped on numerous occasions when Italy’s strikers should have done better, failed to make the most of their one-man advantage despite a wealth of possession. Tim Cahill, with a header, and Bresciano, with a long-range stinger, came closest to snatching what had appeared to be an unlikely win before the game
    late on. But, in truth, Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon was largely untested and Guus Hiddink’s side paid the price in the third minute of stoppage time when Totti, surprisingly left out in favour Alessandro del Piero, bagged his first goal of the competition. – Mumbai Mirror
  • The Australians failed to break Italy down and paid the ultimate price when substitute Francesco Totti scored an injury-time penalty… – The Daily Mail
  • The Italians continued to make unforced errors and were quite happy to play inside their own half and hit the Aussies in the counter-attack. It could have worked had Gattuso delivered a good ball to an unmarked Del Piero inside the area but his cross was too long. The Aussies failed to take advantage of their numerical superiority as Italy kept their composure in defence. Bresciano again tested Buffon before the same player’s corner saw Cahill head over. – ESPN
  • Italy spent most of the rest of the game on the defence, but Cannavaro and Buffon generally appeared to have matters in hand. The Australians were good at reaching the edge of the penalty area but then ran out of ideas. – International Herald Tribune
  • What an escape for Italy and what utter, brutal heartbreak for Australia. Down to ten men and slowly crumbling under wave after relentless wave of late Australian attack, Marcello Lippi’s team won a dubious penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage time, duly converted by Francesco Totti. It all came down to football intelligence. – The Telegraph