Italy's players looked utterly inconsolable after crashing out of Euro 2004
on a gloomy, rainswept night in northern Portugal despite a 2-1 win over
Bulgaria in their final Group C match.
Italy's Antonio
Cassano kicks a bottle of water during Euro 2004 Group C soccer match
against Bulgaria at the Afonso Henriques stadium in Guimaraes, June 22,
2004. Italy won the match 2-1 but did not qualify for the next round.
[Reuters] |
Antonio Cassano's winner four
minutes into stoppage time sent the players and their bench into wild
celebration which was cut short almost immediately as news filtered through from
Porto 40 kilometres away that Sweden and Denmark had drawn 2-2 in the other
match -- a result which meant Italy were out.
From (L-R) Italy's
coach Giovanni Trapattoni, Andrea Pirlo (hidden), Alessandro Nesta, Marco
Materazzi and Christian Vieri react after the second goal for their team
during an Euro 2004 Group C soccer match against Bulgaria at the Afonso
Henriques Stadium in Guimaraes, June 22, 2004.
[Reuters] |
Before the match much Italian
media speculation focused on Denmark and Sweden playing for a high-scoring draw
that would take both countries into the quarter-finals.
Bulgaria's Zdravko
Lazarov (R) is tackled by Italy's Gianluca Zambrotta (L) during their Euro
2004 Group C soccer match at the Afonso Henriques stadium in Guimaraes,
June 22, 2004. [Reuters] |
However, the two
coaches and players from both Scandinavian teams had laughed off suggestions of
a fix.
Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni said his team was going home with their
pride intact -- but the feeling remains that Italy have under-achieved.
Bulgaria's Martin
Petrov (C) who pulled off his jersey celebrates with team mates his first
goal against Italy during their Euro 2004 Group C soccer match at the
Afonso Henriques Stadium in Guimaraes, June 22, 2004.
[Reuters] |
"We leave with our heads held
high, especially because we deserved to win the previous match against Sweden,"
he said afterwards.
He also complained about Russian referee Valentin Ivanov, saying: "We
conceded a penalty, but I saw at least a couple of fouls that could have given
us the chance to equalise."
Italy's team
supporter looks out from the stands after the Euro 2004 Group C soccer
match against Bulgaria at the Afonso Henriques stadium in Guimaraes, June
22, 2004. [Reuters] |
One of those was certainly the 76th minute foul on Cassano, named Man of the
Match despite a somewhat greedy performance in attack. TV replays showed he was
tripped by Bulgarian substitute Kiril Kotev and Italy should have been awarded a
penalty.
Stubborn Bulgaria
Nevertheless, the Bulgarians had proved remarkably stubborn opponents for
Italy, one of the pre-tournament favourites and runners-up to France in the
final four years ago.
Bulgaria, already eliminated and with a goal record of 0-7 following defeats
to Sweden and Denmark, stunned the Italians by taking the lead after 45 minutes
when Petrov scored with a penalty after Marco Materazzi pulled Dimitar
Berbatov's shirt.
Italy equalised three minutes into the second half when Simone Perrotta
hooked in from close range after the Bulgarians failed to clear their lines.
But despite dominating the second half, Italy failed to take the chances that
might have taken them into the last eight.
Cassano's winner was too little, too late, and moments after scoring he
kicked at a water-bottle in frustration and just crouched on the wing without
moving when Bulgaria restarted the match for the last few seconds of playing
time after his goal.
Italy paid a high price for dropping two points in their 1-1 draw with Sweden
last Friday after playing some of the best football seen in the tournament for
the first hour of the game.
Sweden's late equaliser in that match and results in other games in the group
meant that Sweden and Denmark would both advance if they drew 2-2 or better in
their final match.
In the event that is exactly what happened and Italy were eliminated by
virtue of scoring fewer goals despite finishing level on five points with
Denmark and Sweden.
Vieri plays
Italy took the field without the suspended Francesco Totti, Gennaro Gattuso
and Fabio Cannavaro, as well as striker Christian Vieri who was nursing an
injured knee on the bench.
Trapattoni decided to risk him after 53 minutes when he replaced Bernardo
Corradi but while Vieri pepped up the Italian attack, he was guilty of wasting
at least three clear scoring chances -- failing with two headers and a shot.
Italy attacked for almost the entire second half in search of a second goal
but Bulgaria were content to defend deeply and hang on for the one point they
appeared to have secured to salvage some pride before returning home.
Cassano was tireless down the wing, Andrea Pirlo probed and prompted and even
the fading glory that is Alessandro Del Piero had chances to score.
Martin Petrov then had a golden chance of winning the match for Bulgaria,
Gianluigi Buffon saving his shot after a solo run.
In the end, however, even when Italy's goal did come through Cassano, it
counted for little apart from a consolation victory.
The match was hardly a classic compared to some of the incredible games
played over the last few days, it was nevertheless a tense and keenly fought
affair which will be remembered by both teams for all the wrong reasons.
Bulgaria lost, but the Italians left the field as losers with
them.
