Italian alleges Euro fix
From correspondents in Guimares, Portugal
June 23, 2004
ITALY goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has questioned the morality of Denmark and Sweden after the 2-2 draw between the Scandinavian teams eliminated the Azzurri from Euro 2004 today.
A dejected Buffon as Italy crash out /AP
Italy's last-gasp 2-1 victory over the already eliminated Bulgarians proved futile as the Swedes and the Danes went through to the quarter-finals at the Italians' expense with a result that suited both teams.
All three teams finished on five points, but Sweden and Denmark advanced to the last eight thanks to the number of goals scored in games between the three Group C rivals.
"I can't believe that two nations like Denmark and Sweden, who pride themselves on morality, could do such a thing under the eyes of the watching world," said 26-year-old Buffon.
"There has been talk for days about the possibility of a 2-2 draw and now it's happened â€" incredible.
"What kind of example does this set to the children who come to watch football. Someone should be ashamed and it isn't us."
Buffon said he thought Italy had booked their place in the knockout stages when Antonio Cassano scored a last-gasp winner until he turned to share his joy with the fans.
"I went to celebrate with our supporters, but I could tell by their faces that the result in the other match hadn't gone our way," said the Juventus star, the world's most expensive goalkeeper.
Italy defender Alessandro Nesta said to go out without losing a match was a bitter pill to swallow.
"It's painful because we have five points and were undefeated," said the AC Milan centre-back, whose clubmate Jon-Dahl Tomasson hit both Denmark's goals against the Swedes.
"To finish third behind two teams who are inferior to us really hurts."
Italy's early exit was their third cruel end to a tournament having lost to France to a golden goal in the Euro 2000 final and then going out in controversial fashion to South Korea in the second round of the 2002 World Cup finals.
Italy defender Massimo Oddo was equally dumbstruck by another embarrassment for the Azzurri, who were billed as one of the tournament favourites.
"I can't describe my feelings," said the Lazio right-back. "Football can be cruel sometimes and in the last few tournaments we've had more than our fair share of bad luck."[/b]
