Sweden and Denmark, in the driving seat to make it into the Euro 2004 quarterfinals from Group C, meet on Tuesday aware that Italy’s beady eye is keeping a close watch on the outcome.
The Scandinavians meet at Boavista’s Bessa stadium, heading the group on four points apiece. That means a high-scoring draw of 2-2 or more would see them go through at Italy’s expense.
A 1-1 draw would complicate matters if, as expected, Italy beat the already-eliminated Bulgaria. This would leave all three teams on five points.
In that event the team’s head-to-head results are taken into consideration, then goal difference, fair play, and so on right down to a toss of a coin.
The Italians are concerned that Sweden and Denmark may collude to produce a result that would suit them both.
AC Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso has even suggested the use of 50 extra cameras to track every move of the game to ensure there’s no skulduggery — a kind of nordic neighbourhood watch scheme.
Both camps have brushed off the idea of a rigged result as ludicrous, insisting a win is all that counts.
To that end Sweden’s chief spy, Benny Lennartsson, reckons he has the key to breaking down the Danes — who held Italy to a goalless draw before putting two past the Bulgarians.
”In my view Denmark are the best team in the group. Five of their goals this year have come from the wings — Jesper Gronkjaer and Martin Jorgensen. I think they’re the best wingers in the tournament, and they have a good third option in Dennis Rommedahl.
”Sweden are aware of the difficulty they can cause and we’ll be trying to stop them.
”They surprised me when they played Italy and Bulgaria, and I don’t doubt [coach] Morten Olsen has some more surprises for us on Tuesday.”
Lennartsson nominated Everton’s Thomas Graveson as a key dangerman in midfield — ”he’s a good tackler, a good passer, and a good talker, he’s the boss on the pitch”.
Asked to select one of the Swede’s top qualities he didn’t hesitate a second, replying: ”Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s ability to get goals out of nothing. When he played Italy he was in a position where he couldn’t score but he scored.”
Denmark striker Ebbe Sand is convinced his side have the quality to beat Sweden.
”I really do not see that big a difference between Sweden and Bulgaria, and I am convinced we will have the upper hand,” Sand told euro2004.com.
”I simply see us as the better team.”
Sweden take on the Danes without Tobias Linderoth, Graveson’s club colleague having picked up a second yellow against Italy.
Up front Ibrahimovic will once again be paired with the talismanic former Celtic striker Henrik Larsson, whose decision to come out of international retirement has been fully vindicated with two goals so far.
Denmark had encouraging news on Rommedahl, who is back in the frame after a quicker than anticipated recovery from the hip problem he suffered against Bulgaria.
For the record, Sweden beat Denmark in the 1948 Olympics and again in the 1992 European Championships, although the Danes went on to win the title.
However, if the result’s 2-2 on Tuesday, the players may be advised to run for cover. – Sapa-AFP