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| 14th June - 17.00 - Group C Match | ||||
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| 0 - 0 | ||||
| Denmark Team | Italy Team | |||
Thomas Sorensen |
Gianluigi Buffon Christian Panucci Fabio Cannavaro Alessandro Nesta Gianluca Zambrotta Cristiano Zanetti Simone Perrotta Mauro Camoranesi Francesco Totti Alessandro Del Piero Christian Vieri |
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| Denmark Subs | Italy Subs | |||
| Peter Skov-Jensen Stephan Andresen Kasper Bogelund Thomas Kahlenberg Per Kroldrup Claus Jensen Brian Priske Kenneth Perez Peter Madsen Peter Lovenkrands |
Francesco Toldo Angelo Peruzzi Massimo Oddo Matteo Ferrari Gennaro Gattuso Bernardo Corradi Stefano Fiore Giuseppe Favalli Marco Di Vaio Antonio Cassano Andrea Pirlo Marco Materazzi |
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| Match Report |
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This opening match was a typically cagey start from the resolute Italians who had to do their fair share of defending against a spritely Danish side. Trapattoni chose not to start with midfield general Gattuso - instead preferring Simone Perrotta. They missed the drive and energy that Gattuso brought in a match lacking sparkle.
The Danes started well with strikeforce Tomasson and Sand looking bright. They were well marshalled though by the central defence partnership of Nesta and Cannavaro - thought of by many as two of the best defenders in the World. Italian golden boy Francesco Totti drew the first save of magnitude by forcing Sorenson to tip wide his 35 yard free kick. Danish right-back Helveg then asked Buffon to be just as alert with a stinging rive from outside the box. Sorenson was required again at the end of the first half to make a good double-save from usually-lethal forwards Vieri and Del Piero. Indeed, both goalkeepers needed to be on top form to keep their respective clean sheets. On a few occasions in the second half Tomasson found himself with opportunities but Buffon was equal to him every time. A frustrating day in front of goal for the Danes who proved that they can match Italy when they play well. Neither side will be delighted with the result because both will feel they could have won. Italy will have to play much better if they are to go one step further than they did in 2000. The Danes could live upto their reputation as a team who can beat anybody in their day, but failure to add an Italian scalp could come back to haunt them with tough games against the Bulgarians and the Swedes still to come. |
