Group C Final: Sweden and Denmark Through in Tragic End for Italy
June 23, 2004
Call it a conspiracy but it came just as some Italians had feared: Scandinavian rivals managed a 2-2 draw which eliminated Italy from the tournament. Sweden, Denmark and Italy all finished with five points in Group C but despite Italy's win over Bulgaria, the Nordic neighbors go through to the knock-out round.
Both matches took place in rather un-Portuguese conditions, as rain poured down in Porto and Guimaraes. That made play occasionally sloppy, but no less passionate.
Denmark were all set to take the three points after two goals from Jon Dahl Tomasson before Mattias Jonson popped up with an equalizer two minutes from the end after Henrik Larsson had scored Sweden's first from the penalty spot.
Regardless of Italian theories that the Scandinavians would work for a mutually beneficial draw, both teams came to the pitch ready to fight for the win. But the Danes were stronger early and Tomasson's first goal came in the 28th minute. That shocked the Swedes, who realized they were being too passive.
Sweden had a number of chances but the Danish keeper Thomas Sørenson held everything that came his way. Only a penalty shot awarded to Henrik Larsson in the 47th minute allowed Sweden to equalize. But the men in yellow didn't dominate the match much longer.
In the 66th minute Tomasson struck for the second time and it looked like Sweden was out of the tournament. Only the last minute strike from Jonson allowed both Scandinavian sides to advance...at the expensive of Italy.
Azzuri win and still lose
Italy's first win of the tournament against the already eliminated Bulgarians was only good enough for a third-placed finish in group C behind Denmark and Sweden.
The Azzuri suffered the ultimate heartbreak as an injury-time goal by Antonio Cassano was enough to beat Bulgaria 2-1 just as Sweden had secured the draw against Denmark.
Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni was without three key players because of suspensions - Francesco Totti, Gennaro Gattuso and captain Fabio Cannavaro - while injury robbed him of a starting role for striker Christian Vieri.
Bulgaria, playing only for pride, went ahead just before half-time when Martin Petrov netted a penalty before Simone Perrotta levelled the scores three minutes after the break. That forced Italy to ratchet up the attack and they equalized in the 48th minute.
Cassano had appeals for a penalty waved away 13 minutes from time when he fell under Zdravkov's challenge before Gianluca Zambrotta's curler was deflected wide. Late into injury time Cassano eventually put Italy ahead, but his celebration quickly turned to tears as he found out Sweden's own late goal had eliminated his team.