That penalty sucks

Francesco Totti sucks his thumb after the controversial penalty that sunk the Socceroos. It's over. Australia bowed out of the World Cup on Monday after an injury-time penalty by Francesco Totti left the Socceroos beaten by the weight of history as much as anything else. Italy, who have won the World Cup three times, have marched into the last eight at the Socceroos' expense.

At the Fritz-Walter Stadion in Kaiserslautern - scene of the epic win over Japan - Australia couldn't quite re-invent history, again. The mood was there, inside the stadium, and outside, where the streets and squares thronged with green-and-gold anticipation. But the moment wasn't. Not quite.

But Australia were far from disgraced. The Socceroos leave the world stage having won an army of new admirers and with their reputations enhanced.

The Socceroos are out because of a woeful refereeing decision, but they are not the only team to claim that. Spanish official Victor Carrasco, the same man who adjudicated the play-off against Uruguay in Sydney, was sucked in by a piece of amateur theatrics from Italian fullback Fabio Grosso in the 93rd minute.

Lucas Neill, again one of Australia's best, got in a tangle at the byline, but there was only minimal contact. Carrasco saw what no one else did, and pointed to the spot. Substitute Totti took the burden, and delivered the penalty to decide the match. There wasn't even time for a kick-off.

Cruel, tough, unjust. Maybe.