Live from Euro 2004
Scandinavian joy, Italian agony
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| Danish players celebrates after their qualification for the quarter-finals, 22 June 2004 at Bessa stadium in Porto, during their European Nations football championship match in Portugal. Denmark and Sweden are competing in Group C. AFP PHOTO Sven NACKSTRAND |
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| Italian forward Antonio Cassano (L) and midfielder Gianluca Zambrotta look dejected, 22 June 2004 at Henriques stadium in Guimaraes, at the end of the Euro 2004 group C football match between Italy and Bulgaria at the European Nations championship in Portugal. Italy is kicked out of the competition despite winning the match 2 to 1. AFP PHOTO MLADEN ANTONOV |
Sweden and Denmark qualified for the quarter-finals and Italy were eliminated on Tuesday in dramatic fashion with late goals in both matches as the Scandinavians drew 2-2, Italy beat Bulgaria 2-1 and all three teams ended Group C with five points.
Some Italians left the pitch in tears knowing they had been eliminated on the goals scored in matches involving the three.
Denmark will now face the Czech Republic in Porto on Sunday while Sweden will discover their rivals Wednesday when Holland, Germany and Latvia will scrabble for the runners up spot in Group D.
As Italy kicked off their tie at Guimares they knew that come what may in their own match a 2-2 draw in the other tie would be enough to eliminate them, a nightmare scenario turned reality when Sweden tied their match at 2-2 just before Antonio Cassano scored Italy's winner and exploded in joy believing he had delivered a quarter-finals spot to his teammates.
Italy had gone behind to a 44th minute penalty and had played a desperately anxious match devoid of any calm. When Marco Materazzi dragged Dimitar Berbatov to the ground inside the penalty area it typified Italy's desperation. Martin Petrov making no mistake from the spot for Bulgaria's only goal of the tournament.
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| Sweden's striker Mattias Jonson (L) scores the Sweden second goal despite of enmark's goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen (2ndR), 22 June 2004 during their Euro 2004 football match at the Bessa stadium in Porto. Denmark and Sweden are competing in Group C with Italy and Bulgaria. |
They equalised through Simone Perrotta after 48 minutes and did litte until Cassano thundered a shot home on 94 minutes.
But the miracle delivery was never to be.
Had Sweden not equalised in the 89th minute they would have been packing their bags, but fourth choice striker Mattias Johnson saved them with a rebound shot.
Denmark had taken the lead through a stunning Jon Dahl Tommason strike after 28 minutes while Henrik Larsson coverted a penalty to get them square before Tomasson struck again to leave Sweden in danger of elimination until Jonson popped up to give them top spot.