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| 18th June - 19.45 - Group C Match | ||||
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| 1 - 1 | ||||
| Italy Team | Sweden Team | |||
Gianluigi Buffon |
Andreas Isaksson Mikael Nilsson Olof Mellberg Andreas Jakobsson Erik Edman Christian Wilhelmsson Tobias Linderoth Anders Svensson Fredrik Ljungberg Henrik Larsson Zlatan Ibrahimovic |
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| Italy Subs | Sweden Subs | |||
| Angelo Peruzzi Francesco Toldo Mauro German Camoranesi Bernardo Corradi Marco Di Vaio Giuseppe Favalli Matteo Ferrari Stefano Fiore Marco Materazzi Massimo Oddo Cristiano Zanetti |
Magnus Kihlstedt Magnus Hedman Marcus Allback Anders Andersson Pontus Farnerud Petter Hansson Mattias Jonson Kim Kallstrom Teddy Lucic Johan Mjallby Alexander Ostlund Erik Wahlstedt |
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| Match Report |
| A dramatic late equaliser from Zlatan Ibrahimovic put Sweden in a strong position to qualify from Group C as they drew 1-1 with Italy to remain top above Denmark on goal difference.
Antonio Cassano had opened the scoring in the first half of a game that Italy largely dominated, but Sweden staged a late rally in the closing stages and substitute Mattias Jonson forced Gianluigi Buffon into a fine reaction save after he had been picked out by Henrik Larsson's penetrating diagonal pass. The pressure eventually paid off when Ibrahimovic profited from a goalmouth scramble, acrobatically hooking a shot over the head of Vieri on the line and into the top corner with five minutes remaining. Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni had made three changes from the side that was held to a goalless draw by Denmark, with AC Milan pair Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo replacing Cristiano Zanetti and Mauro Camoranesi in midfield and Cassano stepping in for the suspended Francesco Totti. Sweden made just one alteration, as right-back Teddy Lucic – injured in the 5-0 win against Bulgaria – was replaced by Mikael Nilsson, with Christian Wilhelmsson slotting into the right side of a midfield diamond. Cassano, making his first start in a major tournament, was handed a free role behind Alessandro Del Piero and Vieri and immediately caused Sweden problems with his movement. In the third minute his first-time pass sent Vieri clear in the penalty area but after swivelling past Andreas Jakobsson the striker was denied by the onrushing Andreas Isaksson. Five minutes later, Cassano's menacing dribble was halted by Erik Edman but the loose ball dropped for Simone Perrotta whose low drive was parried by Isaksson. Sweden created their first chance after 13 minutes when Ibrahimovic released Fredrik Ljungberg on the left and he cleverly back-heeled the ball back into Ibrahimovic's path only for the striker to shoot over. Most of the pressure was at the other end, however, and Cassano delivered a teasing right-wing cross that was headed over by Vieri. Seconds later Gianluca Zambrotta beat Nilsson before cutting back for Del Piero who sidefooted wide. The energetic Ljungberg posed the occasional threat on the break, notably in the 26th minute when Buffon had to be alert to save at the midfield player's feet, but the vast majority of first-half attacking came from Italy. Isaksson tipped Del Piero's deflected effort round the post just before the half-hour and Vieri headed over another good chance before Cassano finally opened the scoring eight minutes before the break. Christian Panucci delivered an inswinging cross from the right and, with the Sweden defence attempting to play offside, Cassano found himself all alone to coolly beat Isaksson with a glancing header. Gattuso and Fabio Cannavaro both picked up bookings which means they will miss Italy's next match against the eliminated Bulgarians, but Italy were soon on top after the restart as Vieri's near-post volley from Panucci's cross flashed narrowly wide. Vieri then slipped Del Piero clear through the middle, and with Isaksson stranded on the edge of his area, the Juventus FC forward scooped the ball over the goalkeeper's head but Jakobsson was on hand to clear off the line. Sweden introduced Kim Källström in place of Anders Svensson on 54 minutes and the midfield player soon produced his team's first effort on target, drilling a low shot straight at Buffon from long range. Italy began to defend deeper as the game moved into its final quarter, and Trapattoni's decision to replace goalscorer Cassano with midfield player Stefano Fiore with 20 minutes left was a clear indication of his intentions. However, Italy were punished by Ibrahimovic's late strike, although Vieri twice sent free headers over the crossbar in added time and Panucci headed wide in the final minute as the Azzurri belatedly pressed for a winner. |
