KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany - Message to FIFA: Take three or even four players out of every game and you've got a thriller.

Just instruct your referees to follow the example of Uruguayan Jorge Larrionda and you'll have wide-open matches with teams playing nine a side.

Larrionda ejected two Americans and one Italian player in Saturday's 1-1 draw in the World Cup, and the final 43 minutes of the game it was nine against 10 instead of 11 vs. 11.

That meant end-to-end soccer, with shots and saves to thrill the crowd at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion as FIFA president Sepp Blatter watched from the VIP box.

Sorry. Blatter and the fans know deep down this isn't how it should happen.

Although the absence of the three players accidentally created a thrilling spectacle, soccer is all about skillfully creating those chances. It's not about desperate attempts to hoist balls upfield for tired forwards to chase against exhausted defenders.

Instead of 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 formations, the Americans ended up 4-3-1 and Italy was playing 3-3-3. Red card after red card made it an unreal game and both teams will suffer down the line.

At the end, those players still on the field barely had enough energy to walk off, and now they have to lift themselves again for another game in five days.

U.S. coach Bruce Arena diplomatically said that, at this level, referees have a difficult job. Larrionda made mistakes, the same as the players, he said.

He also said he had often prepared his team for the possibility of playing 10 against 11. But never nine against 10.

U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller, the man of the match for his standout saves, described the game as "crazy." Nobody likes a game where the referee becomes the center of attention, he said.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi didn't enjoy the short-handed game, either.

His players, some of whom have been interviewed in connection with a match-fixing scandal back home, had come off a stressful and tiring 2-0 victory over Ghana. The last thing they needed was an exhausting game against the Americans with one of their players back in the locker room.

Italian midfielder Daniele De Rossi simply had to go for elbowing Brian McBride in the face and causing a wound that needed three stitches. But if Larrionda had gone about his job with a good deal more responsibility, the game may have ended up with 21 players on the field.

The fact he also ejected Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Pope on each side of halftime gave the impression the Uruguayan had lost control.

It he had given verbal warnings to the players earlier in the game before he started flashing his red and yellow cards, it's likely the fouls that followed wouldn't have happened.

Mastroeni was given a straight red for sliding into the ankles of Andrea Pirlo, the sort of challenge that usually gets a caution. Pope received two yellows, either of which would have been avoided with an earlier warning.

Now the Americans must beat Ghana to stand any chance of reaching the last 16; the Italians need only to draw to get there.

The group has turned into a thriller, but the Czechs and Ghanaians could have big advantages. They will probably be much fresher, because this tie sapped the strength of the U.S. and Italian players. At least three will be able to take a rest, missing the final group games because of suspension, further punishment for a punishing match.

As the Americans and Italians refresh themselves for their crucial upcoming games, they also hope to get officials who will let them finish with 11 players on the field.