Sweden and Denmark played a 2-2 draw on Tuesday to reach the quarterfinals of Euro 2004, a result that automatically eliminated Italy.
Italy rallied to defeat Bulgaria 2-1 on a second-half injury time winner from Antonio Cassano. Sweden, Denmark and Italy finished level in Group C with five points, but the two Scandinavian countries advanced because of a better goal difference.
Jon Dahl Tomasson scored twice for the Danes, while Henrik Larsson also scored for Sweden. Sweden finished with a goal difference of five, Denmark (2) and Italy (1).
PHOTO: EPA
The result is sure to be controversial.
Sweden's Mattias Jonson scored one minute from the end of the game to level at 2-2, a score that guaranteed both Scandinavians would advance -- no matter Italy's outcome. At the time of the goal, Italy was level with Bulgaria at 1-1.
Italians celebrated Cassano's late winner briefly, only to learn there was no way they could advance.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Bulgaria's Martin Petrov converted a penalty kick in the final minute of the half to put Bulgaria ahead 1-0, and midfielder Simone Perrotta equalized for Italy in the 48th.
Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni was asked afterward if he had suspicions about the result.
"I have none," he said.
Asked if he would protest to UEFA, the governing body of European soccer, he replied: "Absolutely not."
UEFA also said it would not be questioning the Denmark-Sweden result.
"There isn't anything there at all," said UEFA spokesman Rob Faulkner. Asked if UEFA, the governing body of European soccer would investigate the result, he replied: "Absolutely not."
Denmark and Sweden join host Portugal, Greece, defending champion France, England and the Czech Republic as the quarterfinalists. The final spot will be filled Wednesday by one of Germany, Latvia or the Netherlands from Group D. The Czechs have clinched first in the group.
In the quarterfinals, Portugal faces England today in Lisbon's Stadium of Light. Greece plays France tomorrow in Lisbon's Jose Alvalade stadium.
On Saturday in Faro, Sweden will face the second-place team in Group D. On Sunday in Porto, the Czech Republic faces Denmark.
Meanwhile, Rooney's name was on everybody's lips after the 18-year-old followed up his two strikes in a 3-0 beating of Switzerland with two against the Croatians at Lisbon's Stadium of Light.
The powerfully-built striker made it a championship-high four goals in two games with a 22m shot, and then scored a casual placement.
The Portuguese, who surprisingly lost their opening game to Greece, beat Spain 1-0 to eliminate their neighbor and Spanish coach Inaki Saez defied strong media criticism by announcing on Tuesday he would stay on in the job.
"I have to take a decision and logically that decision is going to be to continue," Saez told reporters with the Spanish papers.
Disappointment with the national team's performance after its elimination from Euro 2004 dominated Italian headlines Wednesday -- but also suspicion that Italy was wronged by a tie between Sweden and Denmark that allowed both those teams to qualify.
"Italy's Failure," read the front page headline in sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport.
"Everyone home," was the banner headline of Corriere dello Sport. "An ugly Italy out of the Euros (2-1), the Swedes and Danes make fools of us (2-2)," the paper said.
Despite beating Bulgaria 2-1 Tuesday, Italy was eliminated from the tournament after Sweden and Denmark tied 2-2, a score that would have ousted the Italians however they performed.
Coupled with 0-0 and 1-1 ties against Denmark and Sweden in its opening matches, the result made Italy the first team to be ousted from the Euros without a loss since group play was introduced in 1980.
The one positive was the performance of young AS Roma striker Antonio Cassano, in contrast with his more established team mates, such as Alessandro Del Piero and Christian Vieri.
SEX SELLS
The striptease artist performs her act in Porto's Club Champagne wearing a skimpy top modelled on the Italian national team jersey to the delight of the many foreign football fans present.
The tens of thousands of fans, mostly men, who have made the journey to Portugal for Euro 2004 have made this a boom time for Portugal's sex industry with some brothels having to hire more girls to keep up with the surge in demand.
"In Portugal, time added on is the best part of the game," is the slogan used by strip joints, call girl agencies, brothels and more mainstream service industries alike.
Local newspapers are also being used by the industry for posting English adverts offering masseuse services that guarantee "total relaxation" as well as simply offering "Portuguese Girls" beside adverts selling match tickets.
"We are experiencing a large upswing in customers who have come to Portugal for the European Championships," says Teresa Morais, manager of an escort service in Lisbon. "We know this because more and more people are asking for English speaking companions."
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