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Bulgaria out, Italy must win without Totti
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-19 13:12
Bulgaria became the second side certain to exit Euro 2004 in the first round, losing 2-0 to Denmark in their Group C clash on Friday as a Totti-less Italy prepared for their game against Sweden in Porto.
The Bulgarians spent most of the match on the defensive but salvaged a little pride by pruning the 5-0 thumping they received at the hands of Sweden in their opening game.
Denmark, confident after holding Italy to a 0-0 draw, had to wait until a minute before the interval to break the deadlock + Jon Dahl Tomasson tapping in a Martin Joergensen cross.
Substitute Jesper Gronkjaer, who missed the first match following the death of his mother, sealed victory two minutes into stoppage time with an angled shot from 10 metres.
Bulgaria hardly threatened, and their frustration boiled over in a raft of yellow cards, culminating when captain Stilian Petrov was sent off seven minutes from time when he was issued his second yellow card for dissent.
Plamen Markov's side knew a win was vital to stay in the tournament, but the coach was also keen that they should leave showing a "different face".
Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni made three changes for his side's match against Sweden + a match they need to win to avoid relying on other results to reach the quarter-finals.
Playmaker Francesco Totti, who is serving a three-match ban for spitting, is replaced in attack by his AS Roma team mate Antonio Cassano while in midfield, Mauro Camoranesi and Cristiano Zanetti were swapped for AC Milan pair Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso.
Sweden, on form and bursting with confidence after thrashing Bulgaria, will reach the quarter-finals with a game to spare if they win.
Two-goal striker Henrik Larsson is in peak shape alongside the ever-dangerous Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but right back Teddy Lucic is ruled out with a rib injury.
For Friday's game, midfielder Mikael Nilsson dropped back to the back-four with Christian Wilhelmsson taking over on the right side of midfield.
The Swedes are unbeaten in their last five matches, winning the last three, and have lost only twice in their 23 competitive matches since Euro 2000.
But they have shrugged off the idea that they are favourites, admitting that the scoreline against Bulgaria was flattering.
In a wide-open Group D, the Czech Republic have some fitness concerns ahead of Saturday's match against the Netherlands.
Defender Rene Bolf is still doubtful with a knee injury and other players are struggling in the fierce Portuguese heat.
The Netherlands could welcome back experienced midfielder Clarence Seedorf who has returned to full training.
In the other match of the group, Germany are likely to go on the attack against Latvia, fielding a second striker with Fredi Bobic potentially accompanying Kevin Kuranyi up front.
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