That's the thing, it's part of football. It's not nice, sporting or respectful, but as long as it's within the rules you do anything to win a big match - and you accept the consequences (cards, hate etc.)
It's your role as a player to do it and it's my role as the opposition supporter to be annoyed by it and get angry/insult you; neither is wrong. Of course you can take the moral high ground and not do those things, but in very big matches I'd surely be glad if my players tried anything if it was necessary to win.
Now, I don't consider that of last night a big match, but if it was important for your players - and given that there was only a 1-goal difference and they were under heavy pressure - and if I think about it with a cool head, I can't rationally begrudge them anything. Irrationally, I'm an Italian supporter and I'll obviously absolutely hate to see them do it.
On another note, some English football fans (not referring to this site) have a weird perception of what "cheating" is in football; I remember some Tottenham fans saying we were cheats for defending a 2-1 against them, or making a tactical foul. Same thing happened for Chiellini's tactical foul on Saka at the Euros. It was a textbook tactical foul, also with 0 harm done to the opposing players which isn't exactly a given. And yet people shouted about red cards ( ) and clamored about cheating. Defending isn't cheating, it's just defending. The rules are still always applied, e.g. if you make a foul like that one you know you'll obviously get a yellow.
I also always found it funny that you call them "dark arts", it's a very magical and charming way to describe some of the most unsophisticated, banal actions in the game. Adds a nice mystical aura to them lol
Some English fans, like the one quoted below, also refuse to accept that times have changed and that furbo is now global.
Harry Kane dives, whisper cozy things in the ears of referees, make rough challenges on players who last had the ball a minute ago, tries to break the necks of his opponents. Like Inzaghi x10.
Jack Grealish is not much better - he'd sell his mother for a free kick. Its enough to be on the same pitch as him and he'll just throw himself to the ground.
As for Veltman, I wouldn't be shocked to see him leave for Juventus this summer. Massively experienced player with the right attitude and right desire to win, would be quite cheap and maybe not mind that sort of adventure. Think Lichtsteiner or Mellberg kind of signing - proven, cheap quality.
If you say so. But if he wanted to go down and waste time, why not take a step onto the pitch, and then go down? It looked like he went down because it actually hurt. There were plenty of 'oh my head' opportunities that our team didn't take. And if you think we cheated as much as the Italians, I think you're mad. They're born cheats. Take the Euros, when Immobile tried to buy a penalty, and when his teammate scored his broken leg was immediately cured.
I know Kane cheats, he's one of our worst, but even he can't hold a candle to the Italians.