Group C Result
Dragao - Porto
Italy 1 Larsson 50
Sweden 1 Totti 79
Stats
Report
Honours even in this closely fought game. Group leaders Italy struggled to find a footing in this match, however matched the Swedes on goal chances, although not playing the better football overall. A draw on reflection is a fair result, and one which gives the other three teams in this group a chance. The draw gives Denmark a lifeline, but they HAVE to beat Sweden in their last match to go through, and hope that Italy beat Bulgaria. Bulgaria themselves can also go through in second place if they beat the Italians and Sweden and Denmark draw, so an open group still, but Italy looks favourites to clinch the group due to their win over Denmark.
The game today was a thrilling encounter, with Sweden attacking well on the counter, Ibrahimovic did well on a few occasions just holding up the ball and bringing in support from midfield. The Italians defended well, until Celtic's departing Striker, Henrick Larsson, scored a thunderbolt from outside the box after good work from his strike partner Ibrahimovic, who held up the ball long enough for larsson to get on the end of it, and he produced a great strike to beat Buffon. The Swedes started to press the game, leaving the Italians to play on the break, but Wilhelmsson and Ljungberg played well on the flanks running at the Italian defence. Italy had a few good chances, and were guilty of missing a few headers also, but mostly were left to half chances which they couldn't convert, until the 79th minute. Vieri found space, crossed into the box, and Totti took up position and executed a stunning volley, incidently, similar to that of Wilhelmsson's strike against Bulgaria, so we have yet another candidate for goal of the tournament. So the game finished level, and the group situation looks like this:
group standings:
Team…pts……..G.D.
Italy…… .4………..3
Sweden…2……….0
Bulgaria...2……..0
Denmark..1.... -3
yes, Bulgaria and Sweden are tied for second, but Sweden remain in second as they have scored one more goals than Bulgaria, eventhough they have the same goal difference. But either team can qualify now, but as you can clearly see, the different scenarios that have developed now, which is taking this group right down to the wire.